WEEK 12 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

TROPHYLAND CUP

Two sides booked their places in the quarter finals of the Trophyland Cup in atrocious conditions on Sunday as the wet and windy winter weather rolled in.

SL Menfica produced another cup upset at higher league opposition as they saw off Division Three’s AC Milano Reserves in a narrow win. Goals from Lewis Clark and Richard Beard were enough to confirm a 2-1 victory as they booked a place in the quarter finals against Docklands Albion.

Park Tavern produced a superb second half performance in tough conditions to beat Division Three’s leaders, Wanstead United. Leading through an early goal, things seemed to be conspiring against Tavern as they had a man sent off just before the interval and conceded a penalty to level the game. But a brace each for David Hornsby and Sean Tormey, plus a Craig Bish effort, saw them come through winning 5-1.

PREMIER DIVISION

Game of the day in the Premier Division saw the top two sides meet in Hainault where Lactico came from behind to level the game at 2-2 before conceding late to hand Upshire an important victory. Alex Armah was on target for Lactico but it’s the leaders who extend their advantage at the top to four points.

Repton Park have moved up to third place in the table, up a number of places following a 4-2 win over Quality Control on Sunday. Jobe Ambrose continued his recent form with a double as Conor Smith and Jesse Spearing also netted to cancel out hosts’ goals from Nathan Desnoes and James Piras.

Flanders ended the recent good form of Liberty Stars with a 3-1 victory over their local rivals, securing a second won of the season in the process. Lawal Alhada, Kevin Griffith and Frankie Sinclair all found the back of the net for the visitors to lift them up to seventh place.

DIVISION ONE

Emerson Park are up to third place in Division One as the tight battle for the promotion places continues. Their latest win, a 2-1 home win over Warren United Reserves, came with the help of goals from Joe Woolley and Kyle Paevie who cancelled out a Keir Goldstein strike for the visitors.

Aldborough Hatch remain very much in the promotion race themselves, securing a 4-1 victory at the weekend over Valley Park in Debden. Chris Turner scored Valley’s only goal as the visitors climbed to fourth place in the division.

DIVISION TWO

Docklands Albion continued their surge in form and climb up the league table this week with a 4-0 win on Sunday at joint leaders, Westferry Elite. Samuel Uviebinene led the way with two goals with Mouhcine Boutibi and Roberto Rosero also netting to carry their side to a vital win.

London Fire Brigade returned to winning ways at the weekend, recording a 3-1 win on the road at Romford Galaxy to bag a fifth win of the season. Yomi Popoola, Ian Munro and David Moore were the scores for the Brigade cancelling out a Luke Gray goal for Galaxy to stay fourth.

DIVISION THREE

Upshire Reserves took advantage of the leaders being out of action in Division Three this weekend as they cruised to a 4-1 win at home to Asianos Reserves. Tommy Fielder was the hero with a hat-trick to help his side to victory with Ross Paterson the other man on target to send their side to within a point of the leaders.

Ridgeway Rovers have moved up to fourth place in the table following a win by the odd goal against Alpha. Jack Payne scored Rovers’ only goal of the game as they secured a 1-0 win to take home the points.

Another side on the climb are Partizan CMC who are up to third place now following a 4-1 win on Sunday against Fairlop Rangers in Chigwell. That win for the hosts sees them move to within eight points of the leading sides with a game in hand.

DIVISION FOUR

The highest scorers of the day were Goresbrook who had a day to remember as they won 9-3 at home to co-tenants Grey Area. Two goals for Jordan May and a single from Sonni Barnard proved mere consolation for the visitors as strikes from Charlie Barrett (2), Liam Coney (2), Robert Park, David Trotman, Samuel Berry, Dimitri Pafnouti and William Cox completed a resounding victory for Goresbrook.

In the division’s other match, the points were shared Oak Royals and Heathside held each other to a 1-1 draw in Newbury Park. Christopher Holder was on target for the Royals as Sam Owen levelled things up with Heathside’s goal.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Junior Cup, Korona Redbridge saw their run in the competition ended at Thames Gateway, going down 3-0 while St Augustines hosted Fox & Fiddler and ended up on the wrong end of a 8-3 defeat to exit the competition.

The Essex Junior Trophy saw much more success for Corinthian sides as Hornchurch Oakmont put Hullbridge Sports Reserves to the sword in a 5-1 victory to book a place in round four. Also victorious were Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who beat Hillford 3-1 to confirm their participation post-Christmas. Barking’s trip up the M11 to Social Club Birchanger Reserves was a fruitless one as they ended up being defeated 4-2.