WEEK 17 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The line-up for this season’s Corinthian Cup quarter finals was completed at the weekend as the remaining second round tie saw East Stars make the short trip along Forest Road to take on Roose at Fairlop Oak in an entertaining game. With the game seemingly heading for a shootout at 2-2, Roose scored a late, late winner to earn a 3-2 victory at a trip to Baiteze Squad in the last eight.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

It’s been a good season so far for Colebrook Royals Reserves and they extended their form into the Endeavour Cup, causing a cup shock by knocking out Division Five’s Eastern Avenue in a 5-2 scoreline. Leon Winer came off the bench to score twice with teammates Archie Locke, Phorell Brooke and Kamran Latif netting the others to go through to the last sixteen.

SENIOR DIVISION

Hatch Lane are three points clear at the top of the Senior Division standings following the weekend’s results, securing this with a solid 4-0 home win on Sunday as they defeated Secret in Hainault. Daniel Rudolph scored twice, coupled with efforts from Ashley Wackers-Kyriacou and Kevin Bondjanga to complete the scoresheet.

Sitting second are FC Ballr who have played more games than those around them but stuck more points on the board with a terrific 9-1 win against London Mavericks. Ayodele Awosika scored four for the Dagenham side with further goals arriving through Ayomikun Odukoya, Timothy Ogunrinde, Owen Bellamy and Kennedy Akenkorah.

With games in hand on those above, Baiteze Squad presently sit third and ensured they remained in touch with a hard fought victory against rivals El Valiente on Sunday over in Chigwell. Chaka Barnett scored on his debut for the Baiteze with Kevin Krans on target with two off the bench as the hosts eventually came through 3-1 victors ahead of the weekend’s big FA Sunday Cup tie against SE Dons.

PREMIER DIVISION

There was just one game in the Premier Division this weekend but it did see the league leaders in action with Brook Athletic at home against Barking Riverside seeking to extend their lead at the top. But they were held to a rare scoreless draw against their previously fifth placed opponents who battled hard to ensure they took a share of the points.  

DIVISION ONE

Oceana have once again moved level at the top of the Division One standings as they moved onto the twenty-eight point mark with a narrow victory on Sunday away at bottom side FC Mexico A. Despite the sizeable gap between the two sides, it took a rare Joe Belcher goal to pull the teams apart with Oceana benefitting from that effort to win the game 1-0.

Third placed FC Galaxy had a morning to remember with a stunning 17-1 win, beating their local rivals, Barking, to keep themselves in an outside position for a promotion push this season. Justin Lopes had scored his customary goal for the Blues but his efforts were not enough as Galaxy strolled to a win.

AC Milano are up to fourth in the standings, taking advantage of sides around them in cup action to shift up a spot courtesy of a solid home showing against Emerson Park. Mohamed Kidia came off the bench to score twice with Tayyab Akhtar, Nadeem Khankhara and Uzair Patel all netting in a 5-1 win for their side.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Royal Lions A have moved to within two points of top spot after they scored the only goal of a close game against East London Harriers, returning from Ockendon with all three points in a 1-0 victory. That result enabled them move up a place to third and sit just outside the promotion places with games in hand too.

The biggest winners in the division were Thames Ironworks Community who took full points from their trip to Barkingside, defeating FC Mexico B in a 5-0 scoreline. Adam Hunt rolled back the years to score twice for the visitors, adding to goals from Allan Smith, Tayo Felstead and Kai Parkinson-Prevost.

DIVISION THREE

Leytonstone Athletic have moved to within a point of top spot in Division Three as they took maximum points from their game at relegation threatened Mayfield Kings, earning themselves an 11-1 home win in Newbury Park. George Burton was in scintillating form, scoring seven for his side, while Bruno Dos Santos and Pat Ambrose each bagged a brace to complete the scoring.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the game of the day saw the top two sides go head to head with United Amateurs at home to Singh Sabha Barking in search of points to close the gap. But it was Singh Sabha who ended the day in pole position for the title, recording a ninth win in ten on the back of a 4-2 victory. Bradley Bennett netted in reply for UA but his efforts proved in vain.

