WEEK 24 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

COUNTY CUP

It was a great day for our two clubs in action in outside competitions as Valence United pulled off a big victory, coming from behind in their Essex Sunday Junior Trophy semi-final against an unbeaten Briar United side to win 3-1 and become county cup finalists. As a seventh tier side they, perhaps, also became the lowest ranked side to qualify for the final and followed in the footsteps of Upshire Reserves, Royal Albert and Goresbrook as consecutive finalists from our league. We look forward to following their game at Heybridge Swifts on Friday 8^th April where they take on South Woodham Ferrers United Reserves.

If that wasn’t enough to wet your appetite, there was another good contest in the day’s replay action in the London Sunday Challenge Cup where Grand Athletic again made the trip to Chigwell to take on Baiteze Squad for a place in the semi-finals. In an act of terrific sportsmanship, Grand were afforded their lead from the previous weekend but Baiteze fought back to lead and, despite Grand levelling in the dying embers, the hosts prevailed from the shootout to join Hatch Lane in the semi finals.

TROPHYLAND CUP

The full line-up for this season’s Trophyland Cup semi-final was completed on Sunday with Debden Sports Reserves putting themselves into the hat with a hard fought 2-1 home victory against Upshire Forest in Loughton. Aaron Rich struck for Upshire but Debden goals from Charlie Harper and Will Osmond were enough to set up a home semi against Division Two’s Roneo Colts.

In the day’s other clash, the lowest placed side remaining in the competition, Ainslie, had a local derby game against Division Two’s St Augustines as those sides battled it out for a place in the last four against Thames Ironworks Community. And it was the Saints who walked away the happier of the sides, winning 3-0 through goals from James Edelman, Olamide Dele-Adeniyi and Callum Daniels.

SENIOR CUP – GROUP STAGE

There were two big games in group B of the Senior Division Cup where Secret confirmed their place as group winners following a 3-1 victory in the rearranged game against Belfry at Fairlop Oak. Dylan Florence struck twice for the visitors on his debut, Eden Nelson striking the other to counter a Jamie Redington goal for the hosts.

The other game was a real belter as two local rivals, United Dian and Roose, went head-to-head in Hainault for a place in the next round. A game of ten goals between the sides saw the lower division side cause an upset, Roose winning the game 6-4 to send their Senior Division opposition into the Premier Division cup instead.

DIVISION ONE CUP

There was an upset too in the Division One Cup quarter finals where struggling FC Mexico A belied their league position to overcome third placed Abridge Village, the game finishing level at 2-2 after a close contest. But it was the Mexicans who held their nerve in the shootout to win it 6-5 and book a trip to AC Milano in the semi-finals.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

More quarter final action was witnessed in the Division Five Cup competition where league leaders, Colebrook Royals Vets, faced a tricky looking trip to Hainault to face Royal Lions B in their last eight clash. There was no slip up by the leaders as they won the game 6-2 to go through into the semi-finals where they now face Belfry Reserves.

DIVISION SIX CUP

The line-up in the Division Six Cup semi-finals was completed on Sunday as Woodford Green United pulled off a big of a shock in sending Colebrook Royals Reserves out of the competition on penalties after their game had finished 2-2 at ninety minutes. James Rose and Phorell Brooke both notched for the hosts but Green prevailed from spot kicks to set up a home semi final against Royal Lions C at the Rec.

SENIOR DIVISION

There was just the one Senior Division game on Sunday with others in cup action but it proved to be a big result as East Way Athletic lost ground on the sides above after defeat to fifth placed El Valiente in their game in East Ham. El Valiente were 4-2 winners on the day to record a fifth league win of the season.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, Brook Athletic’s ascent towards to the league title continued on Sunday as they took home all three points from their entertaining trip to Barking Riverside, coming out on the right side of a 5-3 victory. Craig Jeakins struck a hat-trick, Reece Simpson and Samir Bihmoutine netting the others to take all three points and move ever closer to the silverware.

In the division’s other game, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers played host to Flyhouse Athletic in their game at Robert Clack with Flyhouse seeking to keep the pressure up on the leaders at the top of the table. And that was what they were able to do, reversing their fortunes from the first game between these sides to win this one 6-2.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Emerson Park have moved themselves away from imminent danger of the drop as they pulled off a great result to beat FC Galaxy, winning the game 3-2 at Hendersons. Iulian Udriste and Mihai Mareniuc both struck for the visitors but those goals proved in vain as Emerson completed a crucial third league win of the season.

Over at Parsloes Park, Chingford Athletic and Barking renewed acquaintances once again following their travails the previous weekend. It was, once again, a victorious weekend for Chingford who bagged themselves a comfortable 6-1 win despite Emmanuel Dushanova netting for the Blues in reply.

