WEEK 14 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

The December football action saw the Senior Division Cup group stage get underway with Baiteze Squad making a strong start and moving top after game week one, defeating East London Ballers in the Parsloes Park derby match. Former Baiteze man, Shermandin Artmeladze, struck for Ballers but his effort was in vain by the end as the hosts won 3-1.

There was a cracker of a game in the other tie as Brook Athletic were in home action with the visit of Club 1017 to Fords Newbury Park with both sides certainly in scoring form on the day. Attacked reigned over defence as the game ended in a 5-5 draw to take a point apiece with Andre Embalo scoring two, Josh Woodcock, Dion Johnston and Harry Carter adding the others.

DIVISION ONE

Repton Park struck ten goals on Sunday in Division One as they found their shooting boots against Benchviews to keep involved with the promotion places heading to the midway point of the season. Jesse Spearing scored five goals, George Hellen and Arinze Ossai both netted two and Ross Fraser added the other to win the game 10-2.

Local rivals Debden Sports Reserves remain top of the table, continuing their excellent recent form with a seventh league victory on Sunday, defeating Barking Riverside in a 2-0 scoreline at Chigwell Lane. Archie Hammond and Tom Osmond both found the back of the net to push the hosts up to twenty-two points for the season.

There was a seven-goal thriller at Fairlop where Colebrook Royals Seniors grabbed a late winner to take all three points and end Roose’s unbeaten start to the season, edging the game 4-3. Kaci Henry scored two with Sam Wilson and Presley Evans also finding the back of the net to hand Royals a fifth league win.

Sitting just above them are St Augustines who are fourth in the standings after they racked up a fourth win of the season, taking all three points home from east London after a 4-2 win against JK Silvertown. Dominique Momba-Simos and Chris Wright were both on target for the hosts but those proved just consolation in the end.

DIVISION TWO

The figure two was the theme in Division Two, beginning with the division’s only winning result of the day as Barking & Dagenham Wanderers earned victory number four after a local derby win against City Site at Robert Clack. Wanderers were 4-2 winners in the game, despite home goals from both John Ajide and Christopher West.

Third place Daglanta moved a point closer to the promotion places but were held to a score draw, 2-2 the result as Upshire Forest earned a point from the game also at Town Mead. Excellence Muhemba struck a brace for Daglanta but Forest goals from Daniel Roult and Leighton Hughes-Franklin meant they shared the spoils.

And 2-2 was the scoreline in the division’s other fixture also with local bragging rights up for grabs as AC Milano Reserves took on Singh Sabha Barking in the Newbury Park derby. The two sides began the day just a point apart and two Omari Williams goals for Barking were equalled by Milano goals from Charles Brown-Bampoe and Brandon Taylor to ensured it stayed that way in a 2-2 draw.

DIVISION THREE

Woodford Town Reserves have closed the gap on the leaders to five points, moving second in the table on the back of a fifth league win, defeating Ainslie in a 3-0 scoreline at Whitbreads. Conor Medhurst scored twice for the hosts to help his side keep themselves in the promotion mix in the second half of the season.

After a difficult reverse last time out, it was back to winning ways for South Ilford Catholics at the weekend as they reigned supreme in the Hainault derby against United Amateurs to keep them hovering just below the promotion places. South Ilford were 4-0 winners in the game, their fourth win in seven this term.

Also winning in a local derby were Warren Senior who were up against Westlands rivals, Romford Town Flyers, in their latest quest. Although Lloyd Ross grabbed himself a goal for the hosts, two Jake Willis strikes and an Anthony Cooke goal meant it was Warren walking away with a 3-1 win under their belts to sit comfortably in sixth.

DIVISION FOUR

There were plenty of goals in Division Four, beginning with a fourteen goal thriller as East End United hosted a title chasing Debden Sports A side. Debden eventually prevailed 8-6 winners with Elliot Betts scoring five, Jack Mussett two and Samuel Blackshaw the other. Mike Elsmore scored two in reply with Joseph Connor, Loui Grech, Jack Jackson and Alfie Mansfield all scoring in consolation.

Manford Way remain as the league leaders and sit four points clear of their closest rivals, making it nine wins from ten and staying unbeaten after a 4-2 away win on Sunday against Byron Red Star. Jake Li notched two with James Duley and Oliver Dosad adding the others for Manford to ensure they’ll sit top at the midway point in the season.

Sitting in third place are Eastern Avenue who have five league wins to their name this season after picking up a handy 4-0 away win against Coppice Row in Chigwell on Sunday. Gerald Longwe scored a hat-trick for the visitors who took maximum points and now sit six points off the promotion places as they start the second half of their fixture list.

There was a seven-goal thriller of a game in Dagenham where Prospect Protégé were in town to take on a Cardinals Athletic side who started the game a point adrift of their opponents. That was changed by the end, moving a point ahead of them after a 4-3 win with Dean Hurch scoring two and Daniel Acquaye one, cancelling out efforts from Alexander Brennand (2) and Emmanuel Alo.

The final game from the division came from Hainault Rec and saw Royal Lions looking to bounce back from their defeat last week, taking on an Asianos side sitting level on points with them. It was the hosts who left the happier of the two teams however, Royal Lions running out 5-1 winners to pick up a third league win of the season.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, the league leaders, Epping Town, saw their lead at the top slashed to a couple of points as they were defeated by a seventh placed Alpha side at Wanstead Flats. Alpha were 5-3 winners, overcoming Town goals from Joseph Bothwell, Jack Mitchell and Matthew Robinson with strikes of their own from Tariq Mahmoud (2), Jake Skeet, Tafari Miller and Taylor Breakspear.

