WEEK 3 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and county cup action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

United Dian’s hot streak in front of goal continued on Sunday as they defeated Secret in their clash in Hainault to moved three points clear at the summit. Braces from Tyler Law and Ian Thompson were the main difference with Luke Harriett, Brian Moses and Errol Bellot strikes completing a 7-3 win.

Moving second, Hatch Lane’s first game of the new campaign sees them move level with five other clubs on three points as they also returned victorious from a trip to Hainault, taking all three points in a solid 5-0 win away at Alliance Stars. Jermaine Francis was in fine fettle with a hat-trick, adding to goals from Lucio Vare and Kevin Bondjanga.

FC Ballr have also joined the “three-point” club and sit in seventh position in the standings as they came out on the right side of a five goal thriller at home against East Way Athletic, ending the latter’s unbeaten start in a 3-2 scoreline.

PREMIER DIVISION

The top two sides in the Premier Division met on Sunday in Chigwell where East Stars were the visitors to face an unbeaten Avintul outfit, both sides eying up the opportunity of going top. The sides were well matched and ended 2-2 as Sergiu Maximov and Dumitras Olari efforts helped the hosts to take a share of the spoils.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Theydon Green took advantage of sides around them being out of action to go top of the table on goal difference after three games, aided by their second league win of the campaign, defeating FC Mexico A 4-2 in Loughton. Noah Friend was a real enemy to the visitors, scoring a hat-trick to go alongside a George Johnson goal.

With a near identical record to Green, FC Galaxy will also be very pleased with their start to the new season as they moved a point clear of the chasing pack with a solid 4-1 home win against Chingford Athletic in Dagenham. Mihai Gherasim netted two with Alexandru Demidov and Luchian Grigore goals completing the victory.

There was a real thriller over in Hainault where Snaresbrook came from behind in their trip to Oceana to draw level at 4-4, only for the hosts to then net a winner to make it 5-4. Olatunji Akinde, Jesse Jones, William Weightman, Alfie Fry and Jamie Hart all struck for Oceana to keep their winning run ongoing.

There was another close game witnessed at West Ham Park where AC Milano and Barking combined for a five goal thriller. Devine Osuji grabbed both of the Barking goals but his efforts were not quite enough in the end as two Mohamed Kidia efforts for AC Milano, plus an Umer Zinga strike saw AC win the game 3-2.

DIVISION TWO

It was the battle of the top two on Sunday as Eastbrook United and Roneo Colts renewed old acquaintances, both sporting perfect records so far. Someone’s run had to end and it was Eastbrook who ended the day the happier with a hard fought 4-3 win. Berty Frith (2), Harry Petersen and Callum Harris struck for the hosts with James Smith, Dwayne Francis-Riley and Keenan Gravillis netting in consolation for Colts.

That result allowed St Augustines to move closer to the promotion chasing sides and now sit just a couple of goals off of second as they overcame a significant challenge in the form of Total Football in Loughton. Fahed Gani and Sachin Bawa both came off the bench to score for Total but two Aaron Francis efforts for the Saints plus goals from Callum Daniels and Olamide Dele-Adeniyi won it 4-2.

Two sides recorded first wins of the new season, the first of those seeing Thames Ironworks Community move up into fourth place as they won 3-1 away at Asianos to go fourth in the standings. Fahad Nynja scored the Asianos goal but a Thames hat-trick from Jeffrey Nketia saw his to a to win and leapfrog their opponents in the process.

Another side who got their wins account opened were FC Mexico B as they welcomed Frenford to their new home ground in Barkingside and christened it with a victory. The Mexicans were winners by the odd goal in five to secure a 3-2 victory and moving fifth in the tables.

DIVISION THREE

There were two bounce back performances in Division Three where, firstly, Debden Sports Reserves got back to winning ways with a solid performance at home against Inside Success. Joe Cloake was in good form in netting a hat-trick, supplementing goals from Will Osmond, Charlie George and Charlie Harper in a 6-2 scoreline.

It was a similar performance from Dagenham Town who got over their disappointment of the previous week well in putting in a strong home performance against Monkhams. Joseph McEnroe scored twice with Tommy Ivers-Grant, Jordan Samuels and Vonley Hamilton to give Town an important 5-3 win.

There was a first win of the season for now fifth placed Imperial Row who completed the set in terms of results, adding a win to a draw and defeat. An eleven goal contest ensued with Windmill Warriors but it was Row who took home a 74- win with a Darren Summers hat-trick, brace from Joseph Williams and a James Hutton single.

Another game that saw eleven goals came at Wanstead Flats where Alpha were seeking to make amends for their opening defeat against Mayfield Kings. Kai Brown was on fire scoring five of Alpha’s goals while Anthony Joseph also scored a hat-trick and further efforts from Humza Qamar, Tafari Miller and Brentton Barrett made it a memorable 11-0 win.

And completing the action in Division Three, Goresbrook opened their points account for the new season with a terrific victory on the road away at Upshire Forest, taking maximum points with a 5-0 win. Charlie Barrett scored twice while Billy Howe, Liam Coney and Lathan Jordan goals finished things off in style.

DIVISION FOUR

Just a point separates the top three in Division Four where Ainslie stay a point clear after they picked up an important 4-0 win on the road away at Hillside. A goal apiece from Freddie Wrighton, Jay Digance, Ryckie Husbands and Paa Ogoe were the difference between the sides in the end to give the visitors a second league win in three.

