WEEK 12 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

There was just the one Corinthian Cup tie played on Sunday which pitted former champions, Brook Athletic, up against Division Two’s Upshire Forest as they attempted to cause an upset. They did manage to breach the defences with Kailem Gayle and Andre Odeku netting but Brook managed five of their own, the Senior side winning through 5-2.

SENIOR DIVISION

There was a statement result from Hatch Lane on Sunday afternoon as the league leaders moved five points clear at the summit after a big 7-0 home win against Club 1017. It took a while for the deadlock to be broken but two Charles Gregory goals plus efforts from Mekael Williams, Tarome Hemmings, Steven Kabungwe, Ashaan Siddik and Montel Shalders-Gayle completed it in style.

Elsewhere in the division, in Newbury Park, it was fifth versus sixth as AC Milano attempted to make up ground on the sides above with the visit of Baiteze Squad. A close game ensued between the sides with Akiljo Balliu and Dwayne Francis-Riley both scoring for Milano but two Baiteze goals meant that the teams walked away with a point apiece at 2-2.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the big result of the day came from Loughton where the leaders, Repton Park, saw their grasp on top spot loosen as St Augustines earned themselves an important win, edging a nine-goal thriller 5-4. Jayden Ambrose scored two for Park with Alex O’Neil and George Hellen also on target but those proved in vain as Saints walked away winners.

That result meant that Roose could move top with a win and they duly obliged on that front, earning themselves a valuable 3-1 home win against JK Silvertown in Hainault to move clear at the top with a game in hand. Dominique Momba-Simos scored the JK goal but that was insufficient to prevent Roose racking up another win to stay unbeaten.

Third placed Debden Sports Reserves are also in a spot of good form and ready to pounce on any slip up above them, sitting a point outside of the promotion places with a 6-1 victory at home against UK Moldova. Two Archie Hammond goals along with single efforts from Jonah Gregory, Will Osmond, Callum Thomas and Sonny Binet helped Debden to a fifth win of the season.

Also earning three points were Colebrook Royals Seniors who keep their own hat in the mix following a solid 4-2 home performance, defeating Benchviews in Chigwell. A couple of Presley Evans goals set them on their way with Sam Wilson and Nicholas Chrysanthou adding the others to move Royals into twelve points for the season.

Critics started the day with a four point deficit on their opponents, Barking Riverside, as they sought to climb the table away from the relegation zone. And they will have been pleased with the outcome of the match, winning 3-1 to move within a point of Barking in the standings, just a second league win of the campaign so far.

DIVISION TWO

It’s as you were at the top of Division Two where Woodford Town continue to lead the way, sitting three points clear at the summit after a seventh win of the season on Sunday, defeating East London Ballers Under 23s in a 5-0 result at Whitbreads. Luke Dimond (2), Paddy Sherlock, Ben Smith and Morgan Radley were scorers on the day.

Second placed FC Galaxy remain the closest side to the leaders, trailing by three points still after they racked up another win themselves, defeating Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in the local derby. Galaxy were 5-2 winners, overcoming goals from Joshua Renwick-Smith and Robert Kelly with two Tatian Radu efforts, plus strikes from Robert Ciobanu, Mihai Mareniuc and Cristian Popa.

With two games in hand on both of the sides above, AC Milano Reserves could still push themselves into the promotion mix and kept their decent start to the season going on Sunday after a 6-1 win away at Stone Town in east London. Nassor Ali struck for the hosts but this effort was mere consolation in the end with Milano netting six of their own.

Daglanta made a move up the standings into fourth following the weekend’s results, making it four wins in seven so far this term as they came away victorious from Dagenham with a 6-2 win under their belts against City Site. Andy Morris was the hero with a hat-trick, Bradley Ismaili scored twice off the bench and Excellence Muhemba struck the other to overcome City goals from John Ajide and Ricky Rose.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the biggest winners of the day were Colebrook Royals Reserves who put away eight goals in a strong win at home against Warren Senior. Two goals apiece from Brandon Fulton and Jordan Rock started things off with Harley Stevens, Djean Holland, Calvin Bell and Harley Lewis goals rounding off an excellent 8-1 win to move them third.

The leaders were also in action as Leytonstone Athletic took on Woodford Town Reserves at Hainault Rec and it was the hosts who extended their lead at the top to six points. Leytonstone were 3-1 winners as Jack Ferris struck twice and Reece Simpson added the other, rendering Jacob Richards’ goal as just consolation.

With teams around them out of action, Ainslie made their way up into second spot in the table following another win on Sunday, this time taking all three points home from their trip to Westlands having defeated Romford Town Flyers in a 3-1 scoreline. Lloyd Ross scored for Romford but two Ryan Radley goals and a James Sims Williams effort sent the points back to east London.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the focus was on matters in the lower half of the standings where East End United recorded just a second win of the season to really tighten things up at the bottom, edging a seven-goal thriller against Cardinals Athletic in a 4-3 scoreline. United remain bottom but now just two points from safety.

