WEEK 22 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

Two top flight sides made it safely through into the quarter-finals of the Corinthian Cup on Sunday, London All Stars edging a close game against Division Two’s Newbury Forest by the odd goal in a 2-1 success. Daniel Ross had got on the Forest scoresheet but his effort proved in vain as All Stars scored twice themselves to head on into the last eight.

Their opponents in the last eight will be fellow Senior Division side Hatch Lane who faced an interesting looking trip to county cup quarter-finalists, Barking Riverside, from Division One. But it was Hatch who made sure of their progression with Daniel Couldridge scoring twice, Mekael Williams, Andre Spence and Ryan Ramsay netting the others in a 5-0 win.

TROPHYLAND CUP

It was third round action in the Trophyland Cup on Sunday and this one saw a cupset as Division Four’s Eastern Avenue put themselves through into the last eight with a narrow 3-2 home victory against Division Three’s FC Mexico B at the Flats. That win sends Eastern into another home tie in the quarters where they face fellow Division Four side Warren Senior.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the league action, the first double header action of the season saw Baiteze Squad face a trip to fellow east London side FLY on Sunday, the sides meeting at Wanstead Flats with six points at stake. Game one saw the hosts take victory, bottom of the table FLY securing a first league success. But Baiteze were able to take three points in the second game, winning that 1-0 to move second in the table on goal difference, four points behind the leaders.

In another double header, it was double delight for Brook Athletic who moved up a number of places in the table with a brace of 2-0 wins against East Way Athletic. Craig Jeakins and Timothy Monsheju netted the goals in game one before Callum Ibe’s double replicated the victory in the second fixture, Brook going fourth in the process.

Over in Hainault, the division’s final game saw United Dian play host to an El Valiente side with the teams starting the day level on points right in the middle of the table. And that was how things remained by full-time as they had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw, both sides remaining well clear of difficulties.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, Oceana are the first side into the semi-finals for this season as they came through their home clash against St Augustines with a 2-0 win under their belts to send them through into the last four. Joseph and Lewis Belcher both got on the scoresheet and they now await the winners of the tie between Gants Hill and Total Football.

DIVISION ONE

In the league, it’s as you were at the top end of the table where Theydon Green remain three points clear following a solid performance in their away trip to FC Galaxy, winning the game 2-0 in Barkingside to remain unbeaten. Joe Johnson and Ben Harris scored the goals for Green to keep themselves in pole position with nine games remaining.

Second placed Roose sit three points behind the leaders with eight games of their season to go, coming through their Hainault derby game at the weekend with a narrow 3-2 win against Royal Lions A at Hainault Rec. Mitchell Mason scored twice and Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose once to hand all three points to the title chasing visitors.

A further three points back sit third placed Gants Hill who recorded a seventh league win of the season on Sunday with an “away” victory against their fellow Flanders co-tenants, Benchviews, in the east Ham derby. Hill were 4-1 winners against the division’s basement side to keep the pressure up on the top two above them.

DIVISION TWO

The two Division Two fixtures produced close games with Abridge Village tasting victory in their game against East London Harriers in a 2-1 scoreline to edge themselves level with the promotion places on goal difference with ten games to go. Teddy Warry struck for the Harriers but Abridge goals from Leon Adeyemi and Joe Parrott made the difference for Abridge in the end.

Just a few miles away, Debden Sports Reserves picked up a vital three point haul of their own with a win at home against fellow top half side, Cloud 9, Sports edging a five goal thriller by the odd goal to win 3-2 at Chigwell Lane. Charlie Thomas, Joseph Lane and Alfie Harris were all on the scoresheet to earn a win for their side.

DIVISION THREE

A rare outing in the league in recent weeks for Colebrook Royals Vets ensured they sit top of the Division Three table, victorious against one of their rival clubs, United Amateurs, to keep themselves involved on multiple fronts. They were 6-2 winners as Omar Mahmood, Paul Noonan and Nedret Ozkasim all scored twice for Royals, Gabriel Mendy and Richard Waters netting the for United.

There was another big game in the middle of the table where Valence United put in a strong away performance with an 8-3 win against Singh Sabha Barking in Newbury Park to put a dent in the hosts’ promotion challenge. Sarwab Birak scored twice and Indervir Virdi once for Singh Sabha but Rowan Newland’s incredible six goal haul and two from Michael O’Brien sent Valence away with the points.

