WEEK 16 REVIEW: Review of Sunday's league and cup action

TROPHYLAND CUP

The first cup semi-finalists of the season were confirmed on Sunday as St Augustines carried themselves to just one game away from a place at Thurrock later in the season. They had a tough battle on their hands as they travelled to face Division Three’s promotion chasing Dagenham United Reserves at Manor Road. Gary Adams, Danny Brown and George Martin got on the scoresheet for the Daggers but Saints goals from Jack Dalby, Kyran Allen, David Fitzgerald and Nathan Hitchman proved too much as they ran out 4-3 winners.

DIVISION ONE

There was a huge match in Division One as a little Christmas cracker was served up down at Emerson Park School as FC Mexico took on league leaders, Ultimate Vision. It took just a single goal to separate these well matched sides as an early Alex O’Halloran effort handed Mexico a 1-0 victory and a climb to second in the table too.

DIVISION TWO

Down in Division Two, in a division where not even Mystic Meg could predict the outcome of this title chase, there was a battle royale in Waltham Abbey with Upshire and Wanstead United picking up once where they left off in last season’s rivalry to serve up a seven-goal thriller. Jason Branche and Ciaran James both netted twice for United to overcome three goals from the hosts to run out 4-3 winners, moving their side back above their opponents to the summit for the festive period.

DIVISION THREE

Ridgway Rovers have ended the first half of the season with an unbeaten record as they extended their lead at the top on Sunday with a hard fought win over an improving Lings Elite outfit. The hosts prevailed in a 2-0 win woith both goals scored by Duone Minors to open up a five point gap at the top although second placed FC United do have a couple of games in hand.

Also winning in their last game of the year were Roneo Colts who bounced back from defeat in their last outing to beat Asianos Reserves in Leyton on Sunday. A comfortable 3-0 win was achieved, seeing the Dagenham based outfit up a place to sixth in the league standings.

DIVISION FOUR

There was plenty of action in Division Four as Thames Ironworks Community continued their promotion push with a victory in the Newham derby, beating local rivals Custom House Community in a 3-2 victory. Reece Lewis scored twice and Theo Towli once to render Custom House goals from Giuseppe Hiranda and Evangelos Shianios as mere consolation to close the gap on the promotion places to just two points.

There was a sixth win of the campaign for Grey Area as they put on a sterling performance against East Ham Inter to run out 4-2 winners in Chadwell Heath. Connor Frost was the hero for his side with a hat-trick with a Josh Malone effort completing the scoring to see their side up to fifth in the standings as Christmas.

Completing the first part of the season with an unbeaten record are Emerson Park Under 21s who overcame the challenge of Newham Athletic in a 4-2 scoreline also. Ronnie Hobbrough continued his scoring streak with a brace accompanying efforts from Joseph Newson and Jack Lakey onto the scoresheet to complete a fifth win of the season.