WEEK 5 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The Corinthian Cup action continued on Sunday with a number of near misses for higher ranked sides. The holders, AC Milano, held off a late fightback against Division Two’s Woodford Town to head into round two as Dylan Broadley struck twice to go with goals from Dwayne Francis-Riley and Zaeem Husein, the visitors running out 4-2 winners.

Previous winners of the competition, Hatch Lane, were also in action against lower ranked opposition with St Augustines the side travelling across to Parsloes Park at the weekend. Despite a division deficit, Saints fought hard and it took just a single goal to separate the sides with Hatch the beneficiaries to move into round two, 1-0 winners.

Also through into the second round but not without a battle are Baiteze Squad who were up against a Daglanta side from two divisions below them but found it tough going before eventually prevailing in a 2-0 scoreline to earn their place in the last sixteen. Daniel Izekor came off the bench to net for the former finalists.

An all-Division One clash saw Critics taking on JK Silvertown at Old Parkonians on Sunday for a place in the hat for the next round. JK got away to a fast start and held off the fightback to go through in a 4-2 victory. Gravlyn-Boss Kitondo scored twice, David Leech and Nathan Matembele netting the others, rendering home goals from George Falana and Jacob Dixon as consolation.

There was a strong performance from another Division One side as Colebrook Royals ensured they avoided any kind of slip up with a home victory against Division Two’s Stone Town in Hainault. A goal apiece from Nicholas Chrysanthou, Omar Mahmood, Kaci Henry and Nedret Ozkasim proved the difference as Royals ran out 4-0 victors.

Barking Riverside extended their strong start to the year with a cup win to go with their league successes so far, earning their place in the next round off the back of a win in the Barking derby with Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. Cassius Joseph scored two with Rio Hicks, Tommy Kavaz, Solomon Asomah and Ahmed Momoh netting the others in a 6-3 win.

There was an all-Senior clash in the game at Fairlop Oak where Flyhouse Athletic were in home action with the visit of East London Ballers on Sunday for a place in the second round. But it was a day that belonged to Ballers as they won the game 7-1 with Ibrahim Khan and Khristopher Oti both scoring two, Joseph Alatise, Lion Bello and Chaka Barnett the scorers.

TROPHYLAND CUP

In the Trophyland Cup, Division Five promotion chasers Mansfield Rangers produced the one cupset of the day as they overcame a division deficit to edge out Division Four’s Cardinals Athletic after the sides had finished level at 2-2 at full time through goals from James Scott and Eren Kanber, and an Athletic brace from Dean Hurch. It was Rangers who held their nerve in the shootout to win that 5-4.

There were some near misses for other higher ranked oppositions, including at Wadham Lodge where Ainslie came through their home tie in a five-goal thriller against Division Five’s May & Baker EC to head into round two, Aaron Powell, Sidiki Marah and Billy Wigg scoring the goals in a 3-2 success. Billy Biggs and Johnny Gallagher both struck off the bench for Bakers in reply.

Division Four’s Eastern Avenue were another side in action against lower ranked opposition with Alpha the side to host the tie in east London. And it was Eastern who left the happier of the two sides as they successfully navigated their way to a 3-1 win and a place in the next round where they will take on Colebrook Royals Reserves.

Heading into round two after a comprehensive win are Leytonstone Athletic who extended their great start to the season into the cup competitions with a 10-0 win on Sunday morning at Coppice Row. George Burton and Jack Ferris both scored four goals for their side, Lee Harris and Talvin Sudhu scoring the others to put the Division Three side into the last sixteen.

Joining them at that stage of the competition are Manford Way who edged their way into the second round on the back of a hard fought performance against fellow Division Four side Asianos by the odd goal in three. Jake Li and Callum Owen both scored for the hosts as Manford held on to win the game 2-1.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

In the Endeavour Cup, there was a cupset in the first round action as Division Seven’s Valence United C produced a strong performance against Debden Sports B to send their higher ranked opponents out of the competition. Valence won the tie 4-2 with Jamie Wooster netting a hat-trick and Rasheed Fasanya scoring the other, cancelling out Sports goals from Andrew Moffat and Montel Odunsi.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the top flight there was just the one game due to cup action and that saw Club 1017 pull off a strong 5-3 home win as they defeated Brook Athletic to climb to third on the back of a second league win in three. Ayub Kadiri scored two and Ryan Mallett one for the visitors but a Club hat-trick off the bench for Gabriel Benamisia along with Ainsley Everett and Xavier Vidal goals made the difference.

DIVISION ONE

There were a couple of score draws in Division One beginning in Loughton where Total Football and Repton Park renewed acquaintances once again, this time the sides producing a ten-goal thriller in a 5-5 draw. Carl Parsons’ hat-trick for the hosts added to Total goals from Daniel Acons and Oliver Marshall. But Jayden Ambrose and Dapo Alade’s doubles, plus a George Pummell strike levelled affairs.

