WEEK 16 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

Upshire have booked their place in the semi-finals of the Corinthian Cup after a scintillating end to what had been an entertaining quarter-final Christmas cracker against Repton Park. Dan Rowe scored twice with Thomas Goodey, Tyler Dangerfield, Lee Sontag and David Ayres also scoring to complete a 6-1 win and book a home date with Warren United in the new year.

PREMIER DIVISION

Warren United have climbed up a number of places in the table to fifth after securing a big 6-1 win on Sunday against Downs. James Peagram took his season’s goal tally to sixteen with a hat-trick adding to goals from Harrison Slater, William Sherrin and Daniel Bell to make it a better Christmas.

Liberty Stars will spend the festive period in third place as they confirmed a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw against Valentines United. Chris Blohm and Jonathan Andrews were both on target for the visitors but a brace from Benjamin Forkuo for the Stars ends a profitable first half to the season.

DIVISION ONE

Emerson Park are now five points clear at the top of Division One after a convincing 4-1 away win at the weekend over fifth placed Valley Park. A goal for each of Kyle Paevie, Joe Woolley and Joe Pattison rounds off 2016 in style for the Hornchurch-based side.

DIVISION TWO

The unpredictable nature of Division Two continued at the weekend with Westferry Elite missing the chance to go top after being held to a 2-2 draw at Morfdown Elect. Strikes from Adam Davis and Zubair Nazari gave Elect a valuable point in their quest to avoid the drop.

Defences were feeling in festive spirit at Spring Farm where Romford Galaxy beat Lonsdale in an eleven-goal thriller by the odd goal. Kris Katzarov was the difference with four goals for Galaxy adding to Gary Smith and Gary Sharpe goals. Anton Gjergji and Kalium Fletcher both netted braces in reply for Lonsdale with Scott Clark also scoring consolation goals.

Another entertaining game in the division saw FC Mexico travel to E4 Rangers and come home with maximum points after a narrow 3-2 win. Goals from Craig Smith, Dean Hendrickson and Rhys Tyrrell keep Mexico in with a chance of mounting their own challenge for the title in the new year with games in hand.

DIVISION THREE

Game of the day in Division Three saw the top two sides clash in a titanic tussle for the top spot. Wanstead United went into the game unbeaten in the league while Upshire Reserves needed a victory to narrow the gap and that was what they ended up doing. The Waltham Abbey side ran out 8-2 victors on the day to move to within a couple of points of their rivals for title glory.

Ridgeway Rovers’ positive recent form continued into the weekend where they came away 4-2 winners in Chingford against Asianos Reserves. Jaden Maloney scored a hat-trick with Duone Minors accompanying him onto the scoresheet to make it a good Christmas for the league’s new boys.

DIVISION FOUR

SL Menfica are just one win away from scooping the league title in their first season in existence after an entertaining 7-4 win on Sunday against Heathside. Lewis Clark netted a hat-trick for the hosts, Charlie Parish a double and singles from James Dobson and Jordan Clark to put them on the brink. Craig Ellis scored twice for Heathside with Jamie Crews and Mark Ellis one each in consolation.

Goresbrook will not want the Christmas to come as their climb up the table continued with a 9-2 win at the weekend against Oak Royals. Braces from Charlie Barrett, William Cox and Liam Coney done the damage with Dimitri Pafnouti, Ricky Cripps and Matthew Cordery also finding the back of the net to make it a good Christmas for their side.