WEEK 11 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

Barking Riverside have confirmed their place in the quarter-finals of this season’s Corinthian Cup competition, coming through a tricky home tie against Division Two’s Singh Sabha Barking by the odd goal. They were 3-2 winners courtesy of goals from Aaron Matthews, Ryan Gardiner and Dami Edun to move into the last eight.

TROPHYLAND CUP

The last of the second round action was completed in the Trophyland Cup on Sunday with the higher ranked sides progressing from each tie, starting in Hainault where Manford Way continued their great start to end Athletic Newham’s run in the competition. Manford edged the tie 2-1 with Jake Li scoring both goals, overcoming Esley Liwala’s goal for the visitors.

Also through into the quarter-finals are Woodford Town Reserves who overcome lower ranked opposition in the form of Byron Red Star, again by a single goal margin, to head through. Sion Daley struck for the visitors but William Sandell’s effort for Town helped his side over the line and into the last eight.

There was a cracker of a game in Walthamstow where Ainslie and United Amateurs battled their way to a 3-3 draw at the end of ninety minutes with James Sims Williams scoring two and Junior Akonor one for the hosts with Saidu Koroma netting two and Berty Frith one for the visitors. It was Ainslie who then held their nerve to win the shootout 4-1 and head into the next round.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

There was a cupset in the Endeavour Cup as Hainault Athletic headed to Barking Colts on Sunday, the two sides involved in a humdinger of a game that contained nine goals. Terry Downing scored a hat-trick for Hainault and Michael Tutton struck the other but those proved not quite enough as Colts netted five to win the game 5-4.

There was also a shock of sorts in the other tie as JK Silvertown Reserves overcame a ten-point deficit on their opponents, Newbury Drive, to head into the quarter-finals at their expense, taking a 3-2 win in East Ham. Luke Newbury-Neale and Luey Young both found the back of the net for the visitors but those proved just consolation in the end.

NATIONAL CUP

It was second round day in the FA Sunday Cup with five of our sides represented, including in an all-Corinthian match-up in the game at Parsloes Park where East London Ballers were taking on Baiteze Squad. Ballers were fast out of the blocks and led 5-1 before a late fightback saw Baiteze bring the tie back to 5-4 and miss an open goal in the dying moments, Ballers setting up a home tie against Moreton Hall Ferals.

There was another all-league tie up in Hertfordshire where Brook Athletic were taking on Hatch Lane in their clash at Wormley Sports Club. The two sides produced ten goals in the game but it was Hatch who left the happier, bagging seven of them in a 7-3 to set up a third round tie away at St Josephs next month.

The longest journey of the day was made by AC Milano who had a trip to Norfolk ahead of them to take on FC Steamers in Harleston. It took just a single goal to separate the sides in the end with Milano the team to benefit, winning 1-0 to put themselves through to the next round where they go on to face Strafford Arms.

DIVISION ONE

There was a full round of games in Division One and it was maximum points for all of the leading sides in the division, including for leaders Repton Park who took a 2-1 win over an in-form JK Silvertown side. Teddy Henderson scored both of the goals for the leaders to make it five wins for the season and remaining unbeaten.

Second placed Roose still hold control of the situation with a game in hand and sit a point off the pace following their fifth win in six on Sunday, earning all three points in a 3-1 home victory against UK Moldova. James Runham, Afolabi Soyemi-Ololade and Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose all notched for the hosts to keep their side unbeaten also.

Debden Sports Reserves remain in third and just three points adrift of the promotion places after they came through a tough away day against Critics with all three points, edging the game 2-1 in Barkingside. That was their fourth win of the season while Critics drop to ninth in the standings with just the one win so far.

With sides around them dropping points or involved in cup action, St Augustines took advantage of the situation to move up a number of places into fourth spot, a second league win of the season enough to carry them to nine points following a 5-2 “away” victory against co-tenants Benchviews in Newbury Park.

It’s been a much improved last few weeks for Total Football who are now up into seventh place in the table as they recorded another win, this time a 4-1 home success in a local derby against Colebrook Royals Seniors in Loughton. A goal apiece from Daniel Acons, Oliver Marshall, Carl Parsons and Sonny White done the damage to make it a Total victory.

DIVISION TWO

Woodford Town have returned to the top in Division Two following the weekend’s results, moving three points clear aided by their away victory against City Site at Robert Clack. Ricky Rose noticed a goal for the hosts but Luke Dimond continued his scoring form with a brace and Morgan Radley grabbed the other, Town walking away 3-2 winners.

It was a good day also for now fifth placed Daglanta who moved up a number of places following a successful morning against Stone Town in the east London derby. Andy Morris scored twice for the visitors and Bradley Ismaili notched the third as Daglanta won 3-1 to make it three league wins for the season.

East London Ballers Under 23s will also be pleased with their morning’s work as they picked up just a first win of the season in the league at the fourth attempt, taking all three points at home against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in east London. Keanan Bancroft struck for Wanderers but Sehraan Hussain and Alif Khorshed goals gave Ballers a 2-1 win.

DIVISION THREE

There was just the one game in Division Three but it saw a local derby fixture at Westlands where Warren Senior played host to co-tenants Romford Town Flyers on Sunday morning. Kane Ledeatte scored two for Romford but Warren went one better, edging it 3-2 through goals from Frankie Boland, Ben Willis and Lewis Gardener.

