WEEK 26 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

DIVISION ONE CUP

Barking & Dagenham Wanderers have bounced back from last week’s disappointment in the county cup semi-finals by confirming a semi-final in Division One Cup. Their quarter-final tie at home to Emerson Park went the way of the hosts as Robert Eden’s hat-trick and a strike from Ashton Lord confirmed a 4-0 victory.

In the competition’s other quarter-final played on the day, Chingford Celtic booked their place in the semi-finals as they travelled to face Warren United Reserves in a local derby in Barkingside. Ross Chimes scored a hat-trick for Celtic adding to goals from Mod Dainauskas, Desmond Heaney and Tommy Lamborne as they cancelled out hosts goals from Sam Murphy and Keir Goldstein.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup quarter-final there was a cup shock as struggling Lonsdale saw off fourth-placed Westferry Elite, going all the way to extra-time and penalties to see off their opposition. Bradley Marable was the Lonsdale scorer as the sides finished level after extra time before winning the resultant shootout.

DIVISION THREE CUP

Wanstead United will have one eye on reaching the Division Three Cup final after seeing off Alliance United in their quarter-final last Sunday. A closely fought encounter saw the edge the game 3-2 as Shaun Clarke’s brace and a Stanley Fabowale single was enough to cancel out Kevin Davidson’s double for the visitors.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

The line-up for the Division Four Cup final is now complete with league champions, SL Menfica, looking to complete a possible treble as they confirmed their place at Thurrock in April with a 6-1 win over Grey Area. Calli Barnard was the Grey Area scorer but strikes from Lewis Clark (2), Connor Wheatley, James Dobson and Richard Beard proved decisive on the day.

Joining them in the final at Thurrock will be Central Colts who continued their fine form from the second half of the season in confirming their place. They edged out opponents and promotion chasing Hornchurch Oakmont in a 3-2 victory courtesy of Tunde Olagunju’s double and a Kelvin Malcolm strike which rendered Hornchurch goals from James Bailey and Charlie Woods as consolation only.

PREMIER DIVISION

The league’s top two sides met in Waltham Abbey on Sunday with Upshire and Lactico battling it out in a closely fought encounter. Timmy Williams, Gozling Jenkins and Henderson Browne each netted for Lactico but a pair of goals from Thomas Goodey and strikes from Lee Sontag and Craig Whitaker were the difference to continue the leaders’ march to the title.

Another goal-fest was witnessed in Walthamstow where Eric Kelly’s hat-trick helped his Ainslie Wood side record a 5-3 win over Flanders. James Sims-Williams and the aptly named Jack Daniels were also on the scoresheet to cancel out Matt Hector’s brace for the visitors and a Fiston Ndonga goal.

The remaining match saw Valentines United and Liberty Stars take a share of the spoils as they finished 1-1 in Barkingside. Christopher Blohm was accredited with United’s goal with Saviola Kuffour levelling the scoreline for the Stars.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Aldborough Hatch have moved up a place to fifth position in the table following a 6-2 home victory at the weekend against St Augustines. Thomas Neil and Billy Anderson each netted for the Saints but a Terlochan Singh hat-trick plus a James Gibbings brace and a Jay Jadeja single took Hatch to victory.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two title race is now taking shape with the top two sides expected to battle it out in the remaining quarter of the season. Docklands Albion are five points clear but were made to work for their victory by E4 Rangers where Albion came out narrow 2-1 winners courtesy of goals from Jamie Ryan and Kamal Creary. Ben Hodgson was on target with the E4 goal.

Keeping pace with the leaders are Park Tavern who put nine past their opponents in beating Waltham Athletic 9-4. Kristopher Brown scored a hat-trick with David Hornsby and Danny Davey both netting twice and Greg Saunders’ strike rounding things off. A potential title decider on 26^th March awaits for the two leading sides.

Morfdown Elect hosted cup finalists FC Mexico on Sunday in Dagenham and put in a sparkling performance to come away as 4-2 winners on the day. Sam Prince scored twice for the visitors but Adam Davis’ double and goals from Ricky Barwick and Blane Barwick carried Elect to a vital victory in the fight to avoid the drop.

DIVISION THREE

Partizan CMC moved up a place in Division Three at the weekend as they beat AC Milano Reserves 4-1 at Chigwell Hall. A brace for each of Tom Jakob and Jake McMullen were enough to move the hosts up a place to sixth in the table with three games of their season to go.