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

TROPHYLAND CUP

The weekend’s Trophyland Cup action saw two closely fought contests including a 6-5 thriller in Rainham where East End United prevailed by the odd goal in eleven against Lonsdale to head into round two. Kalium Fletcher scored twice, Emanuel Ntoi, Charlie Owen and Anthony Scott the others for Lonsdale but those proved in vain in the end.

In the competition’s other fixture played on Sunday, it was an all-Division Four affair with Prospect Protégé and Byron Red Star locking horns once again in Hainault. A hard fought game saw it settled by the odd goal with Archie Kieran’s effort for the hosts just consolation in the end as Daniel Shobande and Gabriel Ogunmokun giving Byron a 2-1 win and a place in the last sixteen.

DIVISION ONE

Roose lead the way at the top of the Division One standings but only on goals scored after they earned a third win, beating Debden Sports Reserves in a 4-2 scoreline in Hainault, remaining unbeaten in the process. Shaye La Rose scored two, Louis Parham and James Runham netting the others for the hosts.

Trailing the leaders by one goal are Repton Park who also have three wins and a draw to their name after four fixtures, making it three wins courtesy of a 3-1 home success against UK Moldova in Loughton on Sunday. Callum Sawyer netted on his first appearance, Jayden Ambrose and Jesse Spearing with the others for Park.

JK Silvertown have moved up into the top four after they came through a thriller of a game against Colebrook Royals Seniors, winning by the odd goal in seven, 4-3. Royals goals from Nicholas Chrysanthou, Kaci Henry and Nedret Ozkasim kept the visitors well in the game but four goals from the hosts meant it was them walking away victors.

It was a first win of the season for Critics who are up into sixth sport after a 7-3 win at home against St Augustines in Barkingside, leaping above their opponents in the process. Dean Florence and Kazim Bishop both scored two, Zak Pianim, Daniel Florence and Dylan Florence netting the others to set the hosts on the way to that first success.

DIVISION THREE

There are new leaders in Division Three this week as Woodford Town Reserves took advantage of others being out of action to move to the summit, aided by a narrow 3-2 home success against Romford Town Flyers at Whitbreads. Conor Medhurst, Jacob Richards and Ronan McGoldrick all struck the net, overcoming Dylan Thorn’s effort from the visitors.

One of the other unbeaten sides, South Ilford Catholics, also kept that record going on Sunday morning as they produced a strong performance at Hainault Rec to defeat Ainslie, the hosts winning that 6-1. Andrew Warin, Rilwan Kuku and Nero El Amino all scored braces, Jack Back the Ainslie scorer in reply but just consolation.

DIVISION FOUR

There is a new