WEEK 17 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

TROPHYLAND CUP

The season re-commenced on Sunday after the festive break with a pair of cup ties top of the bill in the Trophyland Cup.

A goal-filled tie between Park Tavern and Wanstead United saw the latter see off their higher league opponents as they recorded a 7-4 win. Jason Branche scored a hat-trick with both Ross Grimes and Shaun Clarke netting doubles to book their place in the next round. Rodney Sarsah-Wilson scored twice in reply for Tavern adding to goals from Connor Frost and Greg Saunders but they proved mere consolation.

A single goal was enough to settle a tight quarter final tie as Division Three’s Alpha attempted to take another big scalp in this competition. However it was E4 Rangers from Division Two who took the honours with a Ciaran Kelly strike the difference between the sides to take them through to the semi-finals.

PREMIER DIVISION

Upshire are closing in on a maiden Corinthian league title in the Premier Division as they came through their latest clash with Quality Control with aplomb.  David Ayres scored twice for the Waltham Abbey side as Harry Elmes, Charlie Freeman and Thomas Goodey goals confirmed a 5-0 win.

Warren United move up to fourth in the table after scoring five goals of their own in a 5-1 win at home to Liberty Stars. James Peagram led the way with his hat-trick with goals from Bobby Wise and William Sheerin enough to cancel out a Vincent Kwarteng strike for the visitors.

Matt Hunt’s return to Flanders colours was a successful one as he bagged himself a hat-trick to lead the East Ham side to a 4-1 win at home to Repton Park. Shane Campbell was on target for the hosts to render a Jesse Spearing goal as a mere consolation for Repton.

DIVISION ONE

The entertainment in Division One continued on Sunday with twenty-five goals in the four fixtures.

Leading the way in the scoring stakes were Korona Redbridge who beat Barking 6-4 in a ten-goal thriller in Wanstead. Adam Waclawczyk and Dawid Smolarek each found the net for a brace with Zoltan Rozsa and Konrad Mroczka also scoring for their side. In reply, Daniel Cook, Bradley Marston, Charlie Surridge and Kastriot Vata were the Barking scorers but their efforts fell just short.

Chingford Celtic also struck the net six times as Robert Teppett scored a hat-trick to put his side on the way to a 6-2 against Warren United Reserves. Mark Howe also scored twice and Ross Chimes once to cancel out Daniel Bryan and Dominic Slater goals for the visitors.

Aldborough Hatch came through their match-up with a much improved Dagenham United side by the odd goal with Daniel Wright, James Gibbings and Kieran Hatt all finding the back of the net in a 3-2 win. That result sees Hatch hold onto second place for now.

In a rather more sedate style, there were just two goals in the remaining match in the division, both going to the league leaders, Emerson Park, who completed a 2-0 victory against St Augustines with Kyle Paevie notching another goal for his tally.

DIVISION TWO

It was raining hat-tricks at Parsloes Park on Sunday with three between the two sides in the Lonsdale and Morfdown Elect match-up. Lonsdale’s Anton Gjergji moved top of the league’s scorers chart with a four goal haul with teammate Kalium Fletcher netting a hat-trick of his own to help their side to a 7-4 victory. Not wishing to be outdone, Elect’s Adam Davis showed his own scoring prowess with a hat-trick.

There were some big results at the top of Division Two where Docklands Albion moved to within a point of the top of the table following a 2-1 win over promotion chasing rivals, FC Mexico. Dean Hendrickson was the Mexico goal scorer but saw his effort countered by strikes from Tashan Benjamin and Wilson Diogo to give Albion the points.

And London Fire Brigade stay in touch with the leading sides after beating third placed Westferry Elite by the odd goal. Yomi Popoola done the damage with a brace for the Brigade to see off a Daniel Stevenson goal for the hosts.

DIVISION THREE

Upshire Reserves have gone top of Division Three following a narrow 3-2 win at FC United of Hornchurch on Sunday. Billy Pearce and Thomas Pidgeon were both on target for United but a goal apiece from Danny Haigh, Ross Paterson and Tyler Paterson confirmed an important victory and top spot.

Ridgeway Rovers stay third in the table following a win by the odd goal against Asianos Reserves. Jordon Charles and Jaden Maloney were the goal scorers to see their side to maximum points.

Completing a trio of single goal victories in the division were Alliance United who beat AC Milano Reserves by the odd goal. Lewis Vizor and Nicky Hornsby were the United goal scorers to see off a Zeeshan Nabi strike from the visitors.

DIVISION FOUR

Oak Royals kept the SL Menfica champagne on ice for at least a little while longer on Sunday with a 2-0 win at home to Epping Forest Falcons. Goals from each of Harry Goodman and Jack O’Callaghan were the difference between the sides on the day.

Goresbrook’s recovery continued with another victory this weekend, this time over Grey Area. Charlie Barrett scored a hat-trick, William Cox a double and singles from Ricky Cripps, Samuel Berry and Liam Coney to see off their co-tenants in an 8-1 win. Jordan May was the man on target with Grey’s consolation goal.

And in the Castle Green derby, an entertaining eight-goal thriller went the way of Heathside as Sam Owen’s hat-trick plus goals from Joe Palmer and Ryan Dent saw off Central Colts in a 5-3 win. Substitute Tunde Olagunju came off the bench for Colts to repair the damage with a hat-trick but his efforts eventually proved in vain.

COUNTY CUP

Our congratulations go to Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who secured an Essex Sunday Junior Trophy quarter-final berth at the weekend with a 5-2 win at Wallis. Their reward is a home tie in the next round at home to Laindon Orient with spirits high for further progress.

It wasn’t quite such good news for the league’s other representatives, Hornchurch Oakmont, who after a valiant cup run were knocked out by Barking’s next opponents, Laindon Orient, to exit the competition.