WEEK 4 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The first cup action of the season commenced on Sunday with the Corinthian Cup one of those getting underway, Club 1017 with the biggest win in the competition on the day as they saw off the threat of Division One’s UK Moldova at Hackney Marshes. With a division superiority, it was the top flight side who headed into round two after an 11-1 win.

Another top flight side heading into round two are former winners of the competition, Brook Athletic, who had a tricky looking trip to Hainault to face a high-flying Roose side. The game was quite close going into the second half but Brook pulled away to win 7-1 with goals from Rio Mudhar-Hedley (2), Golden Igbineweka, Craig Jeakins, Ayub Kadiri, Remarle Lawrence and Ryan Mallett.

There was an all-Division Two clash in another of the ties as Upshire Forest made the trip down to Dagenham to face FC Galaxy, both sporting strong starts to their campaigns. A close game ensued between the sides as Upshire walked away 4-3 winners, Leighton Hughes-Franklin’s hat-trick paving the way and Daniel Roult adding the other.

Over in the Loughton derby, co-tenants Repton Park and Total Football met in the all-Division One clash, Repton twice finalists in the competition. And it was Park who left the happier of the two teams, overcoming Total goals from Carl Parsons and Nile Painter with five of their own. Jayden Ambrose scored a hat-trick, George Hellen and Thomas House netting the others in a 5-2 win.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were some cupsets in the Trophyland Cup, the biggest of which saw Division Five’s Romford Rovers overcome a side placed divisions above them in Warren Senior in a five-goal thriller. Jack Glenister and Anthony Cooke scored for the visitors but Rovers goals from Michael Rambukpitiya, Mason Deegan and Sam Wilson turned the tie in their side’s favour, 3-2 the result.

Another victory for Division Five came from Hainault where divisional leaders, Chingford Athletic, were on the road against fellow divisional rivals Legacy City at London Marathon. Chingford continued their early form with a 5-0 win, benefitting from two Bradley Williams goals plus strikes from Kyle Mavris, Samuel Matthews and Justin Clarke.

There were some near misses for some Division Three sides, beginning in Hainault where Division Five’s Valence United B struck with the last kick of the game against Division Three’s Colebrook Royals Reserves to level it at 2-2 and take the game to a shootout, Makai Frai, Charlie Surridge and Ryan Knight the scorers. But Royals held their nerve in the shootout to win that 4-1 and head into round two.

Last year’s Endeavour Cup winners, Woodford Town Reserves, made a winning start to life in the higher competition but had to work hard against Division Four’s Debden Sports A, edging the contest 2-1 on the day to head into the next round.  Zachariah Appauh struck with Sports’ goal but that proved just consolation in the end.

There was a close game in the all-Division Three clash from Westlands where Romford Town Flyers entertained a South Ilford Catholics side in the first round, the game finishing in a closely fought 1-1 draw by full-time with Lloyd Ross and Rilwan Kuku scoring for the sides. It was Flyers who held their nerve to win the resulting shootout 5-2 and take the win.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

In the sole Endeavour Cup action for the weekend, it was victory for Division Six’s JK Silvertown Reserves who made the trip down to Newbury Park on Sunday to face Zone 4 Athletic at Oaks Park. A brace from Tyron Thomas plus goals from George Veness, Joey Chapman and George Hamberger set JK on their way to victory, Robbie Lydon scoring for Zone, the game ending 5-1 to the visitors.

SENIOR DIVISION

Back in the league, Senior Division leaders, East London Ballers, slipped to their first defeat of the season despite holding a lead against Hatch Lane through Salim Nassor and Mohamed Mahmoud. But two Daniel Couldridge goals and a Steven Kabungwe effort turned things on it’s head as Hatch moved level on points with a 3-2 win.

Over in Hainault, there were first points of the season for both hosts Flyhouse Athletic and AC Milano, the latter coming from two goals down to take a point as the game ended in a 2-2 draw at Fairlop Oak. Flyhouse were two up in the first half before Dwayne Francis-Riley and Samuel Oramadike goals rescued a point for the visitors.

DIVISION ONE

Weather and cup commitments meant just one game could take place in Division One and that came in an entertaining encounter between JK Silvertown and Critics from east London. Jacob Dixon scored twice with Afolabi Obafemi and Daniel Florence grabbing one each for the visitors but JK matched them with goals from Joel Stichbury, David Leech and Shane Wallace, the game ending 4-4.

