WEEK 25 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

TROPHYLAND CUP

The penultimate quarter-finalist for this season’s Trophyland Cup semi-finals was confirmed on Sunday as Division Three’s Upshire Forest made the draw for the last eight with an away success against Division Six side Havering Palace. Daniel Roult scored twice for the hosts, Haydn Essam and Tom Lawn netting the others for Forest in a 4-0 scoreline.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

FLY’s excellent recent form saw them in cup action for the first part of their fixture this weekend, facing an FC Ballr side with experience in the ranks. Ade Sotoyinbo scored twice for Ballr but the in-form FLY struck back with five goals of their own as Guilherme Monti (2), Nabiboy Ahmed, Mohamed Mahmoud and Salim Nassor all struck in a 5-2 win, putting them into the semi-finals.

SENIOR DIVISION

Back in the league action, the top two sides met in Hainault with nine points between them going into the fixture, Manford Way the hosts to leaders Flyhouse Athletic. A close game saw the sides have to settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw, that result enough to keep Athletic unbeaten and clear in the lead ahead of a run of cup fixtures.

Following success earlier in the day in their cup tie, FLY’s league fixture against FC Ballr followed on after that game and saw very much the same outcome, FLY coming away 6-2 winners in the game with Dimeji Shonuga the difference with a five-goal performance, Salim Nassor grabbing the other. Daniel Brock and Ade Sotoyinbo notched the Ballr consolation goals in reply.

Double header action was in play at the Marshes where previously bottom of the table Hatch Lane were up against East Way Athletic, the latter holding a four point lead going into the first game. It was Wisley Baltazar who Hatch had to thank for a 1-0 victory, his goal the only in the fixture. In game two, a close game once again saw both teams unable to break the deadlock, ending up 0-0.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup quarter-finals, two further sides put themselves through into the last four, just ninety minutes away from a possible final. Barking Riverside came through a tough away trip to the league leaders, Theydon Green, to head into the semi-finals. Solomon Asomah netting the game’s only goal in a 1-0 scoreline.

Over in Hainault, the Forest Road derby pitched hosts Royal Lions A up against Critics, eighteen points between the teams in the league leading into this game. But there was nothing between the sides who produced an entertaining 3-3 draw, Jake Fuller scoring two and Dylan Florence once for Critics. And it was their side who held their nerve in a lengthy shootout, Critics 7-6 winners to go through.

DIVISION ONE

Just the one game survived the elements in Division One on Sunday and it was a seven-goal thriller, a glut of late goals securing Benchviews just a second league success of the campaign as they edged Total Football 4-3 in Loughton. Nile Painter’s brace and George Ridley single looked to have rescued a point for Total but ‘View goals from Darius Izukanne (2), Amazigh Laoudi and Jermain Amoo handed their side the points.

DIVISION TWO CUP

The Division Two Cup produced somewhat of a shock as London Cup finalists, AC Milano, saw their run in the divisional cup come to an end at the quarter-final stage as mid-table Leytonstone Athletic held them to a 1-1 draw, then held their nerve in the shootout to win 4-2. Athletic will now go on to face Debden Sports Reserves in the last four next month.

Heading through safely to the same stage are Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who moved to within ninety minutes of a possible final as they came out on top of their home quarter-final against Inside Success. Halameen Agbaje, Sobaan Samad and Samuel Nyarme all scored for Inside but those efforts proved in vain as Wanderers were able to secure a 5-3 win.

DIVISION TWO

With the top two in cup action on Sunday, Abridge Village had the chance to make their move once again towards the promotion places and that was exactly how it played out, the hosts taking all three points with a 4-1 win against Barking. Leon Adeyemi’s brace plus strikes from Michael Bello and Jake Clarke were enough in the end, Darryl McDonald scoring Barking’s consolation effort.

Fourth placed Cloud 9 kept themselves in the mix for strong finish to the campaign, taking a hard fought point at home against sixth placed Debden Sports Reserves as the sides finished level at 2-2 to take home a point each. Ryan Costello and Jake Griffin netted for Cloud with Will Osmond’s brace earning Sports a share of the spoils.

Over in South Ockendon, East London Harriers were the hosts and in search of crucial points to avoid the drop, facing a Newbury Forest side with ambitions of a top half finish. And it will have been Forest walking away the more satisfied of the sides, Lloyd Ross and Brady Jones both netting to earn a 2-1 win and a move up into fifth spot.

DIVISION THREE

Singh Sabha Barking have bounced back into winning form after an indifferent spell of results, producing a comprehensive performance in beating Alpha 8-1 to move level on points with the promotion places. Sarwan Birak’s four goals led the way, Omar Yearwood scored twice with Oluwaseun Okeniyi and Matthew Vasu efforts rounding off the win.

