WEEK 2 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian action from the second weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

Five teams share top spot in the Senior Division with just goal difference keeping them apart. United Dian head that pack at present after making a stunning debut in the competition with a 12-4 win away at Repton Park in Loughton. Ian Thompson scored an incredible six goals for Dian with Herve Zola (2), Joey May, Brian Moses, Erol Bellot and Henderson Browne efforts finishing things off.

Two sides have identical records after two weeks with Baiteze Squad benefiting from alphabetical order to sit second as they opened their season with good result against FC Ballr in Chigwell. Two sides packed with quality battled hard but it was the hosts who ended the happier as they completed a 4-1 win.

Also sitting in joint second are Secret who also began their new campaign in some style with a strong performance against El Valiente who themselves had opened with a win last weekend. Ernest Okoh was on strong form and netted a hat-trick for the hosts with Jack Boyes’ goal seeing his side through to a 4-1 scoreline.

Completing a theme of “4” goal scorelines, the remaining game in the top flight came from Dagenham where Alliance Stars made their competitive debuts with a home clash against East Way Athletic. Joao Massala and Tunde Olagunju efforts accounted for the Stars strikes but four East goals in reply set the visitors on the way to a 4-2 victory.

PREMIER DIVISION

It’s East Stars leading the way in the Premier Division after they followed up an opening day win with a quite incredible draw as they combined with Barking & Dagenham Wanderers to finish 5-5 in Barkingside. Home braces from Amod Adeyemi and Joshua Adu along with Michael Isiquzo’s goal accounted for the Stars efforts but a Godfrey Gambaza hat-trick off the bench for Wanderers plus goals from Deji Akinyemi and Jack Drake levelled things up.

Flyhouse Athletic’s second coming to the league ended in a positive result as they battled to a solid win against Barking Riverside in Dagenham. Aaron Matthews and Callum McCarthy both netted for Barking but a Jake Fenton hat-trick led the way in reply, adding to strikes from Tyrone Scarlett and Michael Melim to make it 5-2 to the visitors.

It was also a good morning’s work from Brook Athletic who started the new season in positive fashion with an opening win against Roose in Newbury Park. Samir Hihmoutine scored a hat-trick to go with a Kyle Matthew-Thompson strike as the hosts rounded off a 4-2 win, sitting them third after the first fortnight of action.

DIVISION ONE

Abridge Village followed up their opening day win with another on Sunday with a strong performance against FC Mexico A. Larry Akin scored twice for the hosts with Sam McDonough and keeper Tom Hockley also finding the target in a 4-1 win, leaving them top of the pile.

Goal difference separates second and third with Theydon Green leading the chasing pack as they added a win to their opening draw in a 6-2 win on the road away at Emerson Park. Noah Friend scored twice with Ben Harris, Bill Johnson, George Johnson and Harry Carter goals doing the damage for the promoted side at Hendersons.

FC Galaxy have made a similar start following their own promotion and had a narrow victory on Sunday with a hard fought performance against AC Milano at West Ham Park. Luchian Grigore was the only scorer of the day and subsequently the match winner as Galaxy won 1-0 to sit third after two weeks of football.

There was another close game over in Dagenham where hosts Barking were up against Oceana at Parsloes Park. The game was won by the odd goal in three as Ronnie Rouse and Kai Stephen combined to get on the Oceana scoresheet, overcoming an Alfie Bellotti goal for the Blues in a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two table has a familiar feel with two sides locking horns once again. Roneo Colts lead the way on goal difference alone so far after they picked up a big 6-2 win on Sunday at home against Thames Ironworks Community. Adam Hunt and Johnnie Offei both scored for Thames but a home hat-trick from Dwayne Francis-Riley and strikes from Shermar Marshalleck, Keenan Gravillis and Rorie McKenzie were enough for a Colts win.

The other familiar name in the battle at the top is Eastbrook United who have also made a perfect start so far with a pair of victories, this time seeing off Frenford in a 2-0 win at The Drive. A goal apiece from Heavenly Bende and Harry Petersen were the difference on the day to record the win and move second.

There was opening success for St Augustines who got their season off to a good start with a 5-3 home win against Asianos in Highams Park. Callum Daniels netted a hat-trick to go with goals from Jonathan Davies and James Edelman. Isa Hussain, Masum Hussain and Lewis Jones goals put Asianos back in the game in the second half but the Saints held on to win.

After the disappointment of an opening day defeat, Royal Lions A got back to winning ways with a strong performance away at Korona Redbridge in a local derby fixture. Lions were 4-0 winners on the day to secure their first points since promotion and to give them a real boost ahead of the upcoming fixtures.

The final game in the division came from Ockendon where FC Mexico B made the trip down to face East London Harriers in what proved to be a close game. Serghei Scupoi found the back of the net for the Mexicans but Harriers also netted on of their own as the two sides settled for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw, both opening their points account in the process.