DIVISION TWO

There were first league wins of the season for two sides in Division Two, beginning with promoted Singh Sabha Barking who reversed their opening day fortunes to take a hard fought 3-2 home win against AC Milano Reserves in Newbury Park. Ryan Dubb, Dylan Boparai and Omari Williams all scored for the hosts to hand them their first points.

It was also a morning to remember for newly formed Stone Town who secured a first win themselves at the second attempt, overcoming Barking & Dagenham Wanderers by the odd goal in seven after a 4-3 win. Deji Akinyemi, David Boateng and Alex Leslie netted for Wanderers but Stone goals from Tyler Adams-Sinclair (2), Hamoud Salum and Jordan Oriordon proved pivotal.

DIVISION FOUR

There was a big game towards the top end of Division Four on Sunday as two unbeaten sides, Coppice Row and Manford Way, met in Loughton to renew old rivalries. Robert Lindsell, Matheus de Lima and Jake Mernagh all struck for the hosts but a Manford hat-trick in reply from Jake Crump, two from Jake Li and Herman Mwanza, plus a Jake Foster effort, gave the visitors an emphatic 8-3 win.

That result enabled Eastern Avenue to make up some ground on the sides above them and they took full advantage by leaping up into fourth spot in the standings after a second win of the season, defeating Cardinals Athletic 4-0 at Castle Green.

Despite Prospect Protege starting the day with a four point deficit on their visitors, Byron Red Star, they were able to slash that to just a point by full-time after taking their first win of the season, coming away 3-2 winners from Hainault. A goal apiece from Emmanuel Alo, Archie Kieran and Donovan Wright were the difference to hand their side the honours.

Over in Walthamstow, the division’s other match-up saw Asianos and Royal Lions go head-to-head in search of their first points of the season. A closely fought encounter saw both teams finish level by the end, a 2-2 draw giving both sides their first point.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, it was the east London derby between Alpha and Mansfield Rangers as the visitors headed down to Aldersbrook Road, the sides having made very different starts so far. Rangers were able to extend their winning start to three from three, a 6-2 victory attained via Billy Happe’s double and further goals from Jay Kanber, James Scott, Billy Evans and Tommy Richards.

DIVISION SIX

Promoted Ping City Phoenixes have moved top of the table in Division Six as they came through a Forest Road derby against Newbury Drive in Hainault to make it three wins from three so far. Charlie Thompson scored a Drive hat-trick but Ping came from behind to take a 4-3 win as Ezra Waterman scored twice off the bench, Phil Herman and Jack Flood with the other goals.

Close on the coattails of the leaders are Ace Athletics who trail by just goal difference after their third win of the season, taking all three points in the Barkingside derby with FC Mexico at Old Parkonians. Joshua Craske and Alex Mason both netted doubles, Louis Vallis and Harrison Jacobs scoring the others to win the game 6-2.

Leaping up into fifth spot are Debden Sports B who were in local derby action of their own with the visit of a previously unbeaten Colebrook Royals A side to Chigwell Lane. But Debden goals from Nicholas Wilson (2), Alex Williams and Andrew Moffat were more than enough to win the game 4-2, James Deaney and Lenny Hunt netting Colebrook consolations.

DIVISION SEVEN

Warren United’s perfect start to the season continued on Sunday as they took all three points home with them from Brentwood following an 8-3 winning performance against Barking Colts. Oliver Regan was in super form, scoring five of his sides’ goals, Anthony Craft, Daniel Beresford and Aidan Butler netting the others to take them over the line.

Level with the leaders on nine points are Valence United C who have three wins themselves from four this season, their latest victory seeing them all three points from their home clash against Romford Bullsharks. Zachery Bussell scored for the visitors but Valence goals from Keenan Mitchell (2), Jamie Wooster, Jahsiah Weekes and Rasheen Fasanya meant that Valence walked away 5-1 victors.

The remaining game came from Old Dagenham Park and saw Gatcliffe hosting a United Amateurs Reserves still in search of their first points. The hosts however have made an unbeaten start to the season and sit third in the standings after a 4-2 victory in this one. Nico Bunduku scored twice, Alfie Jones and Owen Woodhouse scoring the others while Smith Bengo and Jake Gilligan struck for United.

Photo Credit: Richard Brock