WEEK 13 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

There was an impressive victory for El Valiente on Sunday as, despite trailing their opponents on the day by nine points going into the contest against London All Stars, a strong performance at Roding Valley High School saw the visitors run out 2-0 victors. That result sees them move up to seventh in the standings while All Stars remain second.

FC Ballr have moved up a number of places in the league standings following a crucial win on Sunday as they beat fellow strugglers, FLY, in a 7-2 scoreline at Castle Green. Tariq Humaid’s good run of form in front of goal continued for the visitors as he scored both goals but those proved in vain, the hosts scoring seven of their own in a second league win of the season.

DIVISION ONE

There are new leaders at the top of Division One where Theydon Green are now at the summit following a positive performance in a 3-1 success away at FIFE on Sunday. A goal apiece from Frankie Licheri, Harry Carter and Ben Harris set Green on their way and, taking other results into the equation, this was enough to see them move top.

That result was made possible as the previous league leaders, Roose, fell to their first defeat of the campaign following an away defeat to Barking Riverside in the Hainault derby. Two Ryan Gardiner goals for Barking paved the way with Aaron Matthews and Godfrey Kambaza also netting in a 4-3 success as they continue their climb up the table to fifth.

Third placed Gants Hill were also in action as they travelled up to Loughton to take on Total Football at Roding Valley. With Total already having taken points off another rival a couple of weeks back, another solid performance saw them take another valuable point as this game ended in a 2-2 draw. Aaron Dadzie and Carl Parsons both netted for their side who sit fourth.

A ten goal thriller rounds off the action in the division as Royal Lions A and FC Galaxy met over in Hainault with attacks very much dominating defence. An Alexandru Rincu hat-trick set Galaxy on their way while Mihalache Dumitru scored twice and Mihai Mareniuc once to take their side to a 6-4 win and a move up to sixth.

DIVISION TWO

Division Two’s leaders, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, were also involved in a 4-3 thriller as they edged a close game away at East London Harriers to open up an eight point gap at the top. Deji Akinyemi scored a hat-trick for Wanderers, adding to a Joshua Renwick-Smith strike, which overcame Harriers goals from Connor Brown, Tommy Carter-Hamilton and Charlie Cole.

That result enabled Debden Sports Reserves to jump up into seventh place as they hosted a Newbury Forest side positioned five places ahead of them. But league positions counted for little on the day as Will Osmond scored twice and Charlie Drury once for Sports to ensure the points headed home with Debden.

Leytonstone Athletic also moved up in the standings after they earned themselves a third league success of the season with a solid away victory against Barking at South Park Drive. Athletic were 4-0 winners against their winless opponents to keep up the pressure on the sides immediately above them, sitting just two points behind the sides in third and fourth.

In the remaining game from the division, tenth placed Higham Hill picked up a valuable point against higher ranked opposition with a 2-2 draw at home against Cloud 9 over at Jubilee Sports Ground. The sides were closely match on the day as they shared the spoils and the points to, remaining separated by four points.

DIVISION THREE

Valence United are into the top half of the table in Division Three after they picked up all three points at home against Korona Redbridge in Dagenham. The hosts were 8-3 winners as Rowan Newland led the way for his side with a hat-trick. Further goals from Tommy Abrams, Burt Cardy, Ben King, Scott Gillick and Jack Howard completed the scoring and rendered an Ion Grigor double and David Pietras goal as just consolation for the visitors.

DIVISION FOUR

The big game in Division Four saw the meeting of the top two sides, Belfry Reserves and Warren Senior, both sides going into the contest with a perfect record. But it was Belfry who ended the day in pole position with a 4-1 win under they belts. Sam Harold, Ryan O’Connell and Jamie Redington netted the Belfry goals with Cody Willis grabbing the Warren goal in consolation.

Horse & Well moved up into fifth place in the standings after producing a terrific home winning performance against Romford Athletic Dons in Debden. Well were 2-1 winners against their fourth placed opponents with James Marsh and Joe Powell goals the difference on the day to take all three points.

It was another winning performance for Byron Red Star who followed up their big win last Sunday with another three points this time also, coming away 6-2 winners from their away clash against Ace Athletics. Billy Baldry scored both of the Ace goals but a pair of braces from Adrian John and Liam Pickett, plus goals from Oluwagbeminiyi Adeaga and Finlay Goff made it a Star win.

Over at Hainault Rec, the two sides were locked on three points going into the game between Prospect Protégé and Brymans Park as both sought to move themselves up the table. In what appeared to be a closely fought contest, the teams had to settle for a share of the points in a 3-3 draw. Grant Eagles, Ronnie Pemble and Shane Taylor scored the Park goals while Emmanuel Alo and Luke Pickles netted the Prospect goals in response.

