WEEK 3 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

The early leaders in the top flight remain as Baiteze Squad stayed one point clear of the chasing pack with a hard fought 3-2 away at Flanders on Sunday. Meer Ishanzadeh and Derrick Osei got on the scoresheet for the hosts but Baiteze just did enough to return home with all three points.

Secret are the side just behind by a point and they maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a solid victory at home to East Stars in Newbury Park. Aaron Blair had a morning to remember as he scored a hat-trick, adding to a Lindisipho Mtyanda strike which gave their side a 4-0 win.

Sitting third in the standings are Hatch Lane who secured a maiden victory in the league with a thumping 9-1 victory as they returned home from Repton Park with maximum points. Jobe Ambrose scored for the hosts but Hatch ended the happier of the sides as substitute Jermaine Francis scored four goals, adding to further efforts from Tremayne Coley, Kazim Bishop, Steven Marshall and Lucio Vare.

East Way Athletic are up to fifth in the standings as another of the sides to record a maiden victory in the competition, completing a 3-1 home victory against KLIK in Leyton. Jay Hazlewood scored goal for the promoted KLIK side but Athletic ran in three goals of their own to secure the win.

Over in Barkingside, there was a hard fought game in the day’s remaining top flight action where Warren United opened their league campaign for the season with the visit of London Mavericks to Old Parks. It took a single goal in the dying moments of the game to separate these well matched sides as the Mavs slotted in to win their opener 1-0.

PREMIER DIVISION

It’s been a good start to the new season for Kulture Klub who made it two wins from two on Sunday as they took home maximum points in Walthamstow from their game against Chingford Athletic. Dylan Florence scored a hat-trick with Daniel Londono, Gideon Nihasi and Fidan Fejzi goals rendering Michael Hay’s effort as consolation for Athletic in a 6-1 scoreline.

Brook Athletic are top of the Premier Division but saw their lead at the top cut on Sunday as they were held to a draw against Asianos. Jayden Rising scored twice and Tom Canham once for Brook but Alex Akanbi’s hat-trick for Asianos gave them a share of the spoils as the teams took a point each in a 3-3 draw.

FC Ballr are up to fourth place in the standings and remain unbeaten as they bounced back well from their opening day scoreless draw to record a first league win on Sunday. They come through their hard fought local derby clash in Dagenham against Central Colts in a 2-0 scoreline.

Also recording an opening win of the new season, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers were visited by Panda over the weekend with both sides winless going into the game. Derek Boakye found the back of the net for Panda but a goal apiece for Wanderers from Jayraj Jadeja and Godfrey Kambaza gave them a 2-1 win.

DIVISION ONE

It’s been a mixed start to the season for Division One’s leaders, Abridge Village, who made it two wins from three on Sunday with a high-scoring 11-3 win away at Hornchurch Oakmont in Chadwell Heath. Jake Clarke scored four, Aaron Gurney and Daniel Poku each netted braces and singles from Ethan Porte, Grant Osbourne and Theo Brady finishing things off. In consolation, Tom Gibson netted twice in reply for Oak and Jake Young once.

Over in Hainault, Roose opened their new season with a big win as they beat local rivals, Korona Redbridge, to secure maximum points. Artur Hajduk and David Pietras both scored for Redbridge but a Roose hat-trick from Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose, a brace from Harry Amoah and further goals from Alfie Hawes and Benny Messanvi completed a 7-2 for Roose.

AC Milano made it two wins from two from their start to the new season as they played host to Valentines United at West Ham Park on Sunday. Tyrone Scarlett handed the visitors the lead but AC came back to win the game 4-1, making it a maximum points return from their two games so far.

It’s also been a perfect start to the season for Barking who made it a pair of opening wins with a solid display away at Wanstead Albion at the Flats. Luke John-Baptiste scored for Albion but his efforts provide in vain as Michael O’Brien, Kastriot Vata and Charlie Surridge goals gave Barking a 3-1 win.

Oceana have moved up to sixth place in the standings in the third tier as they celebrated their first home game of the season with maximum points, beating winless Goresbrook 4-2 in Hainault. Charlie Morris and William Cox both got on the Goresbrook scoresheet but Oceana goals from Robert Coe (2), Lewis Belcher and Oliver Turner handed their side the win.

DIVISION TWO

The early leaders in Division Two are Thames Ironworks Community who made it three wins from three so far this season, coming through a five-goal thriller against Newham rivals, Royal Albert. Harry Jones, Kyle Oxley and Tayo Felstead all grabbed goals for Thames who came through as 3-2 victors.

Also sitting with a perfect record so far in the division are FC Galaxy as the Dagenham based outfit were in the goals once again, beating FC Mexico A 9-0. Eduard Bica scored twice while Ionut Ciurea, Mihai Dinu, Constantin Donoasa, Luchian Grigore, Dragos Tiganuc, Iulian Udriste and Adrian Pop also found the back of a slightly worn out net.

Emerson Park got their delayed season underway on Sunday and will be pleased with their start as they came through 2-1 winners from their home game against Chigwell United. Bobby Ballard got on the Chigwell scoresheet but his efforts proved not quite enough as Park took the win.

The final action in the fourth tier came from Highams Park where St Augustines’ opening league game of the season came against local rivals West Essex at the Jubilee Sports Ground. Hakan Alper got on the scoresheet for the cup finalists but West were in fine form as they won 5-1 on the day to grab their opening league win of the campaign.

DIVISION THREE

Bretons Manor kept their perfect start to the season going on Sunday, recording a second win and ending the unbeaten start of close rivals Roneo Colts in the process. Bryan Paredes netted for Colts but Manor goals from Jay Batchelor, Jordan Buck and Sam Cooper were the difference, helping their side win 3-1.

