WEEK 16 REVIEW: Round-up of all the first league and cup action of the new year

TROPHYLAND CUP

The Corinthian action for 2023 got back underway on Sunday with FC Mexico B taking their place in the third round of the Trophyland Cup competition after they came through a potential banana skin tie at home against Division Six’s Ridgeway Rovers. But Mexico ensured it was them heading through with Emmanuel Rowe netting two and Alan Liddell one. Tyrell Howard scored both Rovers goals in reply.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, Manford Way remain top going into the new year, aided by their most recent success which saw them pick up all three points in Leyton, beating East Way Athletic at the County Ground in a 5-2 scoreline. That was Manford’s sixth league win of the season as they sit four points clear of the chasing pack presently.

Second placed London All Stars remain well in contention to mount a title challenge and they started their new year in a positive fashion with a home victory against FLY in east London. Misha Djemaili scored twice for All Stars with Ayub Kadiri netting the other in a 3-0 success for their side, a fifth league win in eight.

The division’s remaining side with a perfect record, Flyhouse Athletic, continued that trend into January as they were victorious in a home clash with El Valiente over at Fords Newbury Park. Jake Fenton scored twice, Solomon Ogunwomoju and Tyrone Scarlett netting the others as Flyhouse won the game 4-1.

DIVISION ONE

It was a busy morning in Division One and the league leaders, Theydon Green, resumed where they left off in 2022 by extending their unbeaten record with a ninth league success in ten, overcoming rivals Oceana in a 6-0 win over in Hainault. Luke Dimond shone for the visitors with a hat-trick while Frankie Licheri, Josh Steele and Ben Harris efforts completed the win for the Loughton based side.

Third placed Gants Hill moved to within three points of the promotion places as they recorded win number six this term with a hard fought 5-3 victory at home against Royal Lions A in East Ham. Braces from Yaaseen Patel and Dylan Broadley led the way, Richie Danquah scoring the other to hand their side the points.

Critics moved up into fourth on goal difference as their game against St Augustines went the way of the Barkingside outfit, Critics beating the Saints 2-0. Marc Porter-Brown and Daniel Florence scored the goals to take the points on the day, that result being the hosts’ fourth league win in eight this season so far.

Sitting just a point further back, FC Galaxy’s first outing of the new year saw them travel across to East Ham where they faced a Benchviews side sitting precariously a point outside of the drop zone going into the game. And that situation remained by full-time as Galaxy were 5-2 winners, goals coming from Giovani Paladoiu (2), Iulian Lupu, Mihai Mareniuc and Alexandru Rincu.

Over in Hainault, two of the division’s mid-table outfits went to battle with Total Football the visitors to take on an in-form Barking Riverside team. With just a couple of points between the sides going into the game, it proved a closely fought contest, ending 2-2 as both sides shared the spoils in the end. Nile Painter scored both of the Total goals for his side.

DIVISION TWO

Third placed Cloud 9 made a terrific start to the new year as they saw off the league leaders, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, in Dagenham as the visitors won 3-0. Ryan Costello, Jake Griffin and Alan Goddard were the men on target for Cloud who stayed third as a result and closed the gap on the promotion places to six points.

Fourth placed Abridge Village are one of the sides well placed to create a promotion push of their own and they secured a fifth win in six this season as they edged a close game against Newbury Forest in Hainault. Reece Clarke scored twice and Kurt Freeney once with Lloyd Ross scoring both Forest goals in reply in a 3-2 Abridge win.

Higham Hill will be pleased with their efforts in the first game of the year with Barking the visitors to Jubilee seeking to improve their own position in the table. Hill produced a 4-1 winning performance with Bryan Smith scoring twice, Kofi Appiah and Charlie Saywood scoring the others. Benjamin Britton netted the Barking consolation goal in what was an improved showing from them.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, Belfry Reserves have started the new year how they ended the last, producing a ninth league win in nine this season as they saw off the efforts of Eastern Avenue in Hainault in a 4-2 scoreline. Jordan Riches was the hero, scoring a hat-trick, while Jamie Redington extended his scoring record with the other goal.

It was a morning to remember for Adrian John who produced a stunning four-goal performance for Byron Red Star as they completed the league double over Prospect Protégé this season, winning the game 4-1 at Hainault Rec. Emmanuel Alo grabbed the Prospect goal in consolation, a result which saw Byron climb up into fourth place in the table.