With games in hand still to make up on every side above them, Ainslie will most likely have a big say on the promotion race and they kept alive their own hopes with a 4-1 away win on Sunday against Korona Redbridge in Barkingside. Two Eric Kelly efforts and one apiece from Ryan Radley and William Hunt set them on their way, overcoming a Karol Szlachta effort from the hosts.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

It was quarter-final day for two of Division Four’s top sides with City Site and Warren Senior going head-to-head at Robert Clack Leisure Centre for a place in the last four. Alex Paraskeva scored a hat-trick for City and that made all the difference, Lewis Gardiner the man on target in reply for Warren as the hosts won the tie 3-1.

DIVISION FOUR

Ace Athletics extended their recent upturn in the league form with a second successive win in the competition by a 2-1 scoreline, this time Horse & Well being the opposition at Redbridge Sports Centre as Jay Simmons’ effort set Ace on their way to three points. Joe Powell had got on the Well scoresheet with their goal but it proved not quite enough on the day.

Belfry Reserves returned to the top of the table on goal difference with a comprehensive victory against Brymans Park, winning the game 20-3. Jamie Redington scored seven and Lee Newton three to set them on their way, Sam Harold (2), Alex Robinson, Daniel Abela, Nathan Casey, Paul Barlow, Robert Mitchell and Ryan O’Connell also on the scoresheet.

There was also a big win for Prospect Protégé who moved themselves five points clear of the danger zone in the division with win number three this term, beating Chingford Athletic in a 5-1 scoreline in Hainault. Anthony Connor struck twice, Emmanuel Ado, Loui Grech and Ethan Kieran scoring the others, while Jeff Coby netted the Chingford goal in reply.

DIVISION FIVE

The title race in Division Five now sees the top two separated by just a point as Royal Lions B took advantage of the leaders being out of action to move close, sending Mansfield Rangers to a 2-0 defeat in Hainault. Keenan Lewis and Drey Johnson were both on target for a Lions side who will need a slip up by Royals to usurp their rivals.

Things have also tightened up in the race to avoid the drop where Lonsdale made a big move on Sunday up into seventh spot, climbing two places following a hard fought 4-3 win at home against Debden Sports A in Dagenham. Kalium Fletcher’s hat-trick was crucial in taking the points, Xhyher Tyrbetari scoring the other. Nicholas Wilson scored two in reply for Sports and Brendan Anamole once.

Titans United remain bottom of the table but have closed up the gap on those above to just a point as they took a vital three points home with them with a victory against now ninth placed Mayfield Kings at Old Dagenham Park. Jack Dooney and Billy Pearmain scored for United with Kiz Myaz’s goal for Kings just consolation by full-time.

DIVISION SIX CUP

It was a good day for Valence United Reserves who ensured themselves of a place in the quarter-finals of the Division Six Cup this season with a big 6-1 first round win against Zone 4 Athletic on Sunday. Jamie Fox, Alfie Westland, Eligijus Dapkus, Billy Biggs, Malakye Meade and Jo Megege all scored for the hosts with Craig Janes netting Zone’s goal in consolation.

DIVISION SIX

There was a massive result affecting the top end of the Division Six league standings too where Epping Royals finally put an end to Young Royals’ long unbeaten run in the league this season, the Stonards Hill based side winning 4-1 at home to make this title race very interesting. Joseph Bothwell scored two, Louie Brownlie and Jared Sinatra netting the others, moving second in the process.

There were six goals in Chigwell where London Legacy’s penultimate home league fixture saw them up against a Ping City Phoenixes side who managed to rescue a draw, coming from behind to share the spoils at 3-3. Jordan Howe, Mohamed Noor and Lucas Tavares struck with the hosts goals but those could only earn a point by full-time.

The final game of the day came from Woodford where Epping Forest Falcons were able to move up and take the place of their opponents in the table, moving fifth on the back of a 3-1 home success against fellow mid-table Havering Palace. That was Falcons’ sixth win of the campaign and, with nine games still to play, they could still affect things in the top half of the table.

COUNTY AND CHARITY CUPS

In the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy fourth round action, Upshire Forest’s run in the competition finally reached an end as opponents, Writtle, put their name in the hat for the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win after extra-time. They now head on to face City Site next weekend in the last eight.

In the West Essex Cup, it was quarter-final action for Division One’s Critics who made the trip up the M11 to take on Harlow Sunday League side Bocas Seniors at the weekend and came away with a 5-0 win under their belts.

Securing a place in the quarter-final of the same competition are AC Milano, the county cup semi-finalists giving themselves a chance of further silverware with a 5-1 away win in east London against Alpha, booking an away trip to Global in the next round.