WEEK 12 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and county cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

The penultimate spot in the quarter final draw of this season’s Corinthian Cup was decided on Sunday as Division One’s high-flying East London Old Boys played host to Premier Division side Flanders in Highams Park. In a tightly contested match, it eventually took an extra thirty minutes to separate the sides. Abraham Opoku proved to be the hero with a hat-trick for Flanders with a Matt Hector strike completing a nervy 4-3 win to book their quarter final against Repton Park.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, Romford Elite have held on to top spot once more as they overcame the efforts of Repton Park on Sunday in an eight goal thriller in Hainault. Anthony Kemp scored twice for Park and Jayden Ambrose once but their efforts were in vain as a Chris Bird double and singles from Jamie Thomas, Paul Scott and Joshua Thompson handed honours to Romford Elite in a 5-3 scoreline.

It looks like being a title battle that will go to the wire this season as Emerson Park maintained their own pressure on the leaders with a win on their travels at the weekend at Liberty Stars. After dropping recent points, Kyle Paevie was the difference between the sides on the day as his two goals saw Park to a 2-0 win, keeping his side two points behind with a game in hand.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Ultimate Vision have opened up a four gap at the top of the table aided by their latest victory, a 4-2 away win at Korona Redbridge on Sunday. Kamil Urbanski and Konrad Mroczka both found the back of the Vision net but a Luke Thomas hat-trick for the leaders added to a Ryan Chapman strike to have Ultimate Vision a crucial 4-2 success.

Both of the top two sides will be looking over their shoulder as Leyton Celtic make their ascent on the promotion places, moving up to third place now after the weekend’s results. They travelled to Barkingside to face Valentines United in another closely fought match between these sides which was settled by the odd goal. Charlie Saywood was at the double with two goals and Ophel Idris another to add to his account, rendering Jourdane Nolan’s brace as consolation as Celtic confirmed a 3-2 victory.

There was a shock result in the remaining match in this division which saw the struggling Waltham Athletic pull off a memorable 1-0 win over fourth placed FC Mexico in Emerson Park. It took just a single goal to settle this match with an unfortunate own goal separating the sides on the day as Waltham won 1-0 to move up a couple of places to seventh in the table.

DIVISION TWO

The match of the day in Division Two saw the top two sides come head to head with Barca playing host to Wanstead United in Hainault with top spot very much up for grabs for the winners. A six goal thrilled ensued between these well matched sides with an eventual 3-3 scoreline seeing the points shared on the day. Billy Barr, Dylon Bradford and Mark Frostick got themselves on the scoresheet for Barca but three United goals levelled things up.

The biggest movers of the day were Upshire who have climbed up to third in the table following a scintillating performance against Westferry Elite on Sunday. The Waltham Abbey outfit put nine goals past Elite to record a 9-2 final scoreline, moving to within a point of the top with two games in hand putting them in pole position in the coming weeks.

Two of the other sides very much in the mix for honours this year came face to face on Sunday with Chingford Athletic making the journey to Hainault to take on Flyhouse Athletic. Michael Boahene continued his form in front of goal with one of the Chingford goals with Tom Barnes netting the other but two Flyhouse goals levelled things up as the sides took home a share of the points in a 2-2 draw.

Lonsdale recorded an important win on Sunday as they faced London Fire Brigade with both sides looking to bring back some kind of momentum to their seasons. And it was the hosts, Lonsdale, who will be the happier of the sides as they secured the vital three points in a 5-2 victory which moved them out of the relegation zone for now at least.

DIVISION THREE

The game of the day in Division Three saw top of the table FC United of Hornchurch take on third placed Alpha at Wanstead Flats with both sides keen to progress their title ambitions. And it was the visitors, FC United of Hornchurch, who will be pleased with their day’s work as they ran out 5-1 winners courtesy of two goals from Billy Pearce and single goals form Billy Rungay, Tommy Pidgeon and Shane Cassidy to render Reece Simpson’s strike as only a consolation for the hosts.

The unbeaten Ridgeway Rovers stay second in the standings as they made it six wins from nine matches so far with the trip to Harlow to face Lings Elite Under 21s. Liam O’Sullivan and Tom Bolton both got themselves on the scoresheet for Lings but a Duone Minors hat-trick plus strikes from Brian Ho and Jordon Charles secured a 5-2 win for Rovers to maintain their title charge.

Morfdown Elect have strengthened their fifth position in the table with a big win in Sunday’s Dagenham derby against Roneo Colts. A big first half performance saw them establish a 5-0 lead at the break with a further two goals in the second period. Adam Davis set them on their way with a hat-trick before Michael Livesey, Darran Pocock and Barwicks – Jordan and Blaine – completed the scoring with efforts of their own.

Also winning big were Hornchurch Oakmont who faced Asianos Reserves in a crucial battle to move clear of relegation difficulties with the sides sharing nine goals between them in Chadwell Heath. James Bailey done the majority of the damage with four goals for Hornchurch adding to Chris Caston and Ellis Marsh to complete a 6-3 win on the day.

DIVISION FOUR

East Ham Inter are up to fourth place in the Division Four table after overcoming Highams Park Royals in a five goal thriller at Wanstead Flats. Ryan Radley and Elton Markaj both found the back of the Inter net for Royals but three goals from the hosts confirmed an eventual 3-2 win to keep them in the mix for promotion honours.

Grey Area stay sixth in the table aided by their most recent victory on Sunday as they faced Bata United in Rainham. A goal apiece from Sonni Barnard and Connor Frost proved decisive in this eagerly contested match up to edge the contest 2-1. That fourth win in eight league games keeps the visitors in touch with the sides just above them in the standings.

The division’s remaining action saw Custom House Community Reserves play host to Emerson Park Under 21s in Beckton with the latter being held to a 3-3 draw on the day to end their perfect record thus far. Jake Willis, Ronnie Hobbrough and Liam Rooney all scored for Park but efforts from Bernard Appiah, Carl Day and Giuseppe Hiranda levelled the match up to share the spoils.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Junior Cup, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers’ excellent county cup record sees no end as they secured a spot in round four of the competition with a fantastic 6-1 win over Mustard Worms on Sunday. They will now take on the club who knocked them out last year as they face Leigh United, this time at home however.

The day’s other Junior Cup action saw St Augustines take a lead against Chelmsford League based Royal Regina but it was the visitors who travelled back up the A12 with the honours as they secured a 4-2 win over the Saints to end their participation.

The Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action at the weekend saw two clashes between Corinthian and Combination clubs with Goresbrook continuing their scintillating form this season with a 5-2 win against West Essex Reserves. They will be at home once again in the fourth round with visitors, Vikings, facing a long trek across the county from Clacton!

The other match in the competition saw Masterman come from behind to level before the break against Royal Albert before the latter pulled clear in the second half to secure their berth in round four, ending Masterman’s county cup prospects for this season in the process.

CHARITY CUP

The final match action of the day saw the West Essex Sunday Charity Trophy continue as Alliance United made the journey to Hainault to face Shere Force with both sides looking to book their place in the quarter finals. A tight match saw five goals shared with three going in favour of the hosts as Shere Force progressed through 3-2.