WEEK 5 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

This season’s Corinthian Cup competition got underway on Sunday with fourteen teams starting their road to Dagenham in the first round. There were plenty of shocks with Division Two’s Roose causing the biggest upset of the day as they sent Premier Division’s Ultimate Vision spiralling to defeat in a 2-1 win.

The upsets continued in Loughton where the holders, Repton Park, saw their two year grip on the coveted trophy reach an end as they knocked out by KLIK at Roding Valley School. Loui Hazelwood and Ricardo Teixeira both scored twice and Connor Kain scored the other as KLIK won 5-4 after extra time.

There was also joy for Division Two’s Central Colts who faced the long trip Waltham Abbey to take on Division One’s West Abbey. A tight game saw Tolu Olagunju and Gabriel Ogunwomoju net for the Colts which proved enough to edge their side through to round two with a 2-1 scoreline.

There was also a great win on Sunday for previously winless Barking who trailed for long stages to a William Cox goal against rivals Goresbrook but they levelled late on then scored twice more to see their team through to the next round. Ben King, Charlie Surridge and Aaron King grabbed the Barking goals to break Goresbrook hearts.

Also overcome a number of league places deficit on Sunday, Korona Redbridge faced Division One opposition in the form of Oceana with five points and four places separating the sides prior to kick off. That didn’t really show itself in the end result as Korona overcame Jack Williamson’s effort for the hosts to bag a 3-1 victory and progress through.

Division One’s Brook Athletic had a tough battle on their hands at Newbury Park where they faced up to an in-form Hornchurch Oakmont from Division Two in their clash. A close game saw the sides share three goals with Brook ultimately edging the contest in a 2-1 victory to secure safe passage, Billy Hatton netting in consolation for Oak.

Completing the action in this competition, FC Mexico B and St Augustines played out an entertaining battle in Hainault with the visitors, one division higher in the standings, eventually prevailing in a 5-2 win. James Pararajan netted a hat-trick for the Saints with both Toms, Neale and Neill, on the scoresheet with the other strikes.

TROPHYLAND CUP

Continuing the theme of cup giant killings, the Trophyland Cup threw up some surprises with Singh Sabha Barking bagging the most impressive of those wins as the Division Five outfit made the short trip to Hainault to take on Division Three’s Havering Well. Jordan Hamilton scored twice with Taranjit Birring and Rizwan Ahmad scoring to render Well strikes from Billy Franklin and Joe McDermott as just consolation in a 4-2 result.

Another Division Five side to cause a shock were a high-flying Cobra side who snaked their way past Division Four’s Ping City Phoenixes and earned a place in the second round the competition in the process. Malachi Fajembola, Brandon Hubbard and Henry Sleight scored the Cobra goals to help their side to a 3-1 victory on the day.

There was a cracking game in Chigwell where Upshire Forest Reserves almost overcame a division deficit in their match-up with Chigwell United with the game going all the way to extra time. George Oake scored twice and Tom Lawn once for Forest but United goals in reply from Thomas Hoadley, Charlie Cole and Taylor McLaughlin took Chigwell through to the last sixteen.

A similarly high-scoring contest was witnessed at the Flats where Bretons Manor were the visitors against Blackwall Rovers with Rovers sporting a one division advantage prior to kick off. Manor almost caused a shock Rovers recovered eventually to earn the win, the sides sharing an incredible eleven goals in a 7-4 result. Ryan Hippolyte scored a hat-trick for Rovers, Daniel Stevenson grabbed a double and Bobby Hammersly and Charlie Ruffell completed the scoring. William Semain scored twice in reply for Manor with further goals for Billy Bradley and Sam Cooper.

Two of our Division Three sides went head-to-head in the Preliminary Round where the impressive and in-form Barking Riverside went up against Lonsdale in their clash in Dagenham. Kalium Fletcher scored twice and James Trebble once for Lonsdale but Oussama Bennani’s hat-trick in reply plus strikes from Taiwo Oniti and Christopher Appiah-Prempeh saw Barking over the line in a 5-3 win.

There was a big win for Division Four’s Monkhams as they made their league position count fully when took on Division Five’s East Tilbury Town on Sunday in Loughton. Sam Snell had a stormer, coming off the bench to score an incredible six goals. Matthew Acons and Louis Decelis netted the others in an 8-1 victory to see their side through in some style.

Also through, and without conceding, West Essex put on a solid display in Dagenham as they took on Titans United in their first round tie. Connor Brathwaite certainly knows where the goal is and he scored again with Michael Colgan, Ross McLean and Ola Ogunwamide also on target to win the tie 4-0 and progress on.