That result meant that May & Baker EC could becoming part of the nineteen point club and they sit second, extending their strong form with a sixth win of the season, beating Lonsdale 8-1 in Dagenham. Alex Paraskeva (2), Billy Biggs, Josh Russell, David Smith, Johnny Gallagher, Billy Norris and Ross Riding were on the scoresheet with Kalium Fletcher notching the visitors’ goal.

Also part of that group of clubs ready to strike on nineteen points are Chingford Athletic who made it seven wins courtesy of their latest victory in east London, beating Mansfield Rangers at Douglas Eyre. Billy Happe and James Scott scored for Rangers but Chingford goals from Justin Clarke, Billy Harding and Kwame Woodley meant it was their side leaving 3-2 winners.

There was an eight-goal thriller to round off the action in the division as Athletic Newham travelled to Hainault to face a Legacy City side. There was little between the sides who battled to a 4-4 draw by the end with Kristian Panayotov, Frankie Naidoo, Georgi Meloyan and Jewell Boakye-Yiadom scoring for the hosts and Kieran Dickerson (2), Russell Jones and Chris Ablitt levelling it for Newham.

DIVISION SIX

The title race is hotting up in Division Six as the existing leaders, Ping City Phoenixes, saw defeat for just the second time this season on Sunday, falling to a 3-2 home defeat as JK Silvertown Reserves extended their decent run of form. Jack Flood and Varun Syal scored for Ping but JK goals from Patrick Duggan, Danny Lock and Daniel Longland meant their side left as winners.

That result meant that Newbury Drive could close the gap at the top to just a couple of points and they duly obliged, racking up win number eight this season with a big 11-1 home win against FC Mexico in the Forest Road derby. Jack Newbury-Neale scored a hat-trick, Mitchell Edmonds and Luey Young both scored two, Alfie Mobey, Graham Bryan, Charlie Thompson and Mason Stafford also netting.

Third placed Colebrook Royals A are still hovering in a strong position and ready to pounce of any slips around them, picking up another win for their own account as they defeated Ace Athletics in a 6-3 scoreline at Redbridge Sports Centre. Jake Austin and Jedd Coster both scored twice, Daniel O’Toole and Freddie Sullivan adding the others, overcoming two Tom Mason goals and a Louis Vallis effort.

Debden Sports B are another side showing some good form in their recent fixtures and they sit in fifth spot on fifteen points after picking up maximum points in their away game at Inter Newbury on Sunday morning. Rhys Clements scored two, Montel Odunsi and Andrew Moffat also scoring as Sports won the game 4-2.

At Hainault Rec, London Legacy were the visitors at the weekend to take on a Hainault Athletic side sitting just a point behind them as the game got underway. But that was extended to a four point lead by the end as Legacy edged the game in a 2-1 result to earn win number three. Luke Barrow struck for the hosts but Oluwaseyi Ijiwole and Walid Benmouna goals turned the tide.

DIVISION SEVEN

Warren United moved to within two points of the leaders in Division Seven on Sunday, but did have to settle for a share of the spoils after an entertaining 4-4 draw against Barking Colts. Emmanuel Fowowe had a day to remember for Colts, scoring all four goals, though Oliver Regan done his best to replicate with a Warren hat-trick, Anthony Craft notching the other to share the points.

That result meant to that other sides could close the gap on the sides at the top and Emerson & Upminster did just that as they came away with all three points from Newbury Park after winning 4-1 against Zone 4 Athletic. Archie Larkin’s brace and goals from Louis Cook-Forrester and Charlie Monaghan saw their side to the win with David Logan’s effort just consolation for Zone.

Over in Barkingside, it was Romford Bullsharks and United Amateurs Reserves renewing acquaintances once again and there was a certain whiff of de ja vu in the air as United won once again in a 3-2 result. James Edwards, Memsur Gorda and Myrtezan Celiku all struck with George Creedon and Jack Newins accredited with Romford’s goals.

COUNTY CUP

It was a great morning for league sides in the Essex Sunday Premier Cup, beginning with AC Milano’s progression into the quarter-finals of the competition on their debut, taking down former winners Priory Sports at Fords on Sunday in a 4-1 scoreline.

Also moving into the next round, albeit a round behind the other sides, holders Hatch Lane are into the last sixteen of the competition, coming away winners against Chelmsford Sunday League opposition, 3-0 winners at Woodham Radars.

In the Essex Sunday Junior Cup, FC Galaxy had to do things the hard way, coming from behind against Benfleet B to take their place in the fourth round, their trip to Woodside eventually ending in a 6-2 win for the league representatives.

Colebrook Royals Reserves saw their involvement in the competition reach an end against higher ranked opposition, going down in the narrowest of margins after a 1-0 home defeat against Woodham Radars Reserves.

Over in Hainault, it was a similar story for Leytonstone Athletic who also had higher ranked opposition up against them as Tiptree Heath made the journey down. It was Tiptree who left the happier, 4-3 winners over Leytonstone in the end to head on.

In the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy, it was a memorable morning for Valence United C who overcame an undefeated side from five divisions above them in the form of Thurrock Sunday League’s Stanham Rangers to move into round four, 5-2 winners down in Corringham.

The weekend’s action is completed in the London Sunday Junior Cup third round where East London Ballers Under 23s were up against Camden Sunday League opposition with The Gun II their opponents. It was The Gun who fired themselves through though, the visitors 5-0 winners in the end.