WEEK 6 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

There was second round action in the Corinthian Cup on Sunday and it saw last season’s beaten finalists, Baiteze Squad, looking to have another crack at the trophy this year but hosted an in-form Flyhouse Athletic side looking to cause a stir. And so it proved as the visitors put in a terrific performance to win the game 7-3, booking a last sixteen tie against FIFE.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were two potential banana skin ties in the Trophyland Cup where Division Six’s Zone 4 Athletic almost caused an almighty cup shock with the visit of Division Three leaders United Amateurs to Abbs Cross. It took a single Johnny Gallagher goal to prove the difference between the sides as United earned a 1-0 win to book their place in the next round.

Over in Collier Row, Division Four’s City Site were looking to put up a fight against Division Three side Ainslie in their game at Forest Row but, on this occasion, it was the higher ranked club who came away the happier of the sides, winning 7-0. Eric Kelly scored a hat-trick with Harrison Riley, Billy Wigg, Kane Patmore and Ryan Radley goals enough to see Ainslie through.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, Manford Way have returned to the top of the table, taking advantage of others around them being out of action to move to nine points with victory at home to FLY on Sunday at London Marathon. It took just one goal to separate the sides with Manford the beneficiaries to win 1-0.

Over at Flanders, Brook Athletic were the visitors to face El Valiente with both sides eager to increase their points tallies. Elton Tettey was on the scoresheet for the hosts but Brook goals from Samir Bihmoutine, Andre Embalo and Jayden Hocking-Rising saw the points heading back home to Newbury Park in a 3-1 scoreline.

The division’s other game saw two winless sides meet in Hainault as United Dian took on East Way Athletic in a six-pointer of sorts. It was hosts Dian who ended the day the happier of the teams, recording a first win of the season following a 3-1 success here, jumping up to ninth in the table and outside of the relegation zone.

DIVISION ONE

Roose are up to second and just a point off top spot now as they made it three wins from three this season on Sunday with a 4-2 home success in the Fairlop derby against Oceana. Joe Belcher netted twice for the visitors but two David Owiredu goals plus strikes from Joe McDermott and Leon Isaac were sufficient to give Roose the points on the day.

Theydon Green trail in third merely on goals scored though they done that case some good at the weekend, putting seven goals past FIFE without reply at Roding Valley in a 7-0 win. A hat-trick of braces from Luke and Sam May-Parrott plus Harry Carter, along with a Daniel Hearty effort too proved plenty enough to record the win.

Leaders Gants Hill saw their lead at the top slashed to just a single point as they dropped their first points of the campaign following a 3-3 draw away at Royal Lions A on Sunday. That results was Lions’ first point of the season, coming against a side who had previously won all three in comprehensive fashion though they do remain just a point clear of the drop zone.

Over in Newbury Park, one side who will be pleased with their morning’s work are St Augustines who came through a important game against fellow winless Repton Park with maximum points as they won 5-0 at Fords. Robert Kirk scored twice with Kyran Allen, Aaron Francis and Mael Ngumba goals the difference between the sides.

DIVISION TWO

AC Milano have closed the gap at the top od Division Two to just two points following the weekend’s results as they beat fourth placed Cloud 9 in a 3-1 scoreline to remain unbeaten in the league so far. Mohamed Kidia scored twice for his side and Arnas Zakaras once to earn the hosts all three points on the day.

Newbury Forest sit just a point further back in third with their third league win of the season last weekend moving them up a place as they beat a Leytonstone Athletic side 7-1 at Oaks Park. Harry Burton grabbed the Athletic goal but Newbury goals from Brady Jones (2), Harry Glenister, Jamie Kibler, Lloyd Ross, Daniel Ross and Rhys Dunn earned them the points.

Over in South Ockendon, East London Harriers went into their home game against Higham Hill trailing the visitors by two points and looking to close the gap on the sides above. That gap remained by full-time however as the sides settled for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Connor Brown the man on target for Harriers.

DIVISION THREE

Over in Barkingside, Korona Redbridge were in action with a home game against Valence United at Old Parks, the teams just two points apart going into the fixture. With neither side able to trouble the scorers, it was defences on top in a 0-0 scoreless draw which saw both sides move up a place in the table to ninth and fifth respectively.

DIVISION FOUR

There are new leaders in Division Four where Romford Athletic Dons now lead the way by three points as they came through a tough assignment against Horse & Well, winning 4-2 at London Marathon to make it four from four in the league. Jacen Worboyes scored twice with Scott Buckland and Chris Ratty netting one each, rendering Well goals from Chris Chettleburgh and James Marsh as consolation.

Eastern Avenue have jumped up into the top five with games in hand on those above after they made a successful trip to Hornchurch to face Byron Red Star on Sunday. Avenue were 2-1 winners at Hylands Park to record a second league win in three, alongside cup victory too, continuing a decent start to the campaign.

There was a first win of the season for United Borough on Sunday as they came through a close game with winless Brymans Park at Fords in a 2-0 scoreline to move up to sixth in the standings. Albie Newman and Luke Suchley were the scorers on the day, both coming off the bench to positive effect to earn victory for Borough.

