WEEK 19 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

On one of the coldest and wettest mornings of the season so far, the second of four Corinthian Cup semi-finalists were confirmed as Emerson Park took on co-tenants FC Mexico in the most local of local derby matches. Premier Division side Emerson Park demonstrated the one division difference between the sides by running out comfortable 4-0 victors. Mitchell Bacon, Scott Day, Reece Sargent and Rob Clark were the men on target to book their place in the last four.

DIVISION ONE CUP

There was a high scoring match in the opening round of the Division One Cup where Waltham Athletic will be sick of the sight of Valentines United, seeing ten goals breach their defence on Sunday. Four goals from Chris Blohm and a James Gibbings hat-trick were the main contributors with an Eliott James brace and Mark Jones effort completing the scoring to render Waltham goals from Joshua Morris and Patrick Djuma as just consolation in a 10-2 scoreline.

DIVISION THREE

One of the biggest results of the day came in the top end of the table clash between Dagenham United Reserves and FC United of Hornchurch with both sides very much in the promotion mix this year. Loui Hazelwood outlined his class with a four goal haul for Dagenham with Danny Brown, Sean Thomas and Gary Adams also netting to win emphatically, 7-0, and make it a day to remember for the third placed side.

There was a hugely important result affecting both ends of the table on Sunday as Alpha played host to Asianos Reserves at Wanstead Flats in a game that both sides will have been keen to take home the points. Ninth placed Asianos were the side to take most of the credit as they beat their lofty opposition 3-1 to move further away from relegation difficulties.

Hornchurch Oakmont were the biggest scorers of the day in Division Three as they beat the weather in their away clash at Roneo Colts, putting nine goals past the Dagenham based side in a 9-3 win. Nathan Adams got himself a hat-trick with a trio of doubles from Charlie Woods, George Terry and Ross Woolward helping to move their side up to seventh place in the table. Sam Bashua, Kai Heather and Jamie Hart were on target with the Colts’ goals.

DIVISION FOUR

The only side to secure a victory in Division Four at the weekend were Oak Royals who returned to league action for the first time in a number of weeks with a trip to Manor Park to face Newham Athletic. In a closely fought contest between the sides, a goal apiece from Harry Goodman and Bill Gregory were enough for a 2-1 win that consolidates their position in the middle of the table.

With just six league games remaining this season, Central Colts have positioned themselves favourably in the title race and remain unbeaten following a muddy, home draw this weekend against Highams Park Royals. Ben Styles and Ryan Radley got the Royals goals to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw which keeps themselves well in contention for the promotion places at the business end of the season.

A 2-2 scoreline was a popular result in this division on Sunday as two further sides took a share of four goals and the points as Epping Forest Falcons headed to Beckton to take on Custom House Community Reserves. Carl Day and Evangelos Shianios grabbed the hosts’ goals but Adam Brewer and Peter Andrew levelled it up for the Falcons to go home with a point apiece.

COUNTY CUP

There was a terrific result in the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy where Upshire made it a hat-trick of county cup wins this month with a long journey to sodden Benfleet to face Sceptre League side, Elm United. They were out of the blocks at some pace and didn’t take their foot off the pedal until the second half as they cruised through in a mind-boggling 11-5 scoreline. They now head on to face Hillford in the quarter finals in February.

There was not quite as much goal scoring in the day’s other county cup encounter where Leyton Celtic were in London Junior Cup action against the KOPA League’s Panathinaikos at Hackney Marshes. In a tightly contested match, a single goal proved the difference as the north London side grabbed it to send Celtic out of the competition 1-0.