WEEK 30 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

COUNTY CUPS

It was a huge weekend for two of our clubs as their quests for county glory. A crowd of over 400 accumulated at Heybridge Swifts on a glorious Friday night as Valence United took on local side South Woodham Ferrers United Reserves in the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy Final. A strong start saw Valence create a number of great opportunities but they failed to convert those as the half finished goalless. The game sprung to life a minute after the break as South Woodham netted an opener and they didn’t take their foot off the gas, eventually scoring twice more and then defending stoically to prevail 3-0 on the night and sealing their title.

On Sunday afternoon, it was the turn of Theydon Green as they travelled down to take on Brentwood League side Santos in the final of the Essex Sunday Junior Cup at Bowers & Pitsea. A topsy-turvy game saw Santos take a lead midway through the first half which was levelled by Ben Harris soon after as the sides went in 1-1 at the break. Green took a deserved lead ten minutes into the second period through a wonderful Daniel Heartey strike but Santos were able to get back on terms to finish the game 2-2. Extra-time failed to produce a winner so it was left to a penalty shootout which, with twists and turns of it’s own, eventually saw Santos win 10-9 and lift the cup.

Big well done to the two competition winners and to both of our representatives in the finals who battled valiantly and can look back on what were terrific runs to the finals.

DIVISION FIVE CUP

On the domestic cups front, it was semi-final day for two of our Division Five sides where Belfry Reserves were in home action, taking on Colebrook Royals Vets for a place in the final next month. Two goals for Sam Paterson and one apiece from Tarron Tennant and Alex Robinson were the difference on the day as Belfry booked their place in the final with a 4-2 victory.

SENIOR DIVISION

It’s congratulations to Hatch Lane following Sunday’s results as they secured the points they needed in their game against East Way Athletic to take the Senior Division league title after a terrific campaign. Goals from Ashaan Siddik and the talisman Jermaine Francis were exactly what they needed to complete the job in their penultimate league game of the season. Huge congratulations to all of the Hatch boys on a terrific achievement!

The battle for the runners-up spot will roll into the remaining games of the season with Baiteze Squad remaining in pole position for that race, aided by their most recent success, a 4-1 away win at El Valiente. Martin Arowoshaye netted the hosts goal but that effort proved just consolation as Baiteze got back to winning ways.

PREMIER DIVISION

The penultimate game of the season in the Premier Division was played on Sunday with hosts Avintul in action for their final league game of their maiden campaign, taking on Flyhouse Athletic, both sides with some huge cup games coming up. Two Dumitras Olari goals and one from Dorian Postolachi for the hosts were enough to take a point against the runners-up in a 3-3 draw.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, AC Milano have moved to within three points of consolidating a third place finish in the competition after racked up a solid win on the road, defeating Barking 7-0 at Parsloes Park. Hat-tricks from Mohamed Kidia and Uzair Patel set them on their way with Nesar Torkamani and Shabaz Saleem also netting in the game too.

Over in Harold Hill, hosts Emerson Park saw the visit of Chingford Athletic with the teams separated by just four points going into the fixture. By full-time, that gap had been cut to just a single point as Emerson ran out 4-1 winners with Joe Scott scoring a hat-trick and Harry Culham struck the other to record win number five of the season.

DIVISION TWO

St Augustines have moved to within one victory of sealing the league title this season in Division Two after they added another three points to their tally following a 2-1 success at Frenford on Sunday at The Drive. Callum Daniels and the aptly named Augustine Appiah got on the scoresheet ahead of a big semi-final next weekend and know that their rivals have just one fixture remaining to catch them.

One of those sides, Asianos, missed the chance to maximise their chances of title glory as they went down to an emphatic 7-0 defeat against fourth placed Royal Lions A, the latter now in with a shout of a runners-up finish if results go their way. Jason Tokenge and Randy Adele scored twice each with Brian Randriamanantena, Kasbon Tokenge and Olatunja Oshodi-Glover rounding things off for Lions.

FC Mexico B rounded off their season on Sunday with a home fixture against cup finals bound Total Football and will have been pleased with their efforts as the Barkingside based side took a point in a 1-1 draw. Carl Parsons was the scorer of the Total goal as their mathematical chances of a runners-up finish were extinguished.

DIVISION THREE

The destiny of the Division Three league title is now very much in Debden Sports Reserves’ hands following the weekend’s results as they moved to the cusp of title glory with a 4-0 home success against Higham Hill at Chigwell Lane. Will Osmond scored twice with Callum Thomas and Antonia Vullo goals finishing things off to leave them just needing a point from their final game.

That outcome was made possible as the only other side who can catch Debden, Upshire Forest, saw their hopes dented in a 1-0 reverse at home against Inside Success in the latter’s final game of the campaign. The sides started seven points apart but that was slashed to just four as the visitors made it seven wins in their maiden season.

DIVISION FOUR

There was a big twist in the race for promotion in Division Four as Ainslie went into their penultimate game of the season knowing they needed two wins to take second spot. They were facing an Ace Athletics side with little to play for after avoiding the drop but things didn’t quite go to script as Jamie Curtis and Jay Simmons both netted for Ace to hand them a 2-0 win and confirm United Amateurs as runners-up.

Romford Athletic Dons completed their league season on a high as their final game saw them edge a tight game against Lonsdale to win 2-1, moving up to fifth in the standings and confirming a top half finish this term. Kalium Fletcher scored the sole Lonsdale goal but efforts proved in vain as Dons continued their winning form ahead of their cup final next month.

The day’s other game from the division saw Chingford Athletic Reserves see the visit of Raphael Park Rovers to Town Mead with both sides having just one game left of their seasons. Chingford held a seven point advantage going into the clash and that was how it remained by full-time with the game ending in a 1-1 draw, Jake Li scoring the Rovers goal.

DIVISION FIVE

Valence United bounced back from their disappointment of Friday night to take a big step in the right direction for league glory with a terrific 6-1 win against Royal Lions B to cut the gap at the top to twelve points. Burt Cardy was in stunning form, scoring four goals, Michael O’Brien and Kyle Moran striking the others to overcome Emmanuel Ejembi’s goal for Lions.

DIVISION SIX

The inaugural Division Six champions were confirmed on Sunday as we congratulate league champions, Mansfield Rangers, following a 3-1 success against Woodford Green United in their final game of the season. Billy Happe struck two and Jay Kanber one off the bench to win the game and put them name on the honours board. Big well done to all involved at the club on a great achievement!

That outcome was made possible as the only other side who could catch them, Colebrook Royals Reserves, were held to a 1-1 score draw at Grange Farm against Ping City Phoenixes. Phorell Brooke extended his scoring record this season for Royals with that effort matched by Ezra Waterman’s goal for the visitors as they took home a point each.