DIVISION FIVE

Royal Lions B were able to cut the gap at the top of Division Five as they took advantage of results around them to defeat Debden Sports A in a twelve goal thriller at the Rec. Lions were 8-4 winners in the game, their seventh league win of the season as they moved within four points of the present leaders.

That outcome was made possible as the existing leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves saw their perfect recorded ended at Ultimate Vision Reserves, held to an entertaining 3-3 draw. Phorell Brooke scored twice for Royals and Archie Locke once as they took their tally to twenty five points, four clear of the next closest challenger.

Manford Way Reserves produced their best win in the league this season as they beat third placed Mansfield Rangers to move closer to the sides above them. Manford goals from Jake Li, Charlie Saltmarsh, James Duley and David Prentice were the difference between the sides in Hainault to make it three wins from five this term.

Over at Barking Park, a closely fought game saw visitors Mayfield Kings twice come from behind to earn themselves another point in their battle with Dagenham Rangers. Keiva King and Jack Field both netted in the first half but Mayfield levelled up each time to see the game end 2-2 and take home a point each.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Valence United Reserves have returned to the top of the table on goal difference, their draw away on Sunday against an improved Warren United enough to shift them up a place. The sides finished level at 3-3 as an Oliver Regan hat-trick for Warren was levelled up by Valence strikes from Keenan Mitchell, Luke Sherwin and Tanis Newill.

Epping Royals have shut the gap on the top two sides to just four points as they came away 2-1 winners in their home fixture against Havering Palace at Stonards Hill. Joseph Bothwell extended his goal tally once again with Louie Brownlie grabbing the other goals for the hosts who sit in a good position to challenge for promotion in the second half of the season.

Moving up to third, Royal Lions C sit five points further back in the standings after they picked up win number four this term with a 3-1 home victory against Ping City Phoenixes at Hainault Rec. That saw them jump up a place in the standings while Ping remain four points further back on nine points approaching the half way point of the campaign.

Epping Forest Falcons are the third side to be sitting on thirteen point in the middle section of the table and they made it that way after picking up a hard fought victory away against London Legacy at Oaks Park on Sunday. Mohamed Noor scored the Legacy goal in the game but his effort proved in vain as Falcons won 2-1 to take the points.

COUNTY CUP

It was a tremendous morning for our clubs in county cup competitions as every Essex cup tie produced a Corinthian winner. Oceana produced perhaps the win of the round, overcoming a division deficit in beating top flight Southend League side Railway Academicals in a 9-1 scoreline.

At the same ground, United Dian produced a terrific performance to end CO4 Ultras perfect start to the season having won every game so far in the Colchester League. It took an eventual thirteen goals to separate the sides but a 7-6 win went in favour of Dian to send them through to the next round.

Over at Newbury Park, previous winners of the competition and top Chelmsford side, Priory Sports, were the visitors to Flyhouse Athletic where the Corinthian side overcame a late fightback to come through in a 5-3 win to book their place in the last sixteen.

It was a winning morning for Manford Way as they attempted to recreate their form in the competition of last season, putting their name into the last sixteen hat with a terrific 5-1 home win against Kent View United.

East Way Athletic’s opponents in the third round were Harlow based side Parsloes Athletic who made the trip down the M11 to Leyton Sports Ground to take on their east London opponents. A five goal thriller was won by the hosts who won 3-2 to become the fifth league side through.

A five goal thriller was also the outcome in the game between the London champions, Hatch Lane, and their visitors from the Thurrock League, Ockendon Manor, as those sides met at Hackney Marshes. Another 3-2 win for the league saw Hatch safely through into the next round.

Completing the Essex Premier Cup action, national champions, Baiteze Squad, ensured they made it through into the last sixteen of the competition, beating Sceptre Sunday League side Thundersley Rovers at Chigwell School in a 2-0 scoreline.

The success extended into the rearranged Essex Sunday Junior Trophy where Upshire Forest produced a top performance in beating Chelmsford Sunday League Division Three leaders, Margaretting Rovers 5-1 to continue their run into the next round.

The day’s other rearranged tie saw Division Four’s City Site produce a winning performance, avoiding any potential slip up in their game against Division Six side Zone 4 Athletic, winning the game 9-0 to head into the next round in December.

In the London Sunday Trophy, there was victory for AC Milano who continued their good form into the cup with a 3-2 home win against The Gun, winning that tie to put themselves through into the last sixteen.

In the same competition, it wasn’t such good news for Division One’s Benchviews who saw their participation in that competition come to an end as they were defeated 2-0 at home against Fireside in their rearranged clash.

The first West Essex Sunday Charity Cup action saw a first qualifying round tie between Lonsdale and Goresbrook as those sides locked horns once again. A topsy-turvy game saw both sides combine for an eight thriller, the tie eventually ending in a 4-4 draw. It was Goresbrook who held their nerve in the shootout to go through into the next round.