There was also a victory for eighth placed Korona Redbridge who done their chances of avoiding the drop a world of good with a 3-1 victory in the Old Parks derby match against FC Mexico B. Milan Pajak scored twice and Mihail Cojocari the other to hand Korona just a second league victory of the campaign to move to within two points of safety.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

Horse & Well have moved through into the semi-finals of the Division Four Cup, coming away winners by the odd goal in a closely fought contest at Brymans Park, winning the game 3-2 in Newbury Park. Ronnie Pemble and Shane Taylor both scored for Park but it was two Jamie Marsh goals and a Lewis Whitehead effort that made the difference as Well went through.

DIVISION FOUR

It was a busy day of league action too which saw Belfry Reserves regain their lead at the summit with a 6-0 success Ace Athletics, moving a point clear of the other clubs in the race for the title. Jamie Redington saw his run of form continue with a hat-trick, Alex Robinson scoring the other two for his side to remain unbeaten.

The other key game affecting matters at the top of the table saw City Site in action against Warren Senior in Collier Row with the game important for both sides in their respective races for promotion. Scott McGlynn scored twice for Warren but it was an Alex Paraskeva hat-trick that earned City the points, James Cole scoring the other in a 4-2 result.

Byron Red Star sit third and were able to cut the deficit on the sides above with a winning Sunday of their own, travelling to Town Mead to take on Chingford Athletic. And, once again, Adrian John proved his value to Star with a hat-trick, Gabriel Adeshina and Liam Pickett also netting to ensure the visitors took the points back home around the M25.

Fourth placed Eastern Avenue made it six wins for the season as they travelled to face a Prospect Protégé side sitting just two points behind them prior to kick-off. But by the end of the game, Avenue had opened that gap up to five points, picking up a 4-2 through goals from Miguel Bailey, Cieran Lennon-Hunte, Gerald Longwe and Edward Sabeng. Jayden Thiongo scored both Prospect goals in reply.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

The Division Five Cup saw two very tight games take place with Ultimate Vision Reserves overcoming a couple of places deficit in the table against Dagenham Rangers to head on through into the semi-finals, 2-1 winners in Dagenham. Nathanael Joseph and Billy Rose scored the goals for Vision to put them just ninety minutes away from a possible final.

And in that semi-final, Vision will take on a Lonsdale side who reached the semi-finals of the cup by scoring the game’s only goal in their clash with Titans United. It was Anthony Scott who they will have to thank for their progression, his effort the key moment in a tight game as they now look forward to a last four clash in a fortnight’s time.

DIVISION FIVE

Colebrook Royals Reserves have moved to the cusp of the Division Five league title, a thumping 8-0 win making all the difference on Sunday as they took down a Mansfield Rangers side in clinical fashion. Goals from Calvin Bell (2), Phorell Brooke (2), Brandon Richmond, Dylan Fagan, Harley Lewis and Jamie Meakin mean that one more point will be enough for a Royal title.

That outcome was made possible as the division’s only other game between Royal Lions B, the only side who can still catch the leaders, were in home action against Manford Way Reserves. And the sides had to settle for a point each in a 3-3 draw, Jake Li producing a terrific performance to score a Manford hat-trick, moving his side sixth with five games of the season to go.

DIVISION SIX CUP

The penultimate Division Six Cup semi-finalist was confirmed on Sunday, London Legacy making the trip to Walthamstow to take on Ridgeway Rovers with both sides keen to progress. Mohammed Noor scored for Legacy but it was Ryan Vallance and Harley Hillman goals that snatched victory for Rovers as they edged the tie 2-1, setting up a trip to Young Royals.

DIVISION SIX

There were wins for both of the top two sides in the league as Epping Royals’ run of form continued with another big result as they took home the points in a tight game against Warren United in a 3-2 scoreline. Oliver Regan scored both for Warren, Joseph Bothwell netting twice in reply for Royals and Jared Sinatra once.

Over in Barkingside, Young Royals’ race for the title goes on and they remain the bookies favourites with games in hand, moving two points behind the leaders with two games in hand, netting a crucial 4-1 win at Old Parks against Epping Forest Falcons. Emmanuel Addo scored for the visitors but his efforts proved in vain as Royals took the win.

In Dagenham, Valence United Reserves’ quest for a top two finish have taken a bit of a blow following the weekend’s fixture against Zone 4 Athletic where, despite racing into a lead through goals from Ruben Carvalho and Malakye Meade but Zone fought back to win the game 3-2 with Sam Bailey, Craig Janes and Ricky Wenhold netting for the visitors.

COUNTY CUP

It was a good morning once again for our clubs in county cup competitions where Brook Athletic’s late goal in their London Sunday Trophy semi-final saw them edge the game 3-2 against Croydon to set up an all-Corinthian final next month against AC Milano, the first time two of our clubs will have featured together in a London final.

And some miles away in Ramsden Bellhouse, Colebrook Royals Vets epic run through consecutive rounds of the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy saw them face Ramsden Scotia in the quarter-final on Sunday. A close game saw Colebrook’s second half lead cancelled out almost immediately before a late Cole strike won it 2-1 to send them through to next week’s semi-final.