WEEK 29 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The line-up for this season’s Corinthian Cup is now finalised as Brook Athletic sealed their place in the showpiece event with a stunning 5-0 home success against Flyhouse Athletic in Newbury Park, joining a small number of non-top flight clubs to reach the final of the competition. Craig Jeakins scored twice with Juan Florez, Samir Bihmoutine and Lee Lashley efforts confirming a showdown with Baiteze Squad in May.

SENIOR DIVISION

The title race in the top flight took a huge turn on Sunday as FC Ballr completed their league programme for the season with a seven goal thriller against Baiteze Squad. A Timothy Ogunrinde double combined with goals from Adebola Sotoyinbo and Lyle Della-Vere saw the Dagenham based hosts win 4-3 to take the title race out of Baiteze’s hands.

DIVISION ONE

Emerson Park will be pleased with their efforts on Sunday as they beat the drop in Division One this season as 4-2 victors in their home clash with FC Mexico A at Hendersons. Two Billy Pearce goals plus strikes from Reece Powell and Sean Green were enough to move Emerson seventh in the standings, hopping above their opponents who completed their league programme.

Over in Dagenham, FC Galaxy’s last game of the season saw them in action against cup finalists AC Milano with both sides now out of the frame for a top two finish this season. A close game saw it edged by the odd goal in five by AC for whom Adam Patel was in great form, notching a hat-trick for his team in a 3-2 success.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Roneo Colts’ penultimate fixture of the season saw them return to the top of the table on goal difference as they edged a close game with Korona Redbridge in Barkingside. David Pietras and Waldek Szydlowski grabbed the Korona goals but two Jay Batchelor efforts and a Shermar Marshalleck effort sent the points home with Colts in a 3-2 scoreline.

With four games still to play and trailing the leaders by just a point, it is very much in St Augustines hands as to the destination of the silverware after they recorded another victory, albeit a closely fought one, at home against Frenford on Sunday. The only goal of the game was netted by Saints man Callum Daniels, giving them a 1-0 success.

Fourth placed Royal Lions A could yet scoop a top two finish but will know it’s out of their hands despite a 2-1 success on Sunday, defeating Eastbrook United in their last game of the season at Barking Park. Keiva King got on the scoresheet for United but his efforts couldn’t prevent a Lions success as they took the points.

Cup final bound Total Football kept their mathematical hopes of a promotion place alive with a hard fought win at Robert Clack, defeating Thames Ironworks Community 1-0 to make it nine victories for the season for the Loughton based side. Carl Parsons scored the game’s only goal to keep Total’s momentum going.

The division’s remaining game came from Barkingside where FC Mexico B got themselves into a 2-0 lead in their penultimate game of the season against East London Harriers, looking to end the season on a high. But they had to share the points in the end as Connor Brown and Tommy Carter-Hamilton goals levelled up the game at 2-2.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the battle for runners-up will go into the remaining games as United Amateurs completed what they needed to do with a 7-1 home success against Ultimate Vision Reserves. Billy Biggs’ doubled his hat-trick tally for the weekend, Jack Chawner netting two and one apiece from Bradley Bennett and Thomas Springer meaning Ainslie now need to win both games to overtake them.

The champions, Singh Sabha Barking, completed their season in style as they won a double header at home against Lonsdale to round make it seventeen wins from twenty this season. In game one, goals from Buza Vasile, Indervir Virdi and Jordan Hamilton gave them a 3-0 success before rounding off the season with an identical result, Rajan Sangha scoring two and Aaron Kahlon netting the other.

Ace Athletics’ efforts to avoid a bottom two finish were enhanced following their performance on Sunday with a terrific 6-2 win against Chingford Athletic Reserves in Barkingside. Jamie McMeakin and Jeff Coby scored for Chingford but two Jay Simmons strikes plus goals from Alex Mason, Billy Baldry, Tom Mason and Lee Huckle gave Ace a crucial three point haul.

DIVISION FIVE

The big game in Division Five came from Fairlop Oak where hosts Belfry Reserves’ saw the visit of fifth placed Byron Red Star, both sides still having a mathematical chance of affecting the promotion places. But Alex Robinson’s four-goal performance for Belfry was the difference between the sides, coupled with a Daniel Lawman effort which overcame Byron goals from James Thorne and Jordan Riches in a 5-2 scoreline.

United Borough have confirmed their place in the top half of the table as they saw off the last side that could have affected that, defeating Royal Lions B in Brentwood in a 3-2 scoreline. Jake Griffin scored twice with Ben Miller netting the other to ensure the hosts took the points with three games of their season remaining.

DIVISION SIX

There were two high scoring and identical results in Division Six where Colebrook Royals Reserves moved into second in the standings with a 7-1 win at home against Epping Forest Falcons. Ryan Lawless scored for Falcons but Royal doubles from Jamie Meakin and Kamran Latif plus goals from Archie Shipp, Oscar Simmons and Harley Stevens ensured they remain on course for a title tilt.

That same scoreline was recorded over in Epping where Woodford Green United were the visitors to Epping Royals, the sides starting the game just four points apart. But by full time, that was increased to seven as the hosts won 7-1 courtesy of goals from Fraser McCarthy (2), Calvin Bell, Hayden Robinson, Sonny Spooner and Liam Draycott, meaning their side can finish no lower than sixth.