WEEK 3 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

East London Ballers have made it three wins from three following the weekend’s results, coming from behind twice to take a 3-2 home win against AC Milano at Parsloes Park. Zaeem Hussain and Fahad Nyanja goals twice put the visitors ahead but Baller strikes from Steven Carvell, Kishawn James and Yousaf Mohamed turned the game in their favour.

Following closely on the leaders’ coattails are Hatch Lane who have also started their campaign with a pair of victories, this time taking the honours in the Parsloes Park derby with co-tenants Brook Athletic on Sunday. A goal apiece from Tarome Hemmings, Daniel Couldridge and Steven Kabungwe were the difference as Hatch won 3-0.

Over in Hainault, the reigning champions, Baiteze Squad, were on the road with a trip to face Flyhouse Athletic in the latter’s opening game of the year. After defeat last weekend, it was a better outcome for Baiteze who won the game 5-2 to record their first win. Bruno Tavares struck four goals and Yassin Fares notched the other to take all three points.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Roose lead the way on goal difference at the top of the table following a seven-goal thriller win away at Total Football. Nile Painter scored twice and Carl Parsons once for the hosts but those were not quite enough as Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose scored two for Roose with Charlie Hawes and Afolabi Soyemi-Ololade netting the others in a 4-3 win.

Sitting in second, just a few goals adrift, Barking Riverside picked up their second win of the season with a 3-1 home victory against previously unbeaten Debden Sports Reserves. Steven McCormick, Dipo Otuniga and Djo Mogege all got on the scoresheet for the hosts with their goals, Billy Barr netting the Debden consolation effort.

It’s been a strong return to the competition for Repton Park who picked up a second win from two games on Sunday after a big 4-1 win away at Benchviews. Tony Fraser was the difference between the sides, scoring a hat-trick, while Thomas House notched the other for Park to double their points tally for the season.

There was a first win of the campaign for JK Silvertown who bounced back well from their opening reverse to take all three points on Sunday away at UK Moldova. They started the game level on points with their opponents but three unanswered goals confirmed a 3-0 success and a climb into fifth spot.

Also on the climb after a first win of the new season are promoted Colebrook Royals who also responded in positive fashion to their opening day defeat to win second time around, beating Critics at Old Parkonians late on. Goals from both Omar Mahmood and then Presley Evans were enough to edge a close game 2-1.

DIVISION TWO

The lead at the top of Division Two has been reduced to just a point following the weekend’s results as Upshire Forest saw their first dropped points of the new season following a goalless draw away at East London Ballers Under 23s. It was a case of defence over attack from both sides with neither team able to make a breakthrough, leading to a 0-0 outcome.

That result enabled other sides to make up ground at the top, including Woodford Town who are up into third spot following a second successive win, edging a close encounter with FC Galaxy in a 3-2 scoreline. Luke Dimond proved priceless, scoring all three of Town’s goals, overcoming Galaxy goals from Mihai Mareniuc and Giovani-Ionut Paladoiu.

Also with a maximum return from their first two games in the division, promoted AC Milano Reserves secured a second victory on Sunday with a hard fought home win against Daglanta in Newbury Park to take their points tally to six. Gersi Lika struck for the visitors but that goal was not quite enough as the hosts scored twice themselves in a 2-1 win.

There was a first win of the season for Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who took all three points at the third attempt after a enthralling 5-4 win at home against Singh Sabha Barking. Rivaldo Vinda and Deji Akinyemi both scored twice and Keanan Bancroft once for the hosts, rendering two Indervir Virdi goals and others from Naveen Radhakrishnan and Sarwan Birak as consolation.

Another side ending the day happier than when they started are City Site who earned themselves a first win in the third tier following promotion, beating newly formed Stone Town 6-2 at Forest Row. Christian Otomiewo’s hat-trick paved the way, adding to goals from Jordan Lee, Ricky Rose and Ronnie Fry.

DIVISION THREE

The lead at the top of Division Three sits at just a point as Woodford Town Reserves extended their unbeaten start but could only take a point from their away trip to Colebrook Royals Reserves on Sunday, the game ending in a 1-1 draw. Oliver Rush struck for Royals with Fergus McGrath’s goal for Town seeing the sides share the spoils.

That result enabled other sides to make up ground at the summit with United Amateurs moving into second spot following a high-scoring away victory against Valence United A in Dagenham. Jack Chawner struck with four goals for his side, Amadu Jalloh and Miraan Amin scoring the others, while Ryan Knight (2), Rowan Newland and Charlie Surridge’s goals weren’t quite enough for the hosts.

Down in third place, Leytonstone Athletic are another side with two wins from two so far this term, their latest victory coming from Wadham Lodge as they earned a 4-2 away win against hosts Ainslie. Jack Back and Ricky Norton both scored for the hosts but Athletic goals from George Burton, Ryan Kelland, Reece Simpson and Jack Ferris gave the visitors the win.

The remaining game from this tier came from Chadwell Heath where hosts Romford Town Flyers were in home action with the visit of South Ilford Catholics. A closely fought game couldn’t separate the two teams with the game ending in a 2-2 draw by full-time to share the spoils. Lloyd Ross scored both Flyers goals with Orintas Mikulskas and Rilwan Kiku striking for Catholics.

