WEEK 23 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

DIVISION ONE

Repton Park are back to the top of the table, sitting a point clear after the weekend’s results, defeating Barking Riverside in Loughton in a 4-2 scoreline. Two George Johnson goals plus one each from Jayden Ambrose and Alex O’Neil were enough, overcoming Ryan Gardiner and Lion Docaj strikes.

Sitting just a point behind are second placed Roose who lost their grip on top spot after a narrow defeat against local rivals Critics in Barkingside. A goal apiece from Daniel and Dean Florence for the hosts were enough to give Critics a 2-1 win.

DIVISION TWO CUP

Daglanta are into the hat for the semi-final of the Division Two Cup, booking their place courtesy of a strong win on Sunday morning away at East London Ballers Under 23s. Hamdam Ashimi, Eric Sowonola and Tobi Adesina scored the goals in a 3-0 win to send them through.

DIVISION TWO

Upshire Forest were in goalscoring form on Sunday in their home clash with City Site at Town Mead, producing a 14-0 victory. Reggie Pegrum scored four, Rhys Thurgood a hat-trick with further goals from Tom Lawn, Liam Cunningham, Costi-Marian Varsoi, Jack Pegrum, Leighton Hughes-Franklin, Jay Digance and Daniel Roult.

DIVISION THREE

It remains tight at the top of Division Three where Leytonstone Athletic still lead the way after a 9-0 derby day win against United Amateurs in Hainault. Lee Harris scored four, Reece Simpson and George Burton two each, Harry Burton the other to keep themselves two points clear.

Keeping up the chase are second placed Woodford Town Reserves who recorded their ninth win with a 5-1 success at Whitbread Sports Ground on Sunday, defeating Ainslie. Ronan McGoldrick struck twice for them with Billy Brown, Barney Kiernan and Casey Lockhart adding the others.

DIVISION FOUR

The goals were flowing in Division Four where East End United moved clear of the relegation zone with a vital away win against Asianos. They had Mike Elsmore’s quartet of goals to thank largely in a 5-1 result, Mikolaj Ratajczak adding the other for the visitors.

Also netting five were Prospect Protégé who remain in the top half of the standings after a 5-2 win against Coppice Row at ATAM Academy. Emmanuel Alo struck two with Louie Handley, Juan de la Puente and Archie Kieran also on the scoresheet.

Completing the division’s action, Royal Lions rescued a late point in their trip to Cardinals Athletic, the sides settling for a 2-2 draw by the end. Daniel Acquaye’s early goal was added to by a Dean Hurch goal for Cardinals but Lions’ late surge earned them a share of the spoils.

DIVISION FIVE

Romford Rovers have returned to the top in Division Five and sit a point clear with six games to go following their narrow win on Sunday against Young Royals in Hornchurch. Ganushan Sivanandan scored for the hosts but Rovers goals from Liam Adams and Ryan Rodwell meant their side won 2-1.

May & Baker EC now sit four points off the top, their weekend’s efforts seeing them take a narrow 3-2 win against Chingford Athletic at Parsloes Park. Billy Biggs, Alfie Westland and Johnny Gallagher all struck for Bakers with Darryl Wilson and Freddie Zakiewicz netting for Chingford.

There was a seven-goal thriller at Wanstead Flats where Alpha and Lonsdale traded goals, the game eventually won by Alpha 4-3. Charlie Owen, Conor Treadwell and Xhyher Tyrbetari struck for the visitors but Kevin Mullen, Tafari Miller, Alexander Oludairo and Humza Qamar goals for Alpha earnt them the win.

DIVISION SIX CUP

In the Division Six Cup, Ping City Phoenixes are through into the semi-finals as they made the short trip along Forest Road to take on Hainault Athletic and came away victorious, 5-0 winners. Phil Herman, Joe Powell, Abdelrahman Baky, Jack Flood and Ezra Waterman were the scorers in the win.

DIVISION SIX

With the leaders out of action, Colebrook Royals A moved top of Division Six with four games to go, Royals returning home with Dagenham with a 3-1 win against London Legacy. James Deaney, Jedd Coster and Arthur Massingham scored the goals with Arne Pettersen scoring Legacy’s consolation.

Also moving up the table are Inter Newbury who took advantage of that result following their trip along Forest Road to take on FC Mexico. Inter were 7-0 winners in Barkingside, their fifth win of the season, moving up a place into seventh.

Ace Athletics were another side on the top, climbing to fourth spot in the table as they came through a closely fought contest against JK Silvertown Reserves in Barkingside. Dean Ben-Yosef scored two and Joshua Craske one as Ace ended 3-2 winners.

DIVISION SEVEN CUP

In the Division Seven Cup, Barking Colts are through to the final after a cupset against leaders, Valence United C, Colts winning 4-2 to head through. Reece Stanley and Jahsiah Weekes both scored for Valence but those proved not quite enough on the day.

Joining them in the final will be Emerson & Upminster who reach the showpiece occasion on the back of a strong win of their own, 3-1 winners at Gatcliffe, courtesy of two Alfie Webb goals and one from Louis Cook-Forrester too.

DIVISION SEVEN

The sole Division Seven action came from Hainault on Sunday and saw United Amateurs Reserves up against Zone 4 Athletic. A couple of goals each from Aamish Ibrahim and Chris Churchill plus one for Joe Cutler meant Zone earned just a second win of the season, 5-1 winners. Kumi Francis scored the United goal in reply.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Junior Cup, FC Galaxy overcame higher ranked opposition to reach the semi-finals of the competition, ending 5-4 winners from an enthralling game against Chafford United to book a trip to Tiptree Heath next month in the last four.

The Essex Junior Trophy also saw a cupset as Byron Red Star continued their fabulous run and now sit just ninety minutes away from a possible final, defeating JP8 3-2 at Seven Kings High School to confirm a place in the semi-finals.

Manford Way saw their run in the competition reach an end, defeated by the odd goal after a long trip up the A12 to take on The Tips. 3-2 was the scoreline as Manford left empty handed, their opponents now facing more Corinthian opposition in the last four.

Debden Sports B’s excellent run in the competition also reached a close, travelling to south Essex to take on a Rochford Sports & Social A side placed four levels above them. The hosts were 6-1 winners on the day to send Debden out.

Also heading out as the lowest ranked side left standing were Warren United who went up against a Stanford Royals side sitting five levels above them from the Thurrock League. 7-2 was the final score, in favour of Royals who head through themselves.

CHARITY CUP

Three semi-finalists were confirmed in the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup where East London Ballers ended the run of last season’s finalists, Brook Athletic. Ballers produced the goods in a 6-1 home win at Parsloes to move to within ninety minutes of a possible final.

They will take on Warren Senior in the last four, the lowest ranked side remaining producing a cupset against a UK Moldova side sat two divisions above them. 3-0 was the final scoreline as Warren set up a semi-final appearance in the coming weeks.

A humdinger at Gooseley Playing Fields saw JK Silvertown and Rouge trade the lead in the game across ninety minutes, JK scoring in the last minute to bring the game level at 3-3. They then triumphed in the shootout, 4-1 winners to continue their record of reaching semi-finals.