DIVISION THREE

The early leaders in Division Three are Higham Hill although they had to work for that position, coming from behind against Dagenham Town. Town had led 4-1 through goals from Antony Connor, Jordan Samuels, Tommy Crowe and Loui Grech but Hill got themselves back in the game and incredibly won it 5-4 through goals from Bryan Smith (2), Billy Jago, Charlie Saywood and Asim Khan.

Monkhams have moved up to second place as the Loughton based outfit followed up their opening day draw with a big win this time around after defeating new side Mayfield Kings in an emphatic 19-0 scoreline.

Another side who improved on their opening day performances were Leytonstone Athletic after they came away victorious from their away clash against Debden Sports Reserves. George Burton had a terrific day, scoring all four of his sides goals to see Athletic to a 4-1 win, overcoming a Jamie Rones effort from the hosts.

Over in Waltham Abbey, Upshire Forest opened their points account after coming through a hard fought encounter against Imperial Row 4-3. Derrick Agyemang, Jess Collier and James Hutton all got on the Row scoresheet but a Forest brace in reply from Charlie Newman along with goals form Leighton Hughes-Franklin and James Short made the difference to take home the points.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, there’s been a strong start form Ultimate Vision Reserves who top the table after two weekends on the back of an away win on Sunday, returning home from Newbury Park with a 2-1 victory against Singh Sabha Barking. Dilan Thandi netted for Singh Sabha but two UV goals in reply were enough to see the points head their way.

It was an important morning for one of the league’s new clubs as Raphael Park Rovers got their first competitive win in the competition as they defeated Romford Athletic Dons in Romford. Charlie Moore was the hero with a hat-trick, overcoming Dons goals from Billy Pearmain and Chris Ratty in a 3-2 scoreline.

Sitting third in the standings, Blackwall Rovers made a solid start to the new season on Sunday as they visited Chingford Athletic Reserves at Town Mead. A goal apiece from Billy Barr, Macauley White and Louie Webster proved just enough in the end as Rovers began the campaign with a 3-2 victory.

Ace Athletics also bounced back well from their performance in week one to edge a classic in Barkingside, defeating fellow new members, Hillside, in a 4-3 scoreline. Jay Simmons scored twice while Charlie land and Thomas Mason efforts were also key as they helped their club to a first ever competitive win.

Two of the strongly fancied sides in the division met in Walthamstow over the weekend where Ainslie were looking to build on their opening win but were up against an improved United Amateurs side who have recruited well in pre-season. In the end the sides had to settle on a 1-1 draw as Connor Gardner struck for Ainslie and Deividas Sertvietis notching for United.

The final game in the sixth tier came from Dagenham where last season’s cup finalists, Titans United, were in action with a home clash against Lonsdale. Craig Daley and Meridian Gjeta were both on target for Lonsdale but United strikes from Jack Dooney and Liam Sullivan mean the sides had to settle on a 2-2 draw and a point apiece.

DIVISION FIVE

Three sides sit locked on six points at the top of Division Five with United Borough presently leading the way after their most recent outing, a 7-2 win away in Beckton against Custom House Community. Ben Miller scored a hat-trick for Borough, Luke Suchley scored twice along with efforts from Ryan Rodwell and Jake Griffin. Jack Field and Isaac Boateng netted the goals in reply for Custom House.

Dagenham Rangers are second in the standings on goal difference as they made it two wins from two with a solid home win in a hard fought clash against Byron Red Star. Byron have showed their own credentials with solid performances against fancied sides so but Rangers proved to have enough on the day, running out 2-1 victors.

It was a good morning’s work for Belfry Reserves also who came away as solid 6-2 winners against Athletico City from their clash in Newbury Park, Sunny Kambo netted once again for City with Ryan Khan grabbing the other. But visiting braces from Lewis Rix and Jamie Redington, plus goals from Luke MacDonald and PJ Marcus, set Belfry on the path to victory.

Royal Lions B will be pleased with their response to an opening day win after they picked up all three points on Sunday against Young Royals in the Forest Road derby match. Lions were 4-2 winners on the day to secure the points and move up to sixth in the standings after two weeks of the season.

Completing the division’s action, Colebrook Royals also bounced back from a defeat last weekend to pick up maximum points at home against Valence United. Rowan Newland scored twice and Burt Cardy once for United but braces from Joe Cole and Nedret Ozkasim plus a Ben Sitki strike handed a 5-3 win to Royals.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Mansfield Rangers will be pleased with their efforts so far as they made it two wins from two on Sunday with a closely fought 2-1 win away at Valence United Reserves. Jo Megege was a Valence scorer once again but Rangers goals from Kemston Allen and Jake Magson were too much in the end and they returned home with the points.

The biggest win in the division came in Woodford where Royal Lions’ C side were in action for the first time in adult football and it will be a day they remember after beating Epping Forest Falcons in a 5-0 scoreline. That victory sees Lions jump straight up to fourth place and with hopes of a positive season ahead for the young side.

Over in Newbury Park, London Legacy were also making their competitive debut with the league and were involved in a close game with Ping City Phoenixes making the trip along the A12. Lucas Tavares scored the first competitive goal for Legacy but two Ping strikes from Daniel Arnot and Ezra Waterman handed the visitors a 2-1 win.