In matters affecting the other end of the standings, Chingford Athletic moved off the bottom of the table in Division Four as they recorded just a second league success of the campaign with a hugely important 3-1 win on the road away at Brymans Park. Freddie Zakiewicz scored two and Sam Matthews one for the visitors, Shane Taylor netting the Park goal in response.

DIVISION FIVE

The top two sides record big seven goal wins in Division Five on Sunday with Colebrook Royals Reserves coming out on the right side of a 7-1 success against Manford Way Reserves to remain seven points clear at the summit. Calvin Bell, Dylan Fagan and Phorell Brooke all scored twice with Archie Locke’s effort finishing it off. Jake Li netted the Manford goal but that proved just consolation.

There were also seven goals scored by the side in second, Royal Lions B, who made it eight wins in ten so far in the league this campaign with a strong performance in beating Mayfield Kings at Hainault Rec. That result for the title chasing side left them sitting seven points off the pace but with a game in hand.

Goals continued to be the theme into the division’s final game where Ultimate Vision Reserves and Debden Sports A both had to share six goals as those sides finished level at 3-3 at Old Dagenham Park. The sides began the day five points apart and ended that way, Vision sitting fifth at full-time, Debden remaining eighth.

DIVISION SIX

Valence United Reserves will be pleased with their efforts at the start of the new year as they came from behind away at Havering Palace to take all three points in a 4-2 success, a result which moves them top on goal difference. Ayomide Ibuola, Enzo Victoriano, Eligijus Dapkus and Jamie Fox all found the back of the net to secure a crucial three point haul.

Epping Forest Falcons and Ping City Phoenixes started the day just a point apart in the table and the sides produced a five goal thriller which was eventually settled by Epping who had Emmanuel Addo to thank for their win, scoring twice, while Adithya Desai netted the other in what proved to be a 3-2 win.

In the division’s final game, London Legacy produced their second league win of the season as they took on Zone 4 Athletic over at Chigwell School, winning the game 4-2 to close the gap on their opponents to just three points. Lucas Tavares was the hero with a hat-trick for his side and a terrific long range strike from Mohamed Noor finished it off. Michael Oladehin struck the Zone goal in reply.

FA SUNDAY CUP

National cup holders, Baiteze Squad, are through into the hat for the last sixteen of this year’s competition as they finally managed to complete their tie against Burghfield on Sunday. Baiteze were 2-0 winners in Chigwell to set up a visit to Bedfordshire in a fortnight where they face a St Josephs side who are six time finalists in the competition.

COUNTY CUP

There were some great results in the county cup competitions, beginning with Hatch Lane who continued their defence of the London Sunday Challenge Cup with a third round win away at Spartans on Sunday down in south London.

United Dian saw their run in the competition come to an end however as they face one of the competition’s best sides in Highgate Albion. Dian came away from north London with a 7-3 defeat under their belts as they can now focus on the other competitions they are involved in.

In the London Sunday Challenge Trophy, both of the league’s representatives were victorious in their ties with Brook Athletic in great form as they saw off south London based Duke of Clarence in a 7-1 win in Newbury Park.

And AC Milano were in north London on Sunday to take on Barnet Sunday League side Highgate Albion 2nds and produced a terrific performance to come away 3-0 winners in the game, sending them into the quarter finals of the competition.

In the London Sunday Junior Cup, Ainslie eventually got to complete their third round tie and what a game it proved to be as they shared ten goals with Clapham Phoenix in a 5-5 draw at the end of ninety minutes. They then prevailed on spot kicks, winning 6-5 to head on through into the next round.

There was also Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action at the weekend and last year’s finalists, Valence United, headed on safely through to try and replicate that run, producing a spirited 5-2 away success against White Roding Sports to head into round four.

Also through are Upshire Forest who continued their strong track record in county cup competitions with a home victory at Town Mead on Sunday, taking down a high-flying Anchor Athletic of the Chelmsford Sunday League in a 3-1 scoreline.

Lonsdale’s run in the competition finally came to an end as their opponents on Sunday, Ramsden Scotia, finally put a stop on the hosts’ progress, Ramsden running out 4-2 victors at Castle Green to head into round four.

Also heading out at the third round stage are United Amateurs who will be disappointed to exit following their trip up the A12 to Woodham Radars Reserves, going down 5-2 on the day to see their interest in the competition ended.