WEEK 33 REVIEW: Upshire, FC Mexico and Wanstead United have a day to remember

PREMIER DIVISION CUP FINAL

The Premier Division Cup reached it’s climax on Sunday morning as Upshire looked to bounce back from their previous final defeat and Ainslie Wood looking to spoil the party.

A terrific, high quality and well contested encounter ensued between two sides who were desperate to be ones lifting the trophy at full-time.  A full throttle opening quarter of the match saw chances at both ends of the field but it was Upshire who netted the first goal, getting to the ball before the Ainslie keeper and rolling it into the empty net. But it didn’t take long for Ainslie to level things up as they netted from a set piece to make it 1-1. Then just on the stroke of half time, Upshire regained their lead in the match as they took a slender 2-1 advantage into the dressing rooms.

After the break, Ainslie Wood came out fighting and were not going to simply hand over the crown and created a couple of decent half chances which they weren’t quite able to convert as Ainslie’s forward continued to cause headaches for the Upshire defence. You always felt that the next goal would be crucial and cometh the hour, cometh the man as Upshire’s skipper rose tallest at the far post to score the crucial third goal. Even a missed penalty by Upshire with literally the last kick of the game didn’t make a difference to the scoreline as the boys from Waltham Abbey secured the first part of a probable league and cup double as these two sides meet again next Sunday in the league.

DIVISION FOUR CUP FINAL

As we rolled into the afternoon, the Division Two Cup final pitted regular cup finalists and reigning champions FC Mexico against their close rivals in the shape of Park Tavern, a side who have had little difficulty in scoring goals this season.

A tentative open period of the game saw both sides begin quite cagily with neither side able to exact much control on the early stages of the game. Indeed the best of the action saw a pair of superb saves, one from each goalkeeper, sending goalbound efforts away from goal with top reflexes. Park Tavern then went close with an effort just past the post as the sides ended the first half level at 0-0.

Another cagy start saw the game deadlocked for much of the early second half proceedings with very few chances of note to test the respective keepers. With the half wearing on towards what looked to be an extra thirty minutes, a breakthough arrived! FC Mexico’s player attacked the ball from a set-piece with plenty of determination and handed his side a crucial lead. The game opened up as expected from this point but Tavern, for all their determination, couldn’t find an equaliser as FC Mexico were confirmed as Division Two Cup Winners once more!

PREMIER DIVISION

Flanders rounded off their maiden campaign in the Premier Division with a comfortable win against West Essex Cup final bound Valentines United, securing a 5-0 victory. Shane Campbell was the hero with a hat-trick for his side with Lawal Alhada and Sydney Ekiyo completing the scoring.

DIVISION TWO

The fight for relegation will go to the final day in Division Two as Morfdown Elect saw their chance to secure safety thwarted by a resurgent E4 Rangers. Aston Bugeja and Ricky Barwick both netted for Elect but a 5-2 defeat means they must now wait on the outcome of Lonsdale’s final match of the season to determine the makeup of the bottom two sides.

DIVISION THREE

Massive congratulations go to Wanstead United who were confirmed as Division Three League Champions on Sunday as they took on and defeated Fairlop Rangers in a 6-1 win. Bradley Drisdale scored a stunning quartet of goals with Oron Bristol and Stanley Fabowale rounding off the win that handed them the title with Upshire Reserves ending the campaign as runners-up.

Congratulations to all involved at Wanstead United who see a league and cup double confirmed with this victory, a tremendous achievement.

DIVISION FOUR

There was just one matter to be settled in Division Four as Spring Cup winners, Goresbrook, went in search of a victory against the treble winning and unbeaten SL Menfica side that would give them the runners-up spot. A quite stunning performance and 10-0 result in favour of Goresbrook was the outcome as they moved above Hornchurch Oakmont. Liam Coney scored a hat-trick with a pair of Charlies - Morris and the returning Barratt – both netting braces. Further goals from Dimitri Pafnouti, Ricky Cripps and William Cox ended the season with an almighty bang.