Last but not least, it was a morning to remember for Theydon who came out on top of their Division Five opponents, Eastern Avenue, in Theydon Bois. The league new boys put nine goals past Avenue with just one back in reply to romp into the second round on the back of an eventual 9-1 victory.

PREMIER DIVISION

Warren United took advantage of sides around them being in cup action to climb up to second place in the table, earning a 6-0 win away at Barking & Dagenham Wanderers in Newbury Park. Alex Yearwood scored twice with James Dawkins, Dan Bell, Harry Agombar and Harrison Slater also netting to carry their side to maximum points.

The one remaining side with a perfect record so far are Flanders who moved up to third following a second successive win but they didn’t get things their own way with a tough battle in Aveley against SL Menfica. Nasser Ishanzaden was on the scoresheet to help his side to the three points with Jake Muller netting for Menfica with their consolation goal.

DIVISION ONE

The leaders in Division One, Chingford Athletic, moved two points clear at the top but were held to an entertaining draw as they took on a highly fancied Kulture Klub side on Sunday in Waltham Abbey. Dylan Florence scored twice for Klub and Oliver Modeste once but Joe Middleweek, Ross Curtis and Pep Schiorlin goals earned a point for Athletic in the end, the sides finishing level at 3-3.

DIVISION TWO

Division Two is traditionally a very tough division and this year looks to be no different with a number of sides competing at the top end. Chingford Athletic Reserves went level on points at the top on Sunday with a 5-2 win at Wanstead Albion with Lee Newport netting two and one each from Michael Hay, Scott Watkins and Dan Wiseman overcoming Albion goals from Michael Jay and Daniel Bazely.

Keeping up the pace at the top, Walthamstow Avenue’s resurgence continues as they moved up a number of places in the standings in recording a second league win in three against Thames Ironworks Community. Bradley O’Donovan continues to be a threat for Avenue and his goal, the only one in the game, set up a 1-0 victory to take home the points.

DIVISION THREE

It’s been a great start to the season for E4 Rangers who have opened their latest campaign with four wins in five so far, their latest victims being Alpha in their clash at the Flats. Andre Graham scored for the hosts but doubles form Tim Dye and Ryan Radley were complimented by a Ryan Mallett effort to win it 5-1, E4 opening a six point lead at the top in the process.

DIVISION FOUR

Inter Ladzio are up to second in the table in Division Four as they made it three wins from four so far this season with victory on Sunday at home to Ridgeway Rovers in Dagenham. Bayley Clarke grabbed a Rovers goal but a Rhys Parkin double in reply plus strikes from Glenn Owen and Matthew Hunt brought about a 4-2 victory and the three points.

It was a great morning for Romford Athletic Dons who followed up their recent county cup shootout win with their first three point haul in the league as they beat fifth placed United Amateurs 2-1. Martin Rifat was on target on his debut for United but Zach Sitton scored twice for Dons to earn a historic win.

DIVISION FIVE

There was just the one match in Division Five on Sunday which saw Keith Park Rangers at home to Total Football in Newbury Park. Callum Fletcher was on the scoresheet for Rangers but his efforts were in vain as Nile Painter helped his side brush their opposition aside with two goals. George Ridley, Ali Cayir, Rowan Nijjar and Carl Parsons scored the others to give Total a 6-1 win.

FA SUNDAY CUP

The opening round action of this year’s FA Sunday Cup threw up a classic with Asianos making the short trip to Barkingside to take on old rivals, Global. Global started much the stronger and were unfortunate not to be leading themselves when they conceded a goal midway through the first half, a lead which Asianos held onto. The second half was much improved from Asianos who netted a further four times, just a late consolation goal taking the shine off an overall 5-1 victory. They head on to face Priory Sports in the second round.

LONDON SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP

It was an equally good morning for El Valiente who were up against south London based Xavelhas in their home tie on Sunday. In a competitive fixture, El Valiente maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 victory that sees them through to the third round where they face either Roca Seniors or Asianos in November.

LONDON JUNIOR CUP

The county cup journey is over for Asianos Reserves who had a home tie on Sunday in the London Junior Cup where they faced up to Vale County in their clash at the Flats. Another closely fought contest edged in the favour of their opposition with County winning 2-1 to book their place in the next round.

ESSEX SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP

In the day’s remaining fixture action, the delayed Essex Junior Cup clash between Frenford and Brentwood League based CFC Rainham was another close affair with the sides sharing four goals with the tie ending 2-2 after extra time. Rainham held their nerve in the shootout as they progressed on to round two, winning 4-2.