WEEK 32 REVIEW: Silverware secured by Chingford Celtic, Wanstead United and SL Menfica

DIVISION THREE CUP FINAL

The Division Three Cup reached it’s climax on Sunday morning as holders Wanstead United looked to regain the trophy they won twelve months ago with FC United of Hornchurch looking to spoil the party.

What ensued was a high quality and hard fought encounter between two sides who were looking to be ones lifting the trophy at full-time. In front of a terrifically vocal crowd of close to 200, a half which had seen plenty of top passing on the slick Ship Lane surface but a dearth of good chances, Wanstead United got themselves ahead just moments before the break as Shaun Clarke netted to make it 1-0.

After the break, FC United went down to ten men with the dismissal of their skipper for a second bookable offence but that simply spurred them on and they got themselves level almost immediately, finishing from ten yards out right into corner. But ten minutes later, Omari Clarke wrote himself into the record books with the winner, finishing coolly from a good move as the ball was pulled back to him to slot home. The final ten minutes of the game were all Hornchurch as they battled valiantly to get an equaliser, aided by another dismissal, this time for Wanstead but alas an equaliser never came and Daniel Hennessey’s side lifted the cup once again.

DIVISION FOUR CUP FINAL

As we rolled into the afternoon, the Division Four Cup final pitted the talents of SL Menfica against the up and coming Central Colts. Colts knew that they had nothing to lose and could enjoy the occasion as the underdogs. SL Menfica were on the verge of a league and cup treble in their very first season.

The first goal of the game came just seconds from kick off as SL Menfica scored to take a very early 1-0 lead in the game. But Colts battled hard to gain a footing in the match and started to play some of the football that had seen their vast improvement in this campaign. A solid performance from the Menfica backline kept their sheet clean and they were able to extend their lead by the break to 2-0 with a lovely finish bent around the Colts keeper.

In the second half, Colts stood firm and worked hard off of the ball to counter the possession football style of their treble-bound opponents. A third goal effectively ended the contest as SL Menfica scored from close range to make it 3-0. And that was how the match ended up as goals from Lewis Clark, Jake Muller and Thomas Rice completed a deserved victory and confirmed their treble success this season!

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, game of the day saw the top two sides clash in Waltham Abbey with Upshire taking on Warren United with the latter knowing that nothing less than victory would stop the hosts putting one hand on the trophy. Despite James Peagram scoring twice for his Warren side, Upshire scored four goals of their own to move to within a point of securing the league title in their first season with the league.

Quality Control confirmed a seventh league victory of the season for themselves on Sunday as they hosted Liberty Stars in a mid-table clash, concluding both sides’ seasons. The hosts ran out 5-1 winners to move up two places and above their opponents to sixth position.

Cup finalists, Ainslie Wood, warmed up for next weekend’s final at Thurrock by beating Valentines United in a 3-1 scoreline in Walthamstow. Charlie Flander found the back of the net for United but it was Ainslie who came away victorious with a seventh league win of the season.

DIVISION ONE

A quite remarkable title race in Division One finally came to a conclusion at the weekend as three sides started the day with a chance to lay their hands on the silverware. Barking hosted Chingford Celtic at Mayesbrook Park knowing that the winner would secure the title, however, a draw would leave long time leaders Emerson Park as champions. A goalless first half kept hopes alive for Emerson but the title was finally settled by goals from Desmond Heaney and Ross Chimes for Celtic who ran out eventual 2-0 winners and became champions of Division One once again!

Hats off to all of the sides in Division One who made this a fabulous division to be part of this season. Special mention of course to Tom and Ryan’s Chingford Celtic side and they now go for a double when they take on Aldborough Hatch in May’s cup final.

DIVISION TWO

Another closely fought battle was on display in Division Two where old rivals, Park Tavern and Waltham Athletic, went head to head with the winning being assured the runners-up spot and promotion to Division One. Waltham raced into a 3-0 lead as Brad Hill, David Bomani and Zachary Leitch handed Spartans the lead but a Kristopher Brown brace for Tavern made it a nervy end to the game but saw Waltham hang on to seal promotion for next season.

The battle to avoid relegation will go to the last round of games as FC Mexico exacted revenge for a recent defeat by beating relegation-threatened Morfdown Elect 3-2 in Emerson Park. The cup finalists edged a tight encounter as Adam Roberts, Rhys Tyrrell and Dean Hendrickson saw them to victory.

Lonsdale went into their fixture at home to E4 Rangers knowing that they realistically needed at least one victory from their last two fixtures to keep themselves in the division. As a side never short of goals and in fact having the second best goal-scoring record in the division, Lonsdale put four past E4 Rangers but saw their defence breached eight times. That result leaves Lonsdale needing to better Morfdown’s result in their final game.