WEEK 2 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian league and cup football action

PREMIER DIVISION

The reigning league champions, Repton Park, have opened up their defence of the title in some style so far, recording a second win in succession to move back to the top. They were 4-2 winners on Sunday against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers as George Pummell, Sonny Tovey and Jesse Spearing goals overcame a Ricky Brown effort for Wanderers to bring the points home.

Moving up to second are Elda who followed up their high-scoring draw in the opening round of matches by earning a narrow victory away at Warren United on Sunday. Daniel Bell scored twice for the 2018 league champions but Jack Jeffries and a double from Joey May done the damage in reply, May scoring late on to win it 3-2 for his Elda side.

Opening up their top-flight campaign were SL Menfica who, following their Division One title last year, are now third in the table after a closely fought 2-1 home win against Ultimate Vision in Aveley. David Hornsby and Shaun Goddard got on the scoresheet, rendering a Ryan Chapman goal as just consolation for Vision who move down to fourth.

Completing the action in the top flight is a clash between two of last season’s runners for the title as El Valiente made the trip to Newbury Park to take on Romford Elite in their new surrounds. Rohan Francis was on the scoresheet for the visitors with Jordan Sabaroche’s double earning a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw, each team settling for a point apiece.

DIVISION ONE

The early season leaders in Division One are Colebrook Royals who followed up their enthralling opening day win with a trip to Barkingside to face Korona Redbridge. Mark Wright showcased his talents once more with a hat-trick with John Elmes’ header completing their scoring before half-time. Tomasz Cenin cut the deficit in the second period but it was not enough to prevent Colebrook running out 4-1 victors.

There are a cluster of clubs two points off of the pace, led by Chingford Athletic who followed up their win last week with an exciting 3-3 draw away at KLIK in Dagenham. Michael Mignot’s form in front of goal continued with a brace, Alex Foss scoring their third. But KLIK were not to be beaten as Sean Thomas scored twice and Ricky Brown once to leave them sharing the points in a 3-3 draw.

Also sitting on four points and third on just alphabetical order along, FC Mexico A’s return to the second tier has been a promising one after they saw off the efforts of Oceana in Emerson Park on Sunday. Jamie Hart grabbed the visitor’s goal but Mujib Ayoola, Rhys Tyrell and Gary Adams goals scored for the Mexicans to hand them a 3-1 win.

St Augustines continued their unbeaten start to the new campaign as last year’s cup finalists hosted West Abbey at Saints’ new base in Highams Park. Bobby Wise was on the scoresheet for both of Abbey’s goals but St Augustines made it four points from six, earning a 3-2 win on the day through a Tom Neale double and a Matt Scarsbrook effort.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Chingford Athletic’s newly formed reserves outfit have shot to the top of the table after a pair of wins, their latest being a nine-goal thriller at home to Abridge Village, themselves sporting an opening day win. Jay Grant, Lee Bowers, James Lee-Legon and Scott Watkins got the goals for Chingford with Jay Grant, Jermain Leatherdale, Ross Meachem and Daniel Lawman getting the goals in reply for Abridge in a 5-4 scoreline.

Moving into second place are Central Colts who remain unbeaten and made it four points from six with a win on Sunday against FC Mexico B in Dagenham. Colts hit the back of the net on eight occasions, much to the delight of the home support, putting the disappointment of dropped points behind them from week one.

Walthamstow Avenue made their own emphatic start to the new campaign as they renewed old rivalries against their cup semi final opponents from last season, Barking. Avenue were keen to put the memories of that game behind them and did so in style, Bradley O’Donovan and Sam Crispe both scoring twice. Zack Leitch and Grant Eagle scored the others to round off a 6-0 win.

Bouncing back well from an opening day defeat, Roose got their first points of their history on the board as they took on Wanstead Albion on Sunday who were big winners in week one. Uros Vakanjac scored twice while Conor Bellotti, Shaye La-Rose and Charlie Hawes efforts overcame Albion’s efforts in a 5-3 victory.

And completing the Division Two action were two more sides who were keen to get their first points on the board as Frenford and Thames Ironworks Community met in Ilford with a keen eye on a win. And it was Thames who will be the happier of the two clubs as they secured a strong looking 5-0 win through a Billy Scott brace and single goals from Isiah Green, Ewan Macaulay and Liam Tracey-Cesay.

DIVISION THREE

There are two sides on maximum points so far in Division Two where Barking Riverside top the table following a second win on Sunday having scored the winner in a five-goal thriller. Kai Brown netted two for Alpha to get back on terms but Bukele Mukudi, Kimani Foster and Kwame Rennaljs efforts for Barking completed the 3-2 win.

The second side with a perfect record so far are Blackwall Rovers who made it a pair of 3-1 victories so far as they took the points from their clash at Newham Athletic. James Farmer got on the scoresheet for the hosts but Rovers efforts from Daniel Stevenson, Ryan Hippolyte and Luke Samuels earned them the win to secure maximum points.

After an entertaining first fixture last week, E4 Rangers were back in action in search of a win this time and they did just that, beating Havering Well 6-0 in Walthamstow to move third in the standings. Ryan Radley netted a hat-trick for the hosts with Tim Dye, Macauley White and Ryan Mallett goals completing the scoring.

Moving up to fourth place are Chigwell United who recorded their maiden competitive victory on Sunday with a win at home to Roneo Colts in Chigwell. Karl Knebel, Paul Sauvary, Charlie Cole, Owen McKelvey and Noel Killeen were the men who made the difference, netting a goal each to help United to a 5-0 victory and three points.

Also securing a first league win of their existence, AFC Theydon will have been pleased with their morning’s runout as they romped to a big win over the experienced London Fire Brigade side in Hainault. Sam Pup scored for Fire but his efforts were in vain as a Mathew Leonard double and efforts from Harry Andreetti, Robbie Carter, Jed Eva and Jack Morgan completed a 6-1 win for Theydon.

Completing the action in Division Three, there was an action packed draw in Walthamstow where East Ham Inter raced into a lead against West Essex through goals from Kasey Singh, Kulbir Singh and Barinder Singh. But West didn’t give it up and the prolific Connor Brathwaite scored twice in reply with Ronan McGoldrick netting also to level this contest up at 3-3 and sharing the points.

DIVISION FOUR

Two sides lead the way in the fifth tier with Roneo Colts Reserves having made an emphatic start to life at this level, netting themselves a 6-2 win against Monkhams in their second outing of the campaign. Bobby Port scored a hat-trick, Dwayne Francis-Riley scored twice and Kane White once to secure the big win that maintains their perfect start.

Another side with a perfect start are Asianos Reserves who have followed up a strong season last time out with a good start in this. They were 3-2 winners at home to United Amateurs with Jack Chawner and Mutamim Chowdhury scoring the United goals in consolation in the end.

Bretons Manor have moved up to fourth in the standings after a crazy ten-goal thriller in the Castle Green derby in Dagenham against Inter Ladzio. Zayddin McKop scored twice for Inter with Jay Crews and Glenn Owen netting the others. But Manor responded with a hat-trick of braces with Jack Whitelock, William Semain and Sam Cooper goals accounting for their tally to run out 6-4 victors.

There was a maiden win in open age football for Ridgeway Rovers Under 21s who faced Titans United in their clash in Walthamstow on Sunday morning, both looking for their opening points of the season. And it was Rovers who will have left more content with their work, netting both goals in a 2-0 victory.

It was a big morning for Upshire Forest Reserves who were another side going in search of maiden points and they duly arrived after a tight five-goal contest with high-flying Ping City Phoenixes. James Dolphin was hoping to have another whale of a time as he and James Bishop scored for Ping. But their efforts were not quite enough as Upshire responded through goals from Charlie Newman, George Oake and Robert Williams to win 3-2 and take home the points.

DIVISION FIVE

The early leaders in Division Five are Total Football who followed up a narrow opening day win last time out with a more emphatic victory this time, beating Custom House Community 7-0 in Epping. Ali Cayir scored twice with Christopher Atkinson, Rowan Nijjar, George Ridley, Sachin Bawa and Omer Cayir scoring the goals to go top.

Ridgeway Rovers Under 21s Reserves opened their maiden outing in adult football with a trip to face fellow new side Woodford Green United. They appear to be progressing quite nicely as they won convincingly with Matt McDowell scoring a hat-trick, Alexanda Lynch, Guilherme Ramalho and Sanchez Bolessa netting the others in a 6-0 win.

There was a maiden victory for Eastern Avenue as they opened their points account for the new season with a home win against Keith Park Rangers at Wanstead Flats. Bankole Fadami scored both of the Avenue goals to see his side to a 2-0 victory, seeing them up to sixth place in the standings.

And completing the league action for the weekend, Singh Sabha Barking bounced back well from their opening day disappointment as they racked up a 3-1 victory against a youthful Cobra side to end their perfect record so far. Dilminder Rai, Vikramjeet Singh and Kulmir Bhakar netted the goals for the hosts to earn the take the points back home to Newbury Park.

LONDON SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP

The first cup action of the season came in the London Sunday Challenge Cup where Asianos took centre stage in round one with a home tie against Highgate & Muswell Hill. An exciting match saw the sides level at the end of ninety minutes meaning that the dreaded spot-kicks would decide this one. Asianos made no mistake in the shootout, winning it 4-2 to progress on to round two.

ESSEX SUNDAY JUNIOR TROPHY

Also facing a lengthy county cup tie on Sunday were Lonsdale who opened their run in the competition by hosting Recreativo Romford in Chadwell Heath. Romford raced into the lead but Lonsdale rescued a draw, the match ending 3-3 after extra time. Penalties were also required here and Lonsdale eventually despatched their opponents, winning the shootout 5-4.