WEEK 21 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The Corinthian Cup produced a shock on Sunday as top flight and holders Brook Athletic saw their strangehold on the competition come to an end with defeat away at Theydon Green in the last sixteen. Green were 4-0 winners with their goals coming from Luke Steele, Max Jessop, Josh Steele and George Johnson.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There was a further cupset in the Trophyland Cup where Division Five's Manford Way Reserves pulled off one of the shocks of the competition as they overcame a side from two divisions above them, beating Singh Sabha Barking 1-0, Jake Li scoring the game's only goal to head on into the quarter-final of the competition.

There was a near-miss for Division Four side Warren Senior as they were up against Division SIx side, Warren United, in their game over in Chadwell Heath. A close game saw it settled by just one scoring moment, Jamie Marsh netting that only goal of the game to win the tie 1-0, heading on into the quarter-finals.

Another Division Six side who put in a good showing for their level were Valence United Reserves who made the trip to Hainault on Sunday to take on United Amateurs from Division Three. Despite a three division gap, the sides were well matched with Amateurs prevailing in a 3-1 scoreline in the end. Leon Arif scored two and Jack Chawner one, Billy Biggs netting the Valence consolation.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

There was Senior Division Cup first round action in east London on Sunday with a local derby fixture between London All Stars and East Way Athletic, the two sides meeting once again in the cup this season. Lamin Bangura netted two and Luke Parrott one for All Stars as their side took a 3-1 victory, Jamal Dzotsi on target with the East goal in reply.

SENIOR DIVISION

Flyhouse Athletic have moved top of the table in the Senior Division following the weekend's results, taking advantage of results around them to move a point clear, aided by a 5-2 success away at El Valiente. Jake Fenton and KIeran James both scored twice, Kai Brown netting the other to put their side in pole position for the silverware.

Over in Hainault, the other game taking place saw United Dian start the day seven points adrift of their opponents, Manford Way, as they met in their local derby game. And that was how it remained by full-time as the sides battled to a 2-2 score draw. That result was enough for United to move up a place into fifth on goal difference.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, first round action pitted second versus third in the league with Gants Hill the visitors to Hainault to take on Roose on Sunday. And it was Hill who impressed on the day, producing a terrific 5-0 win to book their place in the quarter-finals this season, heading to face a home tie against Total Football.

DIVISION ONE

There were goals aplenty in Division One with Barking Riverside in fine form over in Dagenham as they put nine goals past former co-tenants FC Galaxy in a 9-2 win at Castle Green. Soloman Asomah netted four for his side, Tommy Kavaz scored twice and one apiece from Ansalem Obi, Oussama Bennani and Tambeson Eyong set them up for another three points. Mihalache and Fredy Dumitru scored the Galaxy goals in reply.

It was also another good morning's run-out for Critics who secured themselves another three points with a 5-0 away success against St Augustines in Newbury Park. Afolabi Obafemi's hat-trick proved crucial, Dylan Florence and Jake Fuller netting the other goals to confirm win number six in the league this term.

Fifth placed Total Football were in action away from home on Sunday with a trip down to Forest Road to take on an Oceana side with games in hand to make up on those above. A tightly contested game was settled by the odd goal in three, Total securing the win through two goals from Aaron Dadzie, while Jesse Jones scored the Oceana effort in reply.

There were six goals in the six-pointer clash in Hainault as the division's bottom two, Royal Lions A and Benchviews, went to battle on Sunday in search of valuable points. In the end it was hosts, Lions, who left the happier of the sides as they won 4-2, leapfrogging above their opponents into tenth place, a point from safety.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, there was almost a bit of a cupset at Mayesbrook Park as bottom of the table Barking and visitors Leytonstone Athletic produced a close game, settled by the odd goal. George Burton and Richie Dorcas were the men on target for Athletic with their goals, overcoming a Justin Lopes goal to win 2-1 and book their place in the quarter-finals.

Over at Chigwell Lane, Debden Sports Reserves were in home action with a first round tie against Newbury Forest, the sides level on points in the standings ahead of this clash. A solid performance from the home side however delivered Debden a quarter-final slot, Callum Thomas netting twice and Joseph Lane once in a 3-0 scoreline,

DIVISION TWO

With some sides in cup action at the weekend, that enabled AC MIlano to close the gap at the top to just two points, with a couple of games in hand, completing a solid home win against Higham Hill at Flanders in a 3-0 scoreline, that being their eighth league win in ten games so far this season.

Another side with games in hand that could still impact the promotion race, Abridge Village moved to within three points of the promotion places on Sunday with a comfortable 4-0 home win against East London Harriers at London Road. Leon Adeyemi scored a hat-trick to lead the way for his side, Rio Manicom scoring the other.

Over in Collier Row, third placed Cloud 9 saw the visit of Inside Success to Forest Row over the weekend attempting to keep their own outside hopes of affecting matters above them alive. And a win was secured by the odd goal, beating their relegation-threatened opponents in a 2-1 scoreline through goals from Thomas Davis and Alan Goddard.