DIVISION FOUR

Debden Sports A remain at the top of the Division Four table on goal difference following the weekend, returning a second win of the season with a narrow 4-3 home win against Prospect Protégé at Chigwell Lane. Oscar Simmons scored two, Elliot Betts and Samuel Blackshaw netting the others, rendering Donovan Wright (2) and Archie Kieran goals for Prospect as just consolation.

Promoted Manford Way have doubled their winning start to the season and trail the leaders by goal difference alone, their second win this term coming on Sunday against last season’s rivals, Royal Lions. A 5-1 win was secured through a Kieran Moynihan brace plus goals from a “Jake” treble from Jake Li, Jake Crump and Jake Foster.

Also with two wins from two are Coppice Row who doubled their points tally for the season following a comprehensive 5-0 home win against Cardinals Athletic in Loughton. Liam Adams scored twice with Michael Barton, Robert Lindsell and Matheus de Lima scoring the others for the promoted side.

Over at Hylands Park, hosts Byron Red Star followed up their first win with another point, taking a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with league debutants East End United. The sides couldn’t be separated over ninety minutes with Oluwagbeminiyi Adeaga getting on the scoresheet for Byron as they sit fourth in the standings.

DIVISION FIVE

Chingford Athletic continue to set the early pace in Division Five following promotion to the sixth tier, making it three wins from three on Sunday with a 7-2 home success against Young Royals at Town Mead. Samuel Matthews led the way with a hat-trick while Selmo Pedro, PJ Marcus, Kwame Woodley and Michael Mignot also netted.

The early front runners also include Athletic Newham who have made a dream start themselves through have needed three closely fought wins, the latest a 1-0 away victory against Lonsdale in Dagenham. Joshua Imbert scored the game’s only goal at Castle Green as Newham took their points tally to nine so far.

Another side with a perfect record so far are Mansfield Rangers who have won both of their first two games of the new campaign and sit third, fighting off a Legacy City fightback on Sunday to recor da 3-2 win at Douglas Eyre. Ivalyo Todorov and Georgi Meloyan goals had pulled City back into the game but two James Scott goals and a Billy Happe effort saw the hosts take the honours.

Sitting in fourth place are Epping Town after they returned their first win of the season on Sunday with a 5-2 home win against Alpha at Stonards Hill to take their points tally to four. Fraser McCarthy’s hat-trick proved pivotal with Joseph Bothwell netting two customary goals for this side. Kevin Mullen and Tafari Miller scored the Alpha goals in reply but in a losing cause.

Romford Rovers sit just behind Town on goal difference, in fifth spot, after coming from behind to take a first ever competitive win against May & Baker EC at Love Lane. Jordan Miller and David Maculey goals had put the visitors into a lead but two Mason Deegan goals in response plus Frankie Gregory’s goal made it 3-2 in Rovers’ favour.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, there are four sides sharing the lead at the top with Colebrook Royals A sitting at the summit following promotion, netting a second win this term, beating fellow high-flyers Newbury Drive 3-1. Oliver West was in fine form with a hat-trick for Royals, his goals proving vital, overcoming a Harrison Wright effort for the visitors.

Joining the six-point club on Sunday were also Ace Athletics who bounced back from their previous defeat to record a win third time around, beating Debden Sports B in a 5-1 scoreline at Redbridge Sports Centre. Harrison Jacobs scored twice off the bench, Joshua Craske added another two with Louie Seaman netting the other.

There was a thriller of a game just down the road at London Marathon where hosts Inter Newbury welcomed FC Mexico in the Forest Road derby. A seven-goal thriller ensued between the sides with the Mexicans walking away 4-3 winners on the day. Nicky Bristow scored twice, adding to goals from Alex O’Halloran and Carl Cumberbatch for their first win of the season.

It was also a victorious morning for newly formed JK Silvertown Reserves who earned their first competitive win on Sunday with a 2-1 home win against old rivals Hainault Athletic in east London. Ifeoluwa Bakreen scored for Hainault but his goal was not quite enough in the end as JK took the points, their first win of the season.

DIVISION SEVEN

In Division Seven, Warren United have made a terrific start to the new season after another goal-filled morning made it two wins from two, their latest escapades earning them an 8-0 win away to Romford Bullsharks in Hornchurch, a result which keeps them top on goal difference.

Sitting just behind the leaders and also with two wins from two are Emerson & Upminster who followed their opening day victory with another in the second week as they defeated United Amateurs Reserves 6-1 at Hall Lane. Alfie Webb scored four goals, Jayden Bowman and Archie Larkin netting the other while Henry Sleight scored for United.

Valence United C are up into third place and the other side sitting on six points so far, earning a hard fought, narrow victory at home against Zone 4 Athletic. Michael Chimwemwe and Teraun Davis scored for Zone but Valence goals in reply from Robert Devlin, a brace, and Jack Howard ensured it was their side taking the points.

The remaining game came from Old Dagenham Park where Gatcliffe looked to add to their opening day draw with the visit of Barking Colts. And it was the hosts who walked away having added three points to their record, Owen Woodhouse and Devante Samuel scoring the goals for Gatcliffe to keep them unbeaten.