DIVISION FIVE

Things couldn’t be much tighter in Division Five where Mansfield Rangers lead the way by the virtue of goals scored aided by their win on Sunday at home to Debden Sports A at Douglas Eyre. Claudius Edwards, Jay Kanber and James Scott were the men to find the onion sack as Rangers ran in a 3-0 win, their fourth of the season in the league.

Their rivals from last season, Colebrook Royals Reserves, are once again posing a strong challenge and they remained just behind the leaders following their own fourth win of the year as they defeated Royal Lions B in Chigwell. Archie Locke, Calvin Bell, Leo Winer and Phorell Brooke were the Royal scorers.

Two cracking games round off the division, starting at Mayfield Kings who were involved in a nine-goal humdinger against Ultimate Vision Reserves which the hosts eventually edged 5-4. Two Sean Bush goals and one each from Max Brett and Daniel Hughes proved not quite enough as a Younes Ferhani hat-trick and singles from Kelson Toms and Hamzah Namajee gave Kings the points.

Just the seven goals were witnessed in the other game where Dagenham Rangers and Lonsdale went to battle at Barking Park, starting the game just three points apart. But Rangers extended that to six by full time, despite two Kalium Fletcher goals and an Arsid Brocaj strike from Lonsdale. Alas, those efforts proved in vain with Dagenham recording a 4-3 win at full-time.

DIVISION SIX

The goals were flying in Division Six also beginning at Epping Royals who were 8-0 victors at Stonards Hill on Sunday against London Legacy to move third in the table, just a point outside of the promotion spots. Joseph Bothwell scored a hat-trick, Marcelo Mendes scored twice off the bench with Thomas Harvey, Alexander Petrou and Matthew Robinson also on the scoresheet.

Leaders, Valence United Reserves remain five points clear as they recorded a fifth successive league win on Sunday, taking all three points home against Havering Palace over in Dagenham. A Billy Biggs hat-trick proved pivotal with Keenan Mitchell notching the other in a 4-2 win against their sixth placed opponents.

Second placed Young Royals are the division’s other unbeaten side and extended that record once more but did drop points for the first time as they were held to a 3-3 home draw against Warren United over in Barkingside. That saw Warren, bottom of the table heading into the game, record their first point of the season and what a game to do it in!

Another side making their move up the table are Ping City Phoenixes who were finally rewarded with their first success of the season, taking all three points in their game against Royal Lions C at Redbridge Sports Centre. A goal apiece from Jack Flood and Enis Balaman were the difference in the end as Ping won the game 2-1.

There were eight goals in the final league game of the day where third placed Epping Forest Falcons were looking to bounce back to winning ways against Ridgeway Rovers, a side sitting level with them on seven points. As the table suggested, this was always going to be close and so it proved, the match ending 4-4 with Sanchez Bolessa (2), Regan Marshall and Ryan Vallance on target.

FA SUNDAY CUP

The top Sunday league competition has started once again this season with new entrants, Hatch Lane, travelling up to Norfolk in their first round game as they faced FC Steamers at the FDC in Bowthorpe. An early Inarhu Martin penalty put them ahead but the game wasn’t finally settled until Daniel Couldridge fired in midway through the second half then an own goal completed a 3-0 win for Hatch. They now head to last season’s finalists, Highgate Albion, in the second round.

COUNTY CUP

In the day’s Essex Sunday Junior Cup action, there were some impressive performances from our clubs with Abridge Village producing the high scoring win of the day with a 16-3 home win against A&A United, setting up a trip to Harlow Old Town in the next round.

Debden Sports Reserves completed a tremendous performance, making the most of home advantage to record a thumping 8-0 win against Harlow based Risden Wood Reserves on Sunday at Chigwell Lane. Their reward is a trip to Sporting Phoenix next month.

Also winning 8-0 were Alpha who saw the visit of Barking Colts to Wanstead Flats on Sunday and ran out comfortable winners, setting up another home tie in the second round as they take on Harold Wood Athletic.

Division Two’s leaders, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, are also into the hat for round two as they saw off the efforts of former Corinthian side Imperial Row in impressive fashion, winning 7-1 at Robert Clack to set up a trip to another former side, Hornchurch Oakmont.

Critics saw their run in the county cup competition come to a close for this season as they were on the wrong end of a defeat, travelling away to Brentwood League side, Harold Wood Athletic and losing 5-3.

FC Galaxy are also out of the competition as they were edged in a very close game against Brentwood League opposition in the form of Hornchurch Royals. It took just one goal to pull the teams apart with Royals winning 1-0 to head through.

It was also a day to forget for Barking who saw the visit of Chadfleet United to Barking Abbey Sports Ground on Sunday and with a side short of numbers, went down to a 7-1 defeat as their interest in the competition came to an end for another season.

In the day’s sole Essex Sunday Junior Trophy action, there was a cup shock as Division Five’s Manford Way Reserves took on Division Four high-fliers, Warren Senior at Westlands and completed a 1-0 win to beat their lofty rivals and head on into the next round.