Promoted Singh Sabha Barking have made a bright start to the season in the division and moved level with their opponents on goal difference as they ended Ultimate Vision Reserves’ perfect start in a 4-1 win in Dagenham. Karam Lalli scored two of the goals with Indervir Virdi and Taranjit Birring strikes giving the victory to Barking.

It was a good morning’s work for United Amateurs who ensured they would return home with maximum points from their trip to Blackwall Rovers, winning 4-1 to stay unbeaten so far. Billy Biggs, Peter Adeleye, Thomas Springer and Andrew Sielele all netted for United to end the day the happier of the two sides, Ryan Radley netting in consolation for the hosts.

Another side still sporting an unbeaten record in the division are Titans United and the cup finalists from last term picked up a first win with a narrow victory away at Raphael Park Rovers in Romford. Jake Crump scored twice for Rovers but his efforts were in vain as two Jack Dooney goals plus a Charlie Foran effort helped United to a 3-2 win.

Chingford Athletic Reserves will be pleased with their efforts as they bounced back from a defeat in their first game to take the points this time around, defeating Lonsdale on Sunday in Waltham Abbey. David Donaghue scored twice with Thomas Collier and Kyle Mavris efforts enough to see their side to a 4-2 win.

It was also a good morning for Romford Athletic Dons who shot up the table to seventh after a solid win in Barkingside as they took on Ace Athletics at Redbridge Sports Centre. Despite two goals from Jay Simmons for the hosts, two Chris Ratty goals, along with goals from Scott Buckland and Jacen Worboyes earned the Dons the points in a 4-2 win.

DIVISION FIVE

No less than six sides share top spot in Division Five with just goal difference separating them. Valence United are sitting at the head of the group as they recovered well from defeat last time out to beat Dagenham Rangers. Rowan Newland scored a hat-trick with Scott Gillick, Jordan Cook and Michael Kane efforts helped the hosts to a 6-2 win.

Eastern Avenue are the division’s only side with a perfect record so far and they extended that to two wins from two with a home victory on Sunday against Ultimate Vision A. A close game saw the two sides share five goals but Miguel Conceicao’s hat-trick proved decisive in taking Eastern over the line to a 3-2 win.

Sitting fourth, Colebrook Royals Vets have opened up with two wins from three this month and their first trip on the road was a fruitful one as they took the points against another of the sides expected to challenge, United Borough, ending their perfect start in the process. Ben Sitki scored a hat-trick, Alan McCormack scored twice with Michael Farley, Thomas Sellears and Paul Noonan goals making it a 8-1 Royals win.

Young Royals will have been pleased with their efforts on Sunday making the short trip along Forest Road to face previously unbeaten Belfry Reserves. Lloyd Holliday got on the scoresheet for Belfry but two Royals goals from Jude Lloyd and Lathushan Murugananthan were enough to edge the contest in their favour, winning it 2-1 to take their first win of the campaign.

It was a similar story for Custom House Community who faced a tough trip on the road themselves as they made the journey to Rise Park to take on Byron Red Star. But that trip proved a successful one for Custom as Matthew Guy, Jack Field, Glenn Levy, Donte Laurent and Isaac Boateng all netted to give them a 5-2 win, their first of the season.

DIVISION SIX

Just the four teams share top spot in Division Six and Colebrook Royals Reserves are at the head of the bunch here as they made it two wins from two with an 8-2 victory against London Legacy. Jamie Meakin scored a hat-trick, Archie Shipp bagged two with Albert Webb, Archie Locke and Matthew Humeniuk also netting to render Legacy goals from Ian Marques-Tavares and Motayyab Saeed as just consolation.

Royal Lions C are the second of four teams to start with perfect records and they made it two wins from two with solid performance on the road away at Valence United Reserves. Lions were 2-0 winners on the day to move second and continue their run without conceding a goal.

Ping City Phoenixes are another of the sides setting the early pace in the division and they confirmed a second league win in two on Sunday, returning home from Woodford with all three points in a 4-1 victory against Epping Forest Falcons. Ezra Waterman was gushing with goals, notching a hat-trick, with Daniel Arnot bagging the other for Ping. Soma Sundhu scored the Falcons goal in reply.

Completing the weekend’s league action, it was a memorable day for Ivory United who picked up their maiden competitive win in the league with a stunning 5-0 away victory against Epping Royals. Casey Fletcher and Zac Riches were the at the double with two goals apiece, Matthew Driscoll netting the other to open their points account.

COUNTY CUP

The Essex Sunday Premier Cup served up some memorable first round performances this weekend with Brook Athletic and Sungate combining to finish 5-5 at the end of the ninety minutes. Extra time however went the way of the visitors as Sungate progress through 8-5.

In Hainault, there was little to separate Barking Riverside and Roose who also finished level at the end of ninety minutes with the teams drawing 2-2. But a solitary extra time goal in this one made the difference with Barking moving into round two with a 3-2 win.

The final game saw a twelve goal thriller involving Corinthian new boys Flyhouse Athletic as they took on Loxford Lions for a place in round two. And it was Flyhouse who booked that spot as they ran out 8-4 winners to go through.