WEEK 24 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

TROPHYLAND CUP

In the weekend's Trophyland Cup third round, Belfry Reserves overcame lower ranked opposition to reach the quarter-final of the competition with a 6-0 home success against Division Five's Ultimate Vision Reserves in Hainault. Jamie Redington netted twice for the hosts with further goals arriving through Lee Newton, Luke MacDonald, Paul Barlow and Sam Harold.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

In the Senior Division Cup, holders Hatch Lane were in action in the first round with the visit of Manford Way and went a goal behind in stoppage time before Daniel Couldridge's late leveller made it 1-1 at full-time time and sent the game into a shootout. And it was Hatch who held their nerve from the spot to take a 4-3 win and head on into the quarter-finals of the competition.

And securing a place in the last four on Sunday were Baiteze Squad who moved to within ninety minutes of another cup final appearance as they came away comfortable winners at the Marshes, beating London All Stars in a 6-1 win to set up a mouth-watering semi-final against the winners of the Hatch Lane or Flyhouse Athletic quarter-final. 

SENIOR DIVISION

It was another day of double delight for a FLY side who continue to move up into the middle of the table on the back of five wins in their last six games, taking victory in a double header against East Way Athletic. Dimeji Shonuga scored the only goal of game one to win 1-0 in the visitors favour, before he netted a hat-trick in game two, accompanied by efforts from Emin Mohammed and Guilherme Monti to win that one 5-0.

DIVISION ONE CUP

A semi-finalist place was confirmed in the Division One Cup on Sunday where Gants Hill confirmed a place in the last four, scoring the only goal of a close game against Total Football to win 1-0 at Flanders. They now head on to face Oceana in the semi-final in a fortnight's time, just ninety minutes away from a semi-final.

DIVISION ONE

Back in the league action, the only side in the top half to record a win were FC Galaxy who came away from their trip to Hainault with all three points as they beat Roose in a 2-1 scoreline. A goal apiece from Mihai Mareniuc and Luchian Grigore were the difference between the sides as the visitors edged the game.

St Augustines were the only other winners in the division as the Newbury Park based side secured a vital three points in their race to avoid the drop, winning 4-0 at home against Royal Lions A to move ninth. Aaron Francis' hat-trick was crucial, Tayo Felstead netting the other to give the Saints all three points.

Bottom of the table Benchviews also recorded a valuable point as they took a share of the spoils in a 2-2 home draw against an in-form Critics side over in East Ham. Afolabi Obafemi and Deyonte Anthony struck for the visitors but Benchviews goals from Gabriel Asare-Bekoe and Daniel Baeth ensured they shared the points.

The Fairlop double header derby pitched Barking Riverside against co-tenants Oceana in a fixture which ended level in both games. Game number one ended in a 2-2 draw with RYan Gardiner and Godfrey Kambaza netting the Barking goals to take a point. The second of the fixtures ended in a goalless draw as each side took a couple of points away.

DIVISION TWO CUP

There were victories for both away sides in the Division Two Cup where, firstly, Debden Sports Reserves put themselves through into another semi-final, coming away 4-1 winners from East London Harriers. Harry Maslin, Jamie Rones, Will Osmond and Alexander Stone struck for Sports, rendering Frankie Worboyes' effort as just consolation for Harriers.

Joining them in the last four will be local rivals Abridge Village who assured themselves a tilt at a cup final appearance with a four-goal performance of their own, returning from Forest Row with a win under their belts, defeating Cloud 9 in a 4-0 scoreline. Leon Adeyemi and Ollie Ovel both scored twice for Abridge to put their team through.

DIVISION TWO

There were plenty of goals in Division Two, starting with the league leaders, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, who bounced back well from last weekend's disappointment by moving five points clear in the title race on the back of a 5-1 win against Newbury Forest, that being win number eleven of the season. 

Over in Hainault, there were ten goals in the game between hosts Leytonstone Athletic and visitors Barking where George Burton was in scinterlating form, scoring six for this Leytonstone side, Harry Burton notching two and Ashley Godwin once to win it 9-1. Justin Lopes grabbed the Barking goal in reply.

DIVISION THREE CUP

In the Division Three Cup, Ainslie put themselves through to the last eight of the competition as they picked up a big home win against FC Mexico B to set up a tie against Korona Redbridge in the coming weeks. Eric Kelly's hat-trick led the way, Nial Mullins scoring two and William Hunt once, Serghei Scupoi netting the Mexicans goal in consolation.

United Amateurs had an away day to remember as they put ten past their hosts, Alpha, at Wanstead Flats to head into the semi-finals of the competition this season. Bradley Bennett and Leon Arif both scored hat-tricks, Jack Chawner scored twice, Tommy Barron and Aldair Doci completing the rout in a 10-2 final scoreline,

Also into the hat for the semi-finals are cup specialists, Valence United, who put themselves into another semi this season, edging their home quarter-final against Singh Sabha Barking by the odd goal in a 2-1 victory. Rowan Newland and Burt Cardy were the men to score the crucial goals ahead of an important month for the hosts.

