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

DIVISION ONE CUP

The line-up for this season’s Division One Cup semi finals is almost complete with the third of four quarter finals played on Sunday with top of the table SL Menfica facing bottom side, Westferry Elite. Jake Muller was the star of the day as he netted a hat-trick for Menfica with substitute David Hornsby also scoring twice to help their side through in a 5-0 scoreline.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, there was a shock as league leaders, Dagenham United, slipped to a quarter final defeat away at Barking in their contest at Mayesbrook Park on Sunday. In a tight game, it took just a single chance to separate the sides with Michael O’Brien crucially netting the only goal of the game in a 1-0, booking Barking a semi-final against Walthamstow Avenue.

The other cup tie on the day saw a goal-fest in the Warren derby as co-tenants Lonsdale and Goresbrook finally went head to head in their quarter final clash after a few attempts to play were thwarted, Charlie Barrett was on fire with a four goal performance with David Webster and Stephen Butterworth both grabbing two goals each. Josh Keeble and Ricky Cripps efforts rounded off a scintillating 10-2 win Goresbrook.

DIVISION THREE CUP

In the day’s Division Three Cup action, there was a stunning win for West Essex who were in seventh heaven as they romped through to a 7-0 home win against Masterman. A pair of braces from Connor Brathwaite and George Fairhead plus single goals from Jack Newbury-Neale, Ola Ogunwamide and Harry Rease saw West confirm a place in the semi finals where they will take on Hornchurch Oakmont.

The other quarter final action was down in Plaistow where Thames Ironworks Community were the hosts to an in-form Roneo Colts side with both sides eager to continue their run in the competition. Chris Pope and James Pottle got on the scoresheet for Colts but their efforts were ultimately in vain as Paul Scanlan scored twice with Billy Scott and Jason Turner netting the others in a 4-2 win.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

The draw for the Division Four Cup semi finals is now complete as the two remaining quarter finals saw another tight game between Asianos Reserves and Monkhams. The sides couldn’t be separated after ninety minutes with a 2-2 draw seeing the game to extra time. Asianos came out the stronger in the extra thirty minutes, scoring twice to run out at 4-2 winners.

In the other quarter final, Thames Ironworks Community Reserves were looking to make it a day of double delight in the cup competitions but had to take on a tough opponent in the shape of Grey Area. With a number of league positions separating the teams, it was the higher placed Grey Area who will have been more pleased with their morning’s work, completing a 3-0 win to take their place in the semi finals.

PREMIER DIVISION

Repton Park have moved to within two more wins of securing their maiden league title, securing an important 5-0 win at home to Flanders on Sunday in Loughton. Charlie Henry scored a hat-trick for Park with Joe Kemp and Jayden Ambrose netting the others in their tenth win of an excellent campaign.

One of the two sides trying to make things harder for Repton are El Valiente who with three more games to play could still yet force matters deep into the season. They had a dress rehearsal for an upcoming semi final as they faced FC Mexico down in Emerson Park. Ricky Field scored a hat-trick, adding to strikes from Michael Begg, Sam Edwards and Aaron Marston to win 6-1 on the day.

Romford Elite’s own title hopes are fading but they ensured they will stick along for the ride a little while longer as they edged past Brook Athletic in their league clash on Sunday in Newbury Park. Chris Bird and Joshua Thompson both netted once again for their Elite side, overcoming a Brandon Martin effort for the hosts in an eventual 2-1 win for Romford.

The division’s remaining game also took place in Newbury Park where Barking & Dagenham Wanderers were seeking to bounce back from a couple of recent defeats as they hosted reigning champions Warren United. Jey Siva scored for Wanderers but Daniel Bell’s hat-trick proved the difference for United with George Cranfield scoring the other goal in a 4-1 Warren win.

DIVISION ONE

The big game in Division One saw two of the promotion chasing outfits go head to head with Ridgeway Rovers the visitors to Barkingside Rec to take on St Augustines. A close game between the two sides was settled but just one moment with a Rovers penalty kick successfully converted being the only goal of an otherwise tight game.

Another tight match was witnessed a short distance away on the other side of Barkingside as the Old Parks derby match saw Korona Redbridge hopping a couple of pitches to face co-tenants Valentine United. All the key action happened late on with Korona seemingly heading for a win after a last minute Dawid Smolarek goal, only for United to rescue a 1-1 draw with the very last kick of the game!

DIVISION TWO

The promotion picture in Division Two took an interesting turn on Sunday as Ferns Senior continued to prove Royal Albert’s bogey side this season, following up a 4-0 win in November with a 4-1 win this time, the only two defeats that Albert have suffered this season. PJ Marcus scored twice for Ferns with Liam Coney and Lee Niven goals completing the win for their side.

There was also a big win for FC Kulture Klub who maintained their position in third place in the standings as they took on London Fire Brigade over in Hainault. Jay Jones scored a hat-trick, Ethan Treasure scored two with one apiece for Oliver Modeste and Marcus Castano completing a 7-3 win. David Ellis, Adam Finney and David Moore got the Fire goals in reply.

DIVISION THREE

The big game in Division Three centred around the top of the table clash as Central Colts went into their final league game knowing that a victory would secure them a second successive league title. But they were up against a tough Hornchurch Oakmont side who have been blazing away in all competitions and proved the party poopers as they won 2-1 through goals from Harry Farley and Thomas Gibson. Second placed Thames must now win every match remaining to overcome Colts’ points tally meaning a nervy ending to the season.

There was a huge result in the day’s second game in the division as Dagenham United Reserves pulled themselves out of the relegation zone with a big 4-1 win over Ping City Phoenixes. Jay Simmons and Joseph Williams both netted twice for their side with Ping scoring late on in consolation to hand maximum points to the Daggers. The fight to avoid the drop is far from being resolved with plenty of matches still to be played.

DIVISION FOUR

Newham Athletic continued their surge towards a league title on Sunday but were made to work as they were up against AC Milano Reserves in an east London derby match. Substitute Joseph McEnroe scored a hat-trick with Leon Anderson netting a brace and James Farmer a single to earn Newham a 6-4 win against the visitors. There is still a lot of games to go but the odds are beginning to shorten drastically on a maiden title.

Newham’s charge was aided by a slip up by second placed East Ham Inter who went down to a defeat at home against a resurgent Oak Royals side. Mitchell Drewe scored both goals for the Royals, rendering Rayan Bessadi’s goal as just a consolation as the Oak won this thriller 2-1. That result consolidated Oak Royal’s position in eighth spot with still another seven games to play.

CHARITY CUP

It was quarter final day for two of our clubs in the West Essex Sunday Charity Trophy competition with both sides up against Combination opposition in their respective clashes. Alpha took on old rivals Shereforce in their tie and edged a thriller by the odd goal in five, earning a place in the semi finals with a 3-2 win.

There was a similarly competitive clash in the day’s other tie as Walthamstow Avenue sought to continue a quite unbelievable upturn in performances as they hosted a Loxford Lions side in Leyton. A single goal was enough to earn Avenue a place in the final four, winning the tie 1-0.