WEEK 23 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

COUNTY CUP

Our congratulations go to Goresbrook who secured a place in this season’s Essex Sunday Junior Cup final, becoming the third successive finalists from the league to achieve the feat. Having raced into a two-goal lead by half time against Palmers Reserves, they saw this lead reduced and then eliminated with a late penalty levelling it at 2-2. After no further goals in extra time, Goresbrook held their nerve to win 4-3 from the spot to seal their place at Great Wakering on Sunday 29^th March where they face Priory Sports Reserves. Massive well done to all involved at the club!

There were two further huge county cup matches with a big Essex Sunday Junior Trophy semi-final clash in Walthamstow as West Essex were finally able to welcome Bocas Jogabonitos to Low Hall with just one performance separating them from a county cup final appearance. Having put in a terrific effort in the competition this season, West will count themselves unfortunate to see their efforts reach an end at the semi-final stage as they exited in a 2-1 scoreline.

The final county cup clash of the day saw two local giants meet at the quarter-final stage of the Essex Sunday Premier Cup as Elda made the trip to Dagenham to face previous competition winners, Global. With the game scoreless for a significant proportion of the contest, extra-time was on the cards until a late, late Global winner took the honours in a 1-0 scoreline seeing them into the semi-finals.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the weekend’s Division Two Cup quarter-final action, both ties survived the elements as Roose pulled off an important win, overcoming a six-place deficit in the league to defeat Walthamstow Avenue. Goals from Harry Amoah, Conor Bellotti, Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose and Jack O’Connor were enough to see them to a 4-2 victory and into the semi finals.

Joining Roose in the last four of the competition are Barking who were up against Thames Ironworks Community at Mayesbrook Park and came through by the odd goal, winning 2-1 to secure their place in the semis. Sachmond Akanovisi and Ben King both got on the scoresheet for the hosts as they head on to face either Wanstead Albion or Goresbrook.

DIVISION THREE CUP

The Division Three Cup saw just one tie completed with action from Castle Green seeing Barking Riverside face up to Chigwell United in their quarter-final. In a high-scoring game of nine goals, it was the league leaders who kept up their hopes for a treble this season as they won 6-3. Bukele Mukudi scored a hat-trick while Stephen Osho, Oussama Bennani and Ansalem Obi netted the others to confirm victory.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

After a number of postponements, two delayed Division Four Cup quarter-finals finally got played with the pick of those games seeing second face third as Roneo Colts Reserves took on Monkhams. Rorie McKenzie scored for Colts but his efforts proved in vain as Monkhams edged the tie 2-1 as they booked their place in the semi-finals.

The day’s other quarter-final tie came from Walthamstow where relegation threatened Ping City Phoenixes were looking to improve on an indifferent season in the league as they faced sixth placed United Amateurs. Ping proved that there is still plenty of magic in the cup as they upset the odds to beat United 3-0, going through to the semi-finals

PREMIER DIVISION

We are poised for an epic last few games in the top flight where four sides offer a realistic threat to the title. Flanders currently hold top spot but saw their advantage slashed on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Asianos. Flanders’ lead is now three points although the sides behind have multiple games in hand.

One of those sides is second placed El Valiente who remain the only unbeaten side in the division and perhaps the favourites as they picked up a 3-0 away win on Sunday against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in Newbury Park. Charlie Heatley scored twice on debut with Matthew Ball’s goal rounding things off.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, KLIK have moved twelve points clear in the title race and remain unbeaten following a hard fought 2-0 victory on Sunday against FC Mexico A. The two key moments in the game arrived through Loui Hazelwood and Steven McCormack who scored the all important goals to earn victory for the leaders.

The second tier’s other match came from Barkingside where a local derby contest saw Korona Redbridge host co-tenants Valentine United with both sides locked on nine points prior to kick-off. But it was United who broke free of that tally in the end as they won 4-1 with Eden Nelson scoring twice on debut and further efforts from Ashley Rix and Charlie Fiander, overcoming Tomasz Cenin’s strike for Korona.

DIVISION TWO

The sole surviving Division Two action came from Abridge Village where the hosts were up against league leaders, Central Colts. Leon Adeyemi and Aaron Gurney both got on the Abridge scoresheet but Gabriel Ogunwomoju’s brace in reply for Colts plus efforts from Simplice Khasa, Kielechi Imachukwu and Tunde Olagunju saw the points head back to Dagenham in a 5-2 scoreline.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Blackwall Rovers and Lonsdale met at the Flats with just two points between the side prior to kick off in the mid-table area of the standings. But Blackwall will have been the happier of the sides by full-time as they won 3-1 to take pick up a sixth league win of the season as they occupy fifth place in the standings.

DIVISION FOUR

The lead at the summit of Division Four is now up to five points as Bretons Manor extended their lead on the back of an important 2-0 win on Sunday away at Romford Athletic Dons. Berty Frith and William Semain grabbed a goal apiece for Manor to keep their side in control of the title race over the final phase of the season.

DIVISION FIVE

A full fixture list survived the latest weather effects in Division Five and Ridgeway Rovers Under 21s Reserves moved to within two points of top spot as they picked up a point against fellow cup semi-finalists, East Tilbury Town. Reece Boultwood scored the Rovers goal with Harry Smith’s effort earning a point for Town to finish the game at 1-1.

Cobra consolidated third spot in the table but see games running out in their bid for promotion as they took maximum points from their clash against Custom House Community. Aaron White scored a hat-trick with Todd Bolger and Jamie Morris goals earning a 5-2 win to see them through to victory.

Eastern Avenue remain fourth in the standings and they picked up an eighth league win of an impressive first season in mens football as they defeated Woodford Green United 7-3 at the Flats. Eoin Coughlan continued a fruitful season in front of goal with two more, adding to strikes from Thomas Harford, Cieran Lennon-Hunte, Elvin Koonjul, Bankole Fadami and Tazbith Shak.

The day’s mid-table battle saw Singh Sabha Barking up against Epping Forest Falcons with the sides starting the game level on points. Barking however finished it with the advantage in the race for a top half finish as they won 3-0 through efforts from Arjun Sangha, Ahmed Said and Kulmir Bhakar, swapping places with their opponents in the process.

In the day’s final league match, it was ninth versus tenth at the bottom end of the Division Four standings where Keith Park Rangers were up against Thames Ironworks Community Reserves in Newbury Park. In a closely fought game, Thames ran out victors by two goals to nil as they kept in tough with the mid-table sides just above them.