Blackwall Rovers have moved into the top half of the table, moving up to fifth on the back of their performance at the weekend, coming away with three points as they defeated Ace Athletics at the Flats. Alex Mason got on the Ace scoresheet but this proved just consolation in the end as Rovers were in fine scoring form themselves on the day, winning the game 5-1.

There was a tremendous result for Raphael Park Rovers who overcame a fourteen point deficit in the league against third placed Ainslie to record a fourth league win of the season, moving up a place to seventh. Charlie Moore’s goals this season have proved pivotal and he scored twice more with Billy Allen netting the other in a 3-1 win.

The division’s remaining game saw Ultimate Vision Reserves meet Chingford Athletic Reserves in Dagenham with just three points separating those teams going into the weekend’s fixture. And that was how it stood by full-time with the teams sharing the points in a 2-2 draw, remaining sixth and fourth respectively in the standings.

DIVISION FIVE

Colebrook Royals Vets extended their lead at the top of Division Five to eight points at the weekend as they defeated Custom House Community in Beckton, winning the game 6-3. Jamie Wooster was in good form once again scoring twice with Jack Field netting the other. But their efforts were not quite enough as Royals scored six of their own to take the points.

Valence United are up to third and just a point off a promotion place aided by their most recent success, coming away 6-1 winners on Sunday against Young Royals. Michael O’Brien scored twice and Kyle Moran, Ryan Knight, James Jacobs and Rowan Newland struck the others to complete a solid win for the promotion challengers.

Byron Red Star put in a strong winning performance of their own as they moved back into the top half of the table with a 6-1 win away at Athletico City on Sunday. Alexander Oduwole, Adrian John, Michael Dekson, Stefanos Ladoukakis, Perry Robinson and Ryan O’Connell all got themselves on the scoresheet to help their side to a sixth league victory.

There was an important result for Ultimate Vision A who moved themselves away from danger at the bottom end of the table, overcoming eighth placed Dagenham Rangers at Barking Park to win the game 2-0. Max Brett and George Matthew both scored for Vision in what was just their fourth win of the season in the league.

DIVISION SIX

Valence United Reserves have closed the gap on the league leaders to four points in Division Six as they returned to action in the new year with a hard fought 5-3 win on the road away at Royal Lions C. Keenan Mitchell and Kamal Mahoney each struck twice with Jo Megege netting the other to record maximum points for their side, extending their push for promotion.

Just a few pitches away, Woodford Green United were also in action at the Rec and they sit comfortably in the top half of the table now following a big win against Ivory United. Danny Plunger’s scored four for Woodford, George Butler struck a hat-trick with Beau Striebig grabbing the other in a 7-0 win.

COUNTY CUP

It was a tremendous day for the league in county cup ties with a Corinthian winner in each completed tie played. There were some real thrillers in the Essex Sunday Premier Cup where Belfry slogged it out in tough conditions against holders, Palmers, Belfry eventually edging a close game 5-4 late on to go through.

That scoreline was reflected just down the road at Old Parkonians where Flyhouse Athletic hosted Abridge Village in an all-Corinthian tie for a place in the quarter finals. And it was Division One’s Abridge who caused a real surprise, knocking out their Premier Division opponents in an exciting 5-4 scoreline.

There were just the seven goals at the Henry Barrass where Kulture Klub put the travails of a difficult season behind them for ninety minutes to secure a place in the quarter finals of the county cup, defeating Old Chelmsfordians in a 4-3 win, securing a home draw against Rouge 21. That was Klub’s first win of the season and what a game to produce it in. Football can be a funny old game.

Completing the county action, Theydon Green met Chingford Athletic on Sunday in the Essex Sunday Junior Cup fourth round, the two Division One sides going head to head for a place in the last eight. It was the league leaders, Green, who advanced through on the day as they won 7-0 to keep them on track for county glory.