WEEK 29 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

TROPHYLAND CUP

The first matches of British Summer Time took place on Sunday and it was a day to remember for Dagenham United who have built upon their league success with a cup final appearance. They were semi final winners on Sunday against Division Two cup finalists, Barking, with just a single goal separating the sides. Sean Thomas, so often the hero for his team, netted that solitary goal to earn the Daggers a place at Dagenham & Redbridge FC in May.

In the other tie played over the weekend, there was quarter-final action in Plaistow where Division Three title chasing, Thames Ironworks Community, played host to Division Two’s Ferns Seniors with both sides keen to book a place in the semi final against East Ham Inter. Liam Coney’s recent form in front of goal continued with two goals for Ferns with Danny Child grabbing one back for Thames but it wasn’t quite enough as they were eliminated 2-1.

DIVISION ONE CUP

It was semi final day in the Division One Cup competition with the first of the semi finals seeing league leaders, Chingford Athletic, attempting to make it two successive finals. But they faced a stiff challenge against St Augustines who were looking for a long awaited cup final appearance. In a tight game, just one goal separated the sides with Saints’ Thomas Neil the hero on the day as his effort gave St Augustines a 1-0, sending his side to the final at Aveley.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, further semi final action saw Royal Albert head to Chadwell Heath to face Goresbrook with the Beckton based side looking to make it a treble of cup final appearances this season. But it was the Goresbrook outfit who were out of the blocks fastest and never took their foot off the accelerator as Josh Keeble, Martin Tuohy, Charlie Barrett, William Cox and David Webster all netted in a 5-1 victory. They now head to Aveley in a fortnight to take on Barking in the final.

PREMIER DIVISION

The race for the title in the top flight will carry on for another few weeks as Repton Park missed a chance to secure the silverware as they faced a tricky trip to Romford Elite in Chadwell Heath. Joshua Thompson was on fire for Elite, netting a hat-trick with Tyrone Scarlett and Nick Jones also scoring to render Jobe Ambrose’s penalty as just a consolation for the title favourites. With one match to play, Repton need a point to make certain of the title.

Awaiting any possible slip by the champions elect are El Valiente who had a home league clash on Sunday against a highly regarded Brook Athletic side. Sam Edwards, Danny Bird and Aaron Marston were on target for the hosts with Brandon Ferdinand scoring for Brook as second placed El Valiente recorded a 3-1 victory.

The remaining game in the division took place over in Newbury Park where Barking & Dagenham Wanderers were up against Ultimate Vision with both sides keen to move up the table. Wanderers started the game two points behind Vision but they ended it a point ahead as Andre Gumbs and Liam Roney bagged braces and Robert Teppett got the other in a 5-3 win. Ryan Chapman scored all three goals in reply for Vision to bring an end to their second season as a club.

DIVISION THREE

The only game of the day in Division Three saw Hornchurch Oakmont maintain their hopes of a top three finish when they hosted Roneo Colts in a local derby at Westlands. A goal apiece from Luke Sawyer, Jake Young and James Bailey were sufficient to see Hornchurch over the line in a 3-0 scoreline, their eighth league win of the season.

DIVISION FOUR

The Division Four action on Sunday centred around the race for runners-up three sides well in the frame for that chase. East Ham Inter are the side in possession of the second place position presently and they done their hopes no harm with an emphatic 9-1 win at home to newly crowned champions, Newham Athletic. Nicolae Apostol scored a hat-trick, Harinder Sanghera and Alex Ceobanu scored twice each with Barjinderpal Singh and Amalraj Kakumanu efforts completing the win.

Third placed Monkhams remain in with a shout of chasing Inter down and they keep pulling out the results, their latest an important win at fifth placed AC Milano Reserves in Loughton. Charlie Thomas scored twice with Samuel Griffin getting the other as they recorded a 3-0 win, their eleventh league victory of the season so far.

And completing the trio of promotion chasing sides, cup holders Asianos Reserves will surely take this down to the last game of the season as they faced a tough Custom House Community side in an east London derby match. In a game of five goals, it was Asianos who edged the encounter 3-2 to move within seven points of the promotion places with three games to play.

The remaining league match on the day saw Oak Royals continue their late season surge towards a top half finish with a trip to Thames Ironworks Community Reserves. Daniel Gotobed scored twice for Royals with Mitchell Drewe and Ryan Mitchell goals sending their side home with the points in a 4-0 victory.