DIVISION FOUR

It was a busy morning in Division Four where Chingford Athletic pulled off one of the results of the season, starting the day second bottom in the standings but ending it having defeated the league leaders, Warren Senior, in a 3-1 scoreline. Dominic Zincraft scored the Warren goal but that proved not quite enough as Athletic earned a third league success.

Third placed Byron Red Star took the opportunity to close the gap on the sides above as they returned home from east London with all three points having beaten Eastern Avenue in a 4-2 result. Adrian John's rich vein in front of goal saw him net another hat-trick, Perry Robinson completing the scoring. Cieran Lennon-Hunte netted both Avenue goals in reply.

Horse & Well are up to fourth in the standings following their win at the weekend, coming away 4-2 winners also from their trip to Brymans Park. Shane Taylor scored twice for Park but a couple of Well braces from both Joe Powell and James Marsh were enough to see them complete win number five for the season.

There was double header action in Hainault with a local derby game between Prospect Protege and Ace Athletics. Game one ended level at 2-2 with Antony Connor and Ethan Knight scoring for Protege and Billy Baldry and Tom Mason on target for Ace. The second tie also ended level, this time at 3-3, Joshua Craske scoring a hat-trick for Ace but levelled through Prospect goals from Antony Connor, Alexander Brennand and Ethan Kieran.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

There were two twies in the Division Five Cup quarter-finals on Sunday where an exciting game between Royal Lions B and Manford Way Reserves ended level at 3-3 as Matthew Dye scored twice and Callum Owen once for Manford. Tyler Adams-Sinclair, Drey Johnson and Subhan Asgher levelled it up with the Lions goals. And it was Manford who held their nerve in the shootout to win 4-2 and move into the semi-finals.

Over at Chigwell Lane, Debden Sports A saw the visit of league leaders, Colebrook Royals Reserves, in their own quarter-final and it was the Royals who continued a very strong season, winning the tie 3-0 to move on into the semi-finals. Djean Holland, Dylan Fagan and Phorell Brooke scored the crucial goals to fire their side through.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, Lonsdale's late charge to avoid the drop continued with a vital victory against fellow relegation threatened Mayfield Kings at Castle Green. A couple of Kalium Fletcher goals were the difference once again, his scoring form keeping his side in the mix, Charlie Owen bagging the other goal in a 3-1 win.

The division's other game came from Dagenham where Titans United secure themselves a vital point also in a big 3-3 draw against Mansfield Rangers, despite starting the game six points adrift of their opponents. Charlie Foran's brace and a Robert Devlin goal ensured a share of the spoils, Jack Cousins and Jay Kanber striking for Rangers.

DIVISION SIX CUP

In the Division Six Cup first round replay following the injury abandonment last time out, Ridgeway Rovers put themselves through into the last eight of the competition with a strong 6-0 winning performance away at Warren United.Harley Hillman and Regan Marshall both scored twice with Ryan Vallance and Ben Byrne scoring the others.

There were two big clashes in the quarter-final ties where Epping Royals hosted title rivals Valence United Reserves at Stonards Hill. Early goals from Joseph Bothwell (2) and Fraser McCarthy proved decisive for Epping, largely against the run of play, Keenan Mitchell's late goal for Valence proving not quite enough as the hosts won 3-1.

Also heading on into the semi-finals, Young Royals' excellent season is showing no limits as they moved to within ninety minutes of the cup final with a quarter-final win at home against Royal Lions C. Bilal Zaman struck with the Lions goal but that effort was just consolation as Young Royals scored twice themselves with a 2-1 win.

DIVISION SIX

Back into the league action, there was a mid-table battle between sixth placed Epping Forest Falcons and London Legacy in eighth, the latter starting the day six points behind. But a 5-3 win saw them move to within three points, Musa Mata's hat-trick and two from Mohamed Noor completing a win for Legacy.

Keeping in touch with the sides above, Havering Palace earned themselves a seventh league win of the season with two games to go, moving fifth on the back of a 3-1 win on Sunday against Ping City Phoenixes. That was enough for them to leap above a Falcons side just below them, albeit with sides around having games in hand still.

COUNTY & CHARITY CUP

It was another great day for Corinthian clubs in outside competitions, beginning over in Walthamstow where AC Milano earned themselves another tilt at the London Sunday Trophy, stunning Yeni Bogazici 2-1 with a late goal from Cairo Bibbon to head into the final, Tayyab Akhtar having seen his opener levelled midway throught the second half. They will now take on the winners of the tie between Croydon and Brook Athletic next weekend.

In the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy, Division Four's City Site were up against higher ranked opposition with a trip to Town Mead to take on Upshire Forest. A tight game eventually went to the lower ranked side as City Site won 2-1 on the day to take a place in the semi-finals of the competition, now set to face Valence United.

Colebrook Royals Vets have now almost caught up with their backlog of fixtures in the competition and are into the last eight of the Trophy themselves, earning a big win on Sunday to beat Mayland Village in a 5-1 result at The Grange. They will now take on Ramsden Scotia next Sunday in the quarter-finals.

In the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup, the remaining quarter-final saw Brook Athletic retain their place in four cup competitions still with a win over the holders, defeating Loxford Lions 4-0 in east London to set up a semi against Critics.