DIVISION TWO

There were some important wins for sides in Division Two as Asianos kept up the pressure on the teams above, moving fifth as they ran out 5-3 winners on Sunday in their game against Frenford in Walthamstow. Yaaseen Patel netted his side a hat-trick, adding to goals from Matthew Hamilton and Adnan Ali to keep their side in with a shout of promotion.

Sitting fourth are Total Football who maintained that position in the league standings as they defeated Eastbrook United in a 2-0 scoreline in Loughton on Sunday. Aaron Dadzie and Nile Painter both found the back of the net for the hosts as they recorded win number seven in the league this season.

At the other end of the table, a six pointer saw the division’s two bottom sides, Korona Redbridge and FC Mexico B, go head-to-head in their quest to avoid the drop this season. The two sides went into the game locked on four points apiece but Korona secured themselves a vital 3-2 win as Arkadiusz Buski, Waldek Szydlowski and Dawid Smolarek netted to keep the great escape alive.

DIVISION THREE

The league leaders, Higham Hill, extended their lead at the top of Division Three to four points on Sunday as they made no mistake in dispatching Mayfield Kings in a 7-0 scoreline at Fairlop Oak. A Charlie Saywood hat-trick, two for Asim Khan off the bench, plus goals from Billy Jago and Zachery Leitch were enough to keep them in the driving seat.

Alpha also put in a solid performance in their game, bouncing back from the disappointment of recent defeats to see off the efforts of Imperial Row in their game at the Flats. Bradley Williams was in fine form as he netted a hat-trick, joining Rujorn Tuitt, Tafari Miller and Humza Qamar on the scoresheet too in a 7-0 win.

DIVISION FOUR

Singh Sabha Barking have moved to within a couple more wins of securing the league title in Division Four as they ramped up their points tally with a strong 6-0 winning performance on Sunday against Titans United in Newbury Park. Daniel Adasonla (2), Oluwaseun Okeniyi, Jason Ajoodha, Matthew Stedman and Karam Lalli all found the net to keep them in pole position.

The division’s top goal scorers, United Amateurs, remain in second spot and still in with a mathematic chance but will know that probabilities are against them, despite a stunning 8-1 win on Sunday against Ace Athletics. Braces from Aldair Doci, Johnny Gallagher and Billy Biggs paved the way with Abraham Ladoja and Luke Howell also netting in United’s tenth league win. Stuart Connor scored Ace goal in reply.

One of the form teams in the entire league presently are Romford Athletic Dons who are now fifth in the division aided by their most recent victory, beating Blackwall Rovers 3-1 in Hainault. Scott Buckland continued his scoring streak with a hat-trick, confirming win number of seven ahead of a cup semi final against the same opposition.

Another form side are Lonsdale who’s early season woes are in the past as they picked up another win on Sunday, defeating Ultimate Vision Reserves 3-2 in a five goal thriller. Goals from Oliver Dingli, Kalium Fletcher and Denis Hilah were the difference between the sides as that result saw them move eighth in the table and level with their opponents on points.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, the biggest winners of the day were Dagenham Rangers who moved themselves up a couple of places to eighth as they returned with all three points in a 4-0 win against Young Royals in Barkingside. That was win number eight in what has been a mixed season for Rangers with them safely in amongst a number of sides in mid-table.

Ultimate Vision A are another side who have bounced back well from a difficult spell early in the season to ensure their place in the division for another season, aided by their most recent win which saw them defeat seventh placed United Borough 2-1 at the Rec. Matthew Ainsworth and Scott Watkins both got on the scoresheet for Vision to give them the win.

In the battle of the two top half sides, Belfry Reserves missed the chance to cut the gap greatly at the top of the table as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Eastern Avenue, that point enough for Avenue to move up to fifth in the standings. Daniel Lawman and Lee Wright both netted for Belfry to keep them second ahead of their run-in.

DIVISION SIX

The battle for the Division Six title remains in the balance as Mansfield Rangers’ penultimate league game saw them secure all three points with a 4-0 home win against Epping Forest Falcons in Walthamstow. Billy Happe, Claudius Edwards and Jay Kanber all struck for the leaders as they wait to see if Colebrook can haul them in with their games in hand.

That result coupled with events in Dagenham meant it took Valence United Reserves’ chance of the title away as they slipped to a reverse in their home game against a rampant Epping Royals side. Joseph Bothwell’s hat-trick set Royals on their way with Calvin Bell, Matthew Robinson, James Smith-Pryor and Ahmed Said all striking too. Ayomide Ibuola and Keenan Mitchell scored the Valence consolation efforts.

Ping City Phoenixes have given themselves a great chance of a top half finish in the division this season as their fourteenth game of the league campaign saw them earn a big 8-3 home win against London Legacy at the weekend. Jack Flood’s hat-trick and an Esat Yurtseven brace led the way with James Bishop, Daniel Arnot and Eren Yurtseven goals finishing things off. Tochi Atumonyogo, Chukwuemeka Atumonyogo and Waqas Mir grabbed the Legacy consolation goals in reply.