DIVISION FOUR

There was a glut of goals in Division Four, beginning at the new league leaders where Debden Sports A took over top spot following a ten-goal thriller at home against Royal Lions. Elliott Betts scored a hat-trick, Oscar Simmons scored two and Zachariah Appauh added the other as Debden walked away 6-4 winners by full-time.

Fourth placed Eastern Avenue also racked up another win for their account this season, moving level on goal difference with the side above them after a 6-2 away win against last week’s cup heroes, East End United. Mike Elsmore scored twice for United but they couldn’t create last week’s magic as Paulius Olisauskas and Gerald Longwe struck twice, Damian Kearney and Fardeen Adei adding the others.

Cardinals Athletic were also big movers in the division after taking a third win of the season on Sunday, returning home from east London with all three points after beating Asianos in a 4-2 scoreline. The experienced duo of Alex Akanbi and Troy Hewitt both notched for the hosts but two Luke Rackliff goals, along with strikes from Ousmany Dibaga and Dean Hurch gave Cardinals the win.

Over in Chigwell, there was a second league win for Prospect Protégé who earned themselves a vital three points to leap above their opponents, Coppice Row. Charlie Dillon scored two with Emmanuel Alo, Juan Puente and Joseph Hill adding the others as Prospect walked away 5-1 winners, moving up three places.

DIVISION FIVE

The league leaders in Division Five, Epping Town, remain top of the pile after nine games as they earned a sixth win on Sunday, defeating Valence United B in a 6-3 scoreline at Stonards Hill. Ben King, Ryan Knight and Charlie Surridge all struck for the visitors but those goals were not quite enough as Joseph Bothwell bagged a hat-trick, Nathan Henderson, Frankie Marks and Asaph Lomena netting too.

It's incredibly tight in the top seven with Romford Rovers sitting fifth but just a couple of points off the promotion places after making it four wins for the season on Sunday from their away day trip to Mansfield Rangers. Liam Adams was the hero, scoring all five of the Romford goals in a 5-3 win. Jay Kanber notched two in response for Rangers, Billy Happe adding the other.

Also club with a part to play in that promotion chase are May & Baker EC who are up to fourth now after taking the honours in the Dagenham derby against Lonsdale at Castle Green. Denis Davti struck for the hosts while Sean Doyle and Jordan Miller goals turned ensured it was Bakers who walked away victorious, 2-1 winners.

DIVISION SIX

It was top versus bottom in Division Six on Sunday as Ping City Phoenixes took on an Inter Newbury side in the Forest Road derby, yet it saw the game settled by a single goal between the sides. Despite their lofty position, it took Jack Flood’s sole goal in the game to eventually net the points for Ping, a 1-0 success moving them into a five point lead at the top.

Third placed Colebrook Royals A sit just a point off the promotion places with a game in hand, their weekend’s endeavours seeing them take all three points from a 3-1 home victory against London Legacy in Chigwell. Lenny Hunt, Jake Austin and Freddie Sullivan all found the back of the Royals net with Oluwaseyi Ijiwole netting the Legacy goal in consolation.

It was a big morning in the Barkingside derby also where FC Mexico’s short hop across to Redbridge Sports Centre saw them up against a higher ranked Ace Athletics side. But it was the Mexicans who left the happier, edging a seven-goal thriller 4-3 as Emmanuel Rowe struck twice, Jack Wilkinson and Alex O’Halloran also notching. Louis Vallis and Francis Ebanks scored the Ace goals.

DIVISION SEVEN

League leaders, Valence United C have stolen a march in the race for the title in Division Seven after they racked up a vital three points against fellow challengers, Warren United, in Hainault. Reece Stanley is the player they have to thank this week, his hat-trick leading the way to a 4-2 win, helped also by Michael O’Brien’s effort for the other.

There was a great performance by Gatcliffe at Hall Lane as they picked up a big 5-1 win on the road, ending Emerson & Upminster’s unbeaten start to the season to move third. Alfie Webb scored his customary goal for Emerson but a Nico Bunduku hat-trick helped Gatcliffe over the line to the win with Codi Wackett and Danny Morales also netting.

Romford Bullsharks will be another side feeling much better after their efforts on Sunday morning, recording their first ever league win with a home victory against Zone 4 Athletic in Barkingside. Aston Linnett, Mason Thorn and Jack Edwards were the scorers in a 3-1 success, overcoming a Luke Paites effort for the visitors.

COUNTY CUP

It was a good morning for league clubs in the Essex Junior Cup, beginning with Colebrook Royals Reserves’ trip to a higher ranked opponent as they faced Loxford Lions in the second round on Sunday. Royals edged the game 2-1 to continue their participation into next month at least.

Also safely through against higher ranked opposition were Leytonstone Athletic who faced local rivals Lymore Gardens at Hainault Rec on Sunday. They bounced back well from their reverse last weekend to head into round three of the Essex cup, 4-2 winners on the day.

Completing a trio of cupsets against higher ranked sides were FC Galaxy who were up against familiar opposition, taking on former league side Belfry in Hainault. Despite their division difference, it was an in-form FC Galaxy who took the win, 3-0 victors to head into the third round.

The only reverse of the day came from Newbury Park where Zone 4’s first team were up against lower ranked opposition in the form of AC Milano Reserves at Oaks Park. With the game ending level at 2-2 at ninety minutes, a penalty shootout was used to decide the winner with Zone the side to edge that.