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

CORINTHIAN CUP

The first of the season’s domestic cup action took place at the weekend with two exciting ties in the Corinthian Cup. In Walthamstow, Leyton Celtic hosted Valentines United in their all-Division One clash. Leyton Celtic raced into a 3-1 lead but Valentines goals either side of half-time appeared to be sending this classic tie into extra time. But… a late, late winner on the rebound was netted by Celtic before the drama of a ruled out equaliser as the game came to a heart-stopping conclusion. Chris Blohm scored twice for the visitors and Adam Lindsay once with Ophel Idris and James Toppin doubles accounting for the Celtic goals.

There was no shortage of drama in the day’s other clash which pitted FC Mexico against Ultimate Vision in Chadwell Heath. FC Mexico raced into a 3-0 half-time lead over their fellow Division One opponents with Rhys Tyrrell, Adam Roberts and Jack O’Neil on the scoresheet. However Vision didn’t give up and mounted a comeback in the second half as Luke Thomas scored twice but it proved just not quite enough as Mexico booked their place in the second round.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There was a cup shock in the Trophyland Cup competition where Division Three’s Goresbrook took on Division Two outfit, Masterman, in their first round clash in Chadwell Heath. Both Kevin Davidson and Billy Gray found the back of the net for the visitors but their lower division opponents, Goresbrook, extended a promising start to the season with goals from Martin Tuohy, Samuel Berry and William Cox to earn a second round berth in a 3-2 win.

Upshire’s great start to the new season continues after they secured safe passage into the next round with a comfortable looking 4-1 win at home to FC United of Hornchurch in Waltham Abbey. Paul Mangan scored United’s goal but a Mickey Clark hat-trick added to a Dan Smith strike fired Upshire into the next round.

Joining both of those sides in the hat for the second round are Barca who added cup success to recent league victories with a 3-1 on the road at Asianos Reserves in Leyton. Dylan Plunkett and Mark Frostick scored the all-important goals as the Hainault-based outfit confirmed a place in the next round.

Dagenham United Reserves became the first of the season’s quarter-finalists as they took on fellow Division Three outfit, Alpha, in their Trophland Cup second round clash. A hotly contested game saw the match finish level at 1-1 after ninety minutes before United bagged an extra-time winner to send their side through. George Burton was the Alpha scorer before George Martin and Sean Thomas scored the all-important goals to secure a United win.

PREMIER DIVISION

Romford Elite have moved up to second in the table as they bounced back well from their opening league defeat last weekend to comfortably defeat Liberty Stars in Chadwell Heath. Chris Bird and Joshua Thompson both scored twice for Elite with Ben Bickford, Gabriel Ogunwomoju and Tyrone Scarlett also netting to secure their side a 7-1 win.

Another side who overcame an opening day reverse were Mark Dawkins’ Warren United side who beat Peacock 3-1 at home in Barkingside. James Peagram, so often the Warren hero, netted twice for his side with Sean Green scoring the third to push their side up to third place in the table on goal difference.

DIVISION ONE

Park Tavern have shortened their odds at the bookies after a run of three wins in three games in their debut season in the second tier. The latest victory came at the expense of Waltham Athletic as they saw off their rivals in a 3-1 win. David Hornsby was on target once again with the Tormeys, Nick and Sean, completing the victory with further goals. Joseph Hunte-Walters netted the Waltham consolation goal.

East London Old Boys progression continues as they completed their first victory of the campaign following a defeat and a draw in their opening matches. Dawid Pietras was the Korona Redbridge goalscorer but his effort proved not quite enough as Thomas Quinn bagged a brace for the Old Boys to go with another Bekim Dushku goal to their side to second in the table.

DIVISION TWO

As exciting games go, you’ll have to go far to beat the entertainment on offer in Plaistow on Sunday where Flyhouse Athletic had built what they had hoped to be a winning 3-2 lead with just three minutes to go against Wanstead United. Two incredibly late goals however turned the tide and handed Wanstead a first league win of the season with Adam Hunt netting a hat-trick and Johnnie Offei also scoring in a 4-3 comeback victory.

There was no shortage of goals in another East London clash as Westferry Elite saw the visit of Lonsdale to Aldersbrook Road with both sides looking to confirm first league wins of the new season. Indeed it was the hosts who prevailed, winning 6-2 to move up to fourth place in the table after their opening three matches.

Completing the weekend’s action  in Division Two, London Fire Brigade continued their great start to the season with another hard-fought victory, this time a 2-1 win over St Augustines in Hainault. There were Fire goals from Samora Bowen and Robbie Wildman to cancel out Jack Dalby’s strike for the visitors as the hosts move up to second place in the table.

DIVISION THREE

Opening their points account for the new season in Division Three were Morfdown Elect who battled to a 3-1 victory over Alliance United in the Dagenham derby on Sunday. Remi Monfray scored for Alliance but goals from Michael Livesey, Adam Davis and Ricky Barwick confirmed a 3-1 victory for Elect who move up to sixth in the table.

DIVISION FOUR

The Division Four leadership changed hands at the weekend as Highams Park Royals overtook Central Colts to go top with three wins from three matches. Their latest win came at the expense of Bata United, earning a 7-1 victory with a Macauley White hat-trick and strikes from Mitchell-Christopher Edmonds, Sam Jones and Ryan Radley. Brandon Wells was the Bata scorer with his long range effort finding the back of the net for the visitors.

That win coupled was coupled with Central Colts dropping their first points of the season as Thames Ironworks Community travelled to Dagenham and came away with a share of the spoils as the sides finished level at 1-1. Theo Towli scored the Thames goal as they moved up to third place in the table following that result.

Scooping a first win of the season on Sunday were Grey Area who saw off the threat of Epping Forest Falcons with a 2-1 victory as Ashton Playing Fields. Calli Barnard and Bradley Pickett both scored for the visitors as they confirmed maximum points and a climb to sixth place in the table.

East Ham Inter were making their league debut on Sunday and they made it a day to celebrate as they battled to a 5-0 victory on the road at Custom House Community in Beckton. The win saw them move to fourth place in the table with the division looking excitingly poised this season with a number of sides in contention for honours.