It’s also been a good start for Blackwall Rovers who are the kings of the 2-1 scoreline so far, winning both of their games by this margin. Their latest victims with Wanstead rivals, Alpha, as Ryan Radley scored twice on debut for the club to come through this closely fought encounter.

FC Mexico B will also be pleased with their efforts so far with two wins from three, aided this week by a close win against previously unbeaten Eastbrook United. Charlie Pulham grabbed the United goal but two in reply from the Mexicans gave them a 2-1 win as the sides swapped places in the table, fourth and fifth respectively.

Bouncing back well from their opening day defeat, Ainslie are back to winning ways as they sent Lonsdale to defeat in Walthamstow with a 5-2 result. Goals from each of Jay Digance, Jack Gillett, Aaron Powell, Connor Gardner and Kailem Gayle were enough on the day to see their side over the line.

DIVISION FOUR

Upshire Forest lead the way in Division Four but didn’t get things all their own way on Sunday as they came through with a narrow win against league debutants Young Royals over in Barkingside. Oliver Campbell’s first half set piece proved the difference between the sides with 1-0 the eventual scoreline.

Sitting just a point behind are promoted Cobra who have made a good start to the season so far and Chingford Athletic Reserves were the latest side to be beaten by the Dagenham based outfit. Jeff Coby and Mark Redhead both struck for Athletic but Cobra goals from Luke Eskelson, Malachi Fajembola and Jordan Riches handed a 3-2 victory to their side.

Leytonstone Athletic are up to third and will have been pleased with their morning’s work, coming through a hard fought fixture at home to United Amateurs, winning 2-0 to take the points. Pat Ambrose done the damage with both of the goals to help his side on their way to a second win in three.

Two of the sides highly fancied to be at in a title challenge met in Loughton over the weekend with Total Football taking on Theydon Green. An exciting game saw the sides finish level at 3-3, sharing the points. Substitute Sachin Bawa scored twice for Total and Nile Painter once but Ben Harris’ double and a Max Jessop effort for Green levelled it up.

Romford Athletic Dons secured their opening league win of the campaign with a good 4-2 win away at Eastern Avenue at the Flats. Scott Buckland and Chris Ratty both netted for Dons with substitute Ianike Delgado’s double helping them over the line to three points and a move up to sixth in the standings.

DIVISION FIVE

Custom House Community have found some good form in the opening stages of the season and lead the way with two wins from two, their latest result being a 5-3 win at home to Royal Lions in Newbury Park. Darryl Joseph, Randy Adele and Darren Smith-Wellington all scored for Lions but Jamie Wooster (2), Thiago Silva, Edward Sabeng and Tim Mason efforts gave the hosts a win.

Also sitting with maximum points are Ping City Phoenixes who will be pleased with their two wins on the bounce, beating Fairlop Rovers in a close five goal thriller on Sunday. The goals flowed in for Jack Flood who netted a hat-trick to take his side to a 3-2 win and, consequently, all three points.

Singh Sabha Barking have also made a perfect start in the seventh tier but had to come through a very tough game against Dagenham Rangers over in Newbury Park. Jordan Hamilton’s penalty proved the difference between the teams on the day with his effort the only goal of the game in a 1-0 scoreline.

Moving up to fourth place, Valence United added a victory to their opening two draws, beating Stow Rovers 4-1 in their fixture in Dagenham. Rowan Newland continued his form in front of goal with two more strikes, Jordan Cook and Ryan Knight grabbing the others to send their side to the win.

And completing the action at this level, Colebrook Royals Vets got their maiden points on the board as they came out on the right side of a seven goal thriller against Tekkers Vets. Paul Noonan scored twice with one each from Daryl Godden and Daniel Joye completing a 4-3 victory. Wesley Imbert scored twice in reply and Hamden Rasheed once for Tekkers in consolation.

DIVISION SIX

East Tilbury Town are top of the pops in Division Six so far and made it two wins and a draw from three after beating Epping Royals 3-1 in Dagenham. Ben McDonald scored for Epping with Peter Kent’s brace and Danny Crandle effort accounting for the Tilbury goals in reply as they stay top by a point.

Just behind them are Barking Reserves who have a great start to life in adult football so far on the back of two opening wins, their latest against Epping Forest Falcons. Mofiyinfoluwa Ojolowo scored four with Alfie Bellotti, Enos Owusu and D’Jean Holland goals completing a 7-0 win for the visitors.

Byron Red Star are up to third in the standings after three games as they completed a first win of the campaign with a 4-0 home win over debutants Royal Lions Reserves. After a draw and a defeat in their opening two games, Byron will be pleased to have opened their wins account.

Sitting fourth after two games, Thames Ironworks Community Reserves got their own points account started for the year, bouncing back from defeat last time out to beat debutants Ilford County in a 5-0 win. Substitute Mario Izu scored twice adding to strikes from Harry Parker, Jaedon Banya and Lee Mpensah.

Completing the weekend’s league action, there was a six-goal thriller in the game between Woodford Green United and Mansfield Rangers who took a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw. Jake Magson scored twice and Jack Cousins once but Green scored three of their own to give each side a point for their efforts.

DIVISION THREE CUP

In the Division Three Cup, it was semi-final day as two of last season’s challengers at that level met in Theydon Bois as Barking Riverside were the visitors to take on Theydon. Elevated to the Premier Division this season, Barking were the victors to take their place in the final, winning 2-0 in a hard fought contest to set up a game against West Essex.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

The Division Four Cup final line-up has also been confirmed following the weekend’s action as Monkhams played host to Titans United over in Loughton. A single goal was enough to pull these sides apart on the day with Titans the beneficiaries of that effort to win 1-0 and secure a final berth against Asianos Reserves.