The other two games saw score draws where Coppice Row earned themselves a valuable point on the road as their trip to Asianos ended with the sides sharing the spoils in a 2-2 scoreline.  Daniel Crome and James Scully were both on the scoresheet to take their points tally to seven while Asianos sit a point ahead of them on eight.

It was fourth versus sixth in the other fixture from the division where Eastern Avenue went into their away game at Royal Lions with a two point and two place lead over their opponents. An exciting game saw the teams share six goals with the match thus ending in a 3-3 draw by full-time to retain their respective league positions.

DIVISION FIVE

One of the shock results of the day came in Division Five where bottom beat top as Legacy City recorded a first league win in memorable style, beating leaders Epping Town in a 4-3 scoreline. Georgi Meloyan netted two and Frankie Naidoo the other for City while Asaph Lomena netted two and Henry Cox one for Town who suffered a second reverse of the season.

The other winners from the division were Romford Rovers who are now up into third place in the table after the weekends results, earning themselves a 4-0 home win against Alpha to continue their good form. Luke Overton’s brace off the bench proved important with Liam Adams and Jamie Randall bagging the others for Rovers.

Chingford Athletic remain in second spot in the table and added another point to their record, held to a 2-2 draw at full-time by Young Royals in Hornchurch. Darryl Wilson scored both of the Chingford goals for the visitors, moving them to within four points of the leaders with a game in hand while Royals remain in ninth spot.

DIVISION SIX

It’s as you were at the top end of Division Six where Ping City Phoenixes remain five points clear at the summit helped by their derby win on Sunday against FC Mexico at Old Parkonians. Alex O’Halloran scored for the Mexicans but two Jack Flood goals in reply plus efforts from Abdelrahman Baky and Ezra Waterman meant it was a 4-1 Ping win by the end.

Newbury Drive continue to do their best to try and keep pace with the leaders and racked up win number seven this season on Sunday, reversing their fortunes against JK Silvertown Reserves to take a 5-3 win this time around. Joey May, Rajpal Bumbra and Illia Vyhovskyi scored the JK goals but braces from Mitchell Edmonds and Graham Bryan, plus Alfie Mobey’s goal meant Drive left with the points.

There was a five-goal thriller to round off the division’s action as Inter Newbury made a short hop across the hedge in Hainault to face Hainault Athletic in local derby action. A couple of Luke Sutcliff goals for Hainault meant they were well in the contest but Newbury scored three goals of their own to edge the game 3-2, their first league win of the season.

DIVISION SEVEN

There was just the one game in Division Seven but it was of some significance as Romford Bullsharks earned a point in their local derby game against Emerson & Upminster. Alfie Webb scored twice more to add to his Emerson scoring account this season but Romford goals from George Creedon and Ronnie Pemble meant the spoils were shared in a 2-2 draw.

COUNTY CUP

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, East London Ballers saw their competition challenge come to a conclusion in south London as they came out on the wrong side of a 3-1 defeat at AFC Kumazi Strikers in round two.

There was a glut of Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action and the shock of the round came from Barking Park as Valence United C overcame a side from two levels above them in the form of Athletic Newham, winning 3-1 to head into the third round.

It was a similar fate for another of the Division Five representatives as Manfield Rangers saw their run come to an end, dropping out after a 5-0 away day defeat at the hands of Division Seven’s Warren United in Hainault.

Manford Way also overcame higher ranked opposition, travelling to Rainham Working Mens Club Reserves on Sunday morning and, despite a man deficit for much of the game, edged their way through in a 3-2 win to make the next round.

That was a similar outcome for another of our Division Four sides as Debden Sports A prevailed against higher ranked opposition, ending 2-2 in the game at Woodham Radars Development before holding their nerve to win the shootout 4-2.

May & Baker EC, quarter finalists in last season’s competition, are safely through themselves into the third round after a victory away at Corinthian opposition, earning a 3-0 away win against Gatcliffe at Old Dagenham Park.

Another side who progressed to the latter stages last season were Byron Red Star and they will be involved in next month’s third round action after picking up a narrow 1-0 win against a London Legacy from two divisions beneath them.

One of the other games involving two teams from the league pitted Prospect Protégé up against a lower ranked side with Valence United B making the trip over to Hainault. It was Prospect who walked away the happier of the sides with a 7-3 win for their efforts.

Colebrook Royals A saw their run in the competition reach an end for this season as they suffered defeat to a side ranked four divisions above them, losing 4-2 at Woodham Radars Athletic from the Chelmsford Sunday League.

Also heading out of the competition are Zone 4 Athletic as the Division Seven side were up against a Harold Wood Athletic Reserves side on Sunday at Oaks Park. It was the visitors who won on the day, 7-0 victors to head through.

It was defeat for another of the Division Seven sides as United Amateurs Reserves headed out of the competition against a side from four levels above them, ending on the wrong side of a 4-2 defeat at Hainault Rec against Phoenix Fire.

Ace Athletics were another side to head out against higher ranked opposition, seeing their run reach an end after a comprehensive 10-1 home defeat in their game against the Brentwood Sunday League’s JP8 side.