Over in Newbury Park, it was a key battle towards the bottom of the table as Benchviews hosted a UK Moldova side keen on picking up their first points of the season. With just a point between them at the start of the game, it was a predictably close contest which ended level at 1-1 in the end, keeping both sides in the bottom two for now.

DIVISION TWO

There are new leaders in Division Two as AC Milano Reserves took advantage of sides around them being out of action to move top, beating an FC Galaxy side 6-0 in Newbury Park to make it three wins from four. David Sholu, Qasim Zaidi, Richard Ojo, Joshua Adu, Philip Brown and Charlies Brown-Bampoe were the scorers to send their side to the win.

There was a closely fought encounter in the division’s other contest as City Site took on Singh Sabha Barking at Robert Clack with both sides beginning the day on three points in mid-table. This one was edged by a substitute hat-trick from Omari Williams who scored all three for Singh Sabha to win them the game 3-2, Alex Paraskeva netting for City in response.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, there was a first win of the campaign for South Ilford Catholics who continued their unbeaten start with a 4-1 away win against Valence United A in Dagenham to move fifth in the standings. Dylan Friday, Jack Barthram, Charlie Briggs and Rilwan Kuku goals set up the victory, overcoming Rowan Newland’s strike for the hosts.

The other game from the fourth tier saw a closely fought contest at Westlands as second placed United Amateurs dropped their first points of the season in a 2-2 draw against Warren Senior, their hosts first point of the campaign. Scott McGlynn and Anthony Cooke scored the Warren goals with Jack Swaby and Jack Chawner netting in reply for the visitors.

DIVISION FOUR

Debden Sports A are the new leaders in Division Four, bouncing back from last week’s cup reverse to make it three from three in the league with a 3-1 home success against Byron Red Star at Chigwell Lane. Jack Mussett, Jack Sawdon and Elliot Betts scored the goals for the hosts with Gabriel Ogunmokun’s effort for Byron proving just a consolation.

Over in Rainham, there was a first victory on the road for Royal Lions this season as they left Harris Academy with all three points, beating East End United in a 5-2 scoreline to move up into sixth spot. Jack Jackson and Mikolaj Ratajczak scored the goals for the hosts but those weren’t quite enough in the end, awaiting their first win still.

DIVISION FIVE

There was a big result in the top half of Division Five on Sunday as Epping Town’s trip to east London saw them inflict a first defeat of the season upon Athletic Newham, the visitors walking away 5-1 winners in the game. Joseph Bothwell, Tim Crossland, Asaph Lomena, Fraser McCarthy and Louie Brownlie all found the net, overcoming a Kieran Dickerson effort from Newham.

Moving into the top half of the table are Romford Rovers who sit fifth following a second league win of the campaign as they returned home from Dagenham with all three points in a 4-1 win at Lonsdale. Emanuel Ntoi was on target at Castle Green for the hosts but a Mason Deegan hat-trick and a Frankie Westland strike off the bench handed Rovers the win.

DIVISION SIX

There were some high-scoring games in Division Six where Ping City Phoenixes extended their great start to the season with a fourth in in four following promotion, earning a 4-2 local derby win against FC Mexico in Barkingside. Jack Flood scored two, Joe Powell and Rafael Perez also on the scoresheet to keep them three points clear at the summit.

Sitting just behind the leaders are fellow promotees, Colebrook Royals A who have started life in the seventh tier in a strong fashion with three wins in their opening four games, earning a 4-2 away win in Beckton on Sunday against JK Silvertown Reserves. Oliver West scored two, Lenny Hunt and George Marlborough netting the others for the Royals.

There was a first win of the new season for Hainault Athletic who bounced back well from defeat in their opening game to climb into seventh spot after securing a strong 3-0 win in the Forest Road derby match against Inter Newbury. Luke McCarthy scored twice and Lewis McCarthy struck the other to hand the visitors their first three points.

DIVISION SEVEN

Warren United have made a blistering start to their league campaign in Division Seven and sit three points clear at the top after the first month after a fourth successive win, this time coming away 2-0 winners against Gatcliffe, the hosts’ first defeat of the season. Aidan Butler and Coburn Watts were the scorers to earn the win and remain the bookies favourites.

They will have competition however from other sides and Emerson & Upminster will be one to throw their hat in the ring, the Havering side making it three from three this term following a 5-1 home success against Zone 4 Athletic. Alfie Webb scored four to extend his scoring record, Jayden Bowman also on the scoresheet to render Teraun Davis’ goal as just consolation.

There was a first three points haul this season for Barking Colts who earned themselves a narrow victory at home against Romford Bullsharks to move ahead of their opponents in the standings. It took just a single goal to separate the sides in the end, Colts the side to benefit from that key moment in a 1-0 win.

COUNTY CUP

The county cup action got underway on Sunday with the newly formed London Sunday Junior Shield competition kicking off with an all-Corinthian opening round tie at Parsloes Park, London Legacy coming away comfortable 5-0 winners against United Amateurs Reserves as Jevonte Small scored three in a strong performance for his side.