WEEK 27 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

COUNTY CUP

It’s congratulations to FC Galaxy who have taken their place in this season’s Essex Junior Cup Final in April, travelling to north Essex to take on Tiptree Heath on Sunday. A terrific first half saw them lead 4-1 at the break and ended up 5-2 winners in the end, taking on Heath Athletic on 13^th April.

CORINTHIAN CUP

In the Corinthian Cup, East London Ballers are through to the quarter-finals of the competition after an epic battle with Hatch Lane at Parsloes Park. After ninety minutes that couldn’t produce a goal, it was shootout success for Ballers, 3-2 winners.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

The Newbury Park derby game in the Senior Division Cup saw AC Milano taking on Brook Athletic with the winners all but securing a semi-final place. The two sides battled to a 2-2 draw however, a result which leaves two points separating the bottom five sides in the group.

DIVISION ONE

Three teams now sit locked at the summit of Division One, Critics moving level at the top on goals scored after an important win against rivals Repton Park. Thomas House scored two with Daniel Florence, DeReece Vanderhyde and Joshua Lamaswala responding for Critics in a 4-2 scoreline.

Debden Sports Reserves are another sitting level at the top after a big derby win on Sunday morning at home against Total Football. Debden were 5-1 winners on the day with Carl Parsons scoring for Total in response.

JK Silvertown’s cup exploits mean they have plenty of games still to play and they’re out of the bottom two after a 4-2 away victory against sixth placed St Augustines. Joel Stichbury, Aeli Agha, Gosling Jenkins and Herze Zola were all on the scoresheet.

Bottom of the table UK Moldova kept alive their hopes of avoiding the drop with a vital victory against tenth placed Benchviews in east London. Moldova were 5-0 winners with Marian Rosu and Serghei Scupoi both scoring two and Dumitru Nanii once.

DIVISION TWO CUP

Both semi-finals were completed in the Division Two Cup, beginning at Newbury Park where AC Milano Reserves were taking on Daglanta in their clash. A five-goal thriller was edged by the visitors, Daglanta netting a 3-2 win on the day.

Also victorious and through to the final are Woodford Town who earned their place in the final after a hard fought shootout win against Upshire Forest at Town Mead. Leighton Hughes-Franklin struck for Forest with Paddy Sherlock netting for Town, the latter 4-3 winners in the shootout.

DIVISION TWO

East London Ballers Under 23s returned to winning ways this week, winning their local derby match with Stone Town in a 4-1 scoreline to move up into sixth spot in the table. Mohamed Abdi, Razat Rahman, Ayaan Bokhari and Melvine Boni all found the back of the net for Ballers.

DIVISION THREE

South Ilford Catholics produced a terrific win to move up into third spot in the table, scoring the game’s only goal against promotion chasing Woodford Town Reserves. Charlie Briggs netted that goal to give South Ilford an eighth league win this term.

It was a local derby at Westlands where Romford Town Flyers were hosts to co-tenants Warren Senior with just one place separating the teams in the table. It was Warren leaving the happier of the teams, the cup finalists winning the game 2-0.

The third game from the division saw Colebrook Royals Reserves up against Ainslie in Chigwell, four points separating the sides at the start. That was how it remained by the end too with the game ending 1-1, Djean Holland netting for Royals and Sidikie Marah for Ainslie.

DIVISION FOUR

There was a big result at the top end of the table where third placed Eastern Avenue took vital points off Debden Sports A, Avenue 4-3 winners at Chigwell Lane despite two Elliot Betts goals and an Oscar Simmons strike for Sports.

A six-goal thriller was produced in the other game where East End United and Coppice Row had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw at Harris Academy. Mike Elsmore, Ben Little and Alfie Mansfield all scored for United with Jordan Santos, Jake Mernagh and Frank Pitcher netting for Row.

DIVISION FIVE

Things remain incredibly tight at the top where goals scored see May & Baker EC edge clear, a 4-1 win on Sunday morning against Young Royals attained, courtesy of goals from Jordan Miller, Robbie Norris and Honest Agbonifo.

Second placed Romford Rovers trail by just a solitary goal and produced a 6-2 win on Sunday against Lonsdale courtesy of a hat-trick of braces from Liam Adams, Jack Porter and Ryan Rodwell. Kalium Fletcher and Anton Nikolli struck with the Lonsdale consolation efforts.

Epping Town continue to keep pace with the leading pack and netted themselves a 6-2 win of their own with an away win against Mansfield Rangers. Joseph Bothwell was in fine form netting four goals, Jack Mitchell and Ben Stone adding the others. Jake Magson and Billy Happe replied for Rangers.

It was victory for fourth placed Chingford Athletic also who travelled to Athletic Newham and returned home with all three points in a 4-2 success. Darryl Wilson (2), Justin Clarke and Freddie Zakiewicz struck with goals, Danny Hession-Canham and Ronnie Wilson responding for Newham.

There was just one goal between the sides in the remaining game from the division where Legacy City were taking on an Alpha side in Hainault. Jake Skeet was the game’s sole goal scorer as his Alpha side left with a 1-0 win under their belts.

DIVISION SIX CUP

It was semi-finals day in the Division Six Cup and Newbury Drive earned a place in the finals in just their first season, heading through after a big 5-0 win against London Legacy. Luke Newbury-Neale, Alfie Mobey, Mitchell Edmonds, Charlie Thompson and Harrison Wright all netted in the win.

Joining Drive in the final will be Debden Sports B who confirmed their second final with the league after a semi-final away victory at Ping City Phoenixes in Barkingside. Sports were 2-0 winners against their higher ranked opposition as they seek to get their hands on some silverware.

DIVISION SIX

There was just the one game in Division Six where JK Silvertown Reserves made the trip across to Redbridge Sports Centre to face Ace Athletics. Tim Mason struck for the hosts but his goal was not quite enough as JK edged it 2-1 to net three points and move above their opponents.

DIVISION SEVEN

Valence United C picked up a crucial three points from a tough battle against United Amateurs Reserves to remain five points clear in the title race with seven games to go. Jordan Cook and Jamie Wooster efforts overcame a Henry Sleight strike in a 2-1 Valence success.

Second placed Warren United also produced a win, netting themselves a 6-1 home victory against Zone 4 Athletic at Hainault Rec. Oliver Regan scored a hat-trick, Aidan Butler added two and Joshua McKenna one while Zac Doyle was on target for Zone.

Third placed Gatcliffe kept their promotion push in their hands with a home win at Old Dagenham Park, defeating Romford Bullsharks in a 4-1 scoreline. Owen Woodhouse (2), Codi Wackett and Nico Bunduku all netted with Zachery Bussell scoring the Romford consolation.

It was victory for Emerson & Upminster in their away trip to Barking Colts, a seventh win of the season for Emerson moving them level on points with Colts in fourth and fifth respectively, 3-1 the final scoreline here.

CHARITY CUP

It was semi-final success in the West Essex Sunday Charity Trophy on Sunday for Corinthian side Byron Red Star, warming up for their big Essex cup showdown next weekend by earning a narrow 1-0 home win against CSM London Under 23s on Sunday.