DIVISION THREE

Valence United followed up their county cup win last weekend with an impressive league victory this time around, coming away winners from their home fixture against FC Mexico B in an 8-2 scoreline. Nicky Bristow and Emmanuel Rowe struck for the Mexicans but Rowan Newland's hat-trick in reply, plus goals from Tommy Abrams, Burt Cardy, Scott Gillick, Charlie Surridge and Jack Howard handed United the win.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

Last year's cup winners, Byron Red Star, ensured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals of this year's competition with a hard fought 3-2 home win against Ace Athletics at Hylands Park. Perry Robinson, Stefanos Ladoukakis and Adrian John were the Red Star men on target, overcoming Ace goals from Craig Cagehin and Thomas Mason.

Another of last year's finalists, Belfry Reserves, placed themselves within two performances of another shot at silverware, completing a first round success at home against Eastern Avenue at Fairlop Oak. Lee Newton, Sam Harold, Nathan Casey, Jamie Redington and Luke Moore all found the back of the net to see them safely through.

DIVISION FOUR

Back in league action, over in Newbury Park, two sides struggling towards the bottom end of the standings met as Prospect Protege took on Brymans Park, the teams starting just four points apart. A close game ended in a 3-2 win for Prospect with Antony Connor scoring twice for them and Alexander Brennand once, rendering Park goals from Daniel Munroe and Grant Eagle as just consolation.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

The day's Division Five Cup first round tie saw league leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves taking on Mansfield Rangers, renewing their battles from last season. But the Royals had too much for their opposition on the day as Djean Holland came off the bench to score twice with Dylan Fagan, Calvin Bell and Phorell Brooke scoring the others in a 4-1 success. Jack Cousins netted the Rangers goal in reply.

DIVISION FIVE

With the league leaders in cup action over the weekend, this gave Royal Lions B the chance to cut the gap at the top and they didn't disappoint, producing a solid 3-0 home win against third placed Dagenham Rangers. Keenan Lewis, Brandon Fulton and Ryan Rawat scored the goals for Lions to move them to within a point of the leaders.

In matters affecting the other end of the standings, it was ninth versus tenth in a real six-pointer affecting matters a the bottom, Lonsdale the visitors to Old Dagenham Park to take on Titans United. The sides started level on points but a 3-1 victory for Lonsdale meant they were able to move three points clear, two short of safety. Kalium Fletcher scored twice and Charlie Owen once for their side.

DIVISION SIX CUP

In the Division Six Cup, it was first round action for the clash between Epping Forest Falcons and Ping City Phoenixes and saw Ping overcome a four point and three place deficit in the league to beat their local rivals, winning 3-1 through a brace of goals from Luey Young and an Andy Franklin strike. Ryan Lawless got on the Falcons scoresheet with their goal.

DIVISION SIX

Unbeaten league leaders, Young Royals moved a further point clear in the race for the title but did drop two potentially vital points, being held to a 2-2 home draw by Havering Palace in Barkingside. Sahithiyan Jatheeswaran and Panushanth Kulenthiran both scored for the Royals to ensure they at least took something from the fixture.

Another draw was witness in the day's action from Peter May Sports Centre where Ridgeway Rovers put in a solid performance to take a share of the spoils in an entertaining 3-3 draw against Royal Lions C. Sanchez Bolessa, Regan Marshall and Jahed Akthar all struck for Rovers, Qasim Yunis, David Onyekaba and James Egbo responding for Royal Lions.

Draws were the theme throughout the division on Sunday and it was, perhaps, therefore not a surprise that another was on display in the game from Newbury Park where Zone 4 Athletic and London Legacy finished level in their game at 1-1. Lucas Tavares grabbed the Legacy goal with Ricky Wenhold's effort for Zone ensuring a share of the spoils. 

COUNTY CUP

It was another good morning for our sides in county cup competitions where Barking & Dagenham Wanderers produced an excellent performance to confirm their place in the semi-finals of the Essex Sunday Junior Cup, despatching Latchingdon in a 7-1 scoreline. They will now take on Grays Athletic in two weeks time for a place in the showpiece final.

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, it was quarter-final day for holders Hatch Lane who made the trip around the North Circular to take on Barnet Sunday League side Heavy Hitters. A close first half was followed by a much improved Hatch showing in the second, winning the game 2-0 to move to within ninety minutes of a possible return to the final this year.

There was also Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action which saw City Site make their first ever quarter-final in the competition in their debut season, returning home with a 5-0 victory under their belts having seen off Reaching Every Generation from the Chelmsford Sunday League. They now await the winners of the tie between Writtle and Upshire Forest next weekend.

The only tie on the day to go against one of our sides was in the game up at Writtle where Division Three side Ainslie saw their long county cup campaign reach a conclusion, being edged out by the goal in a 2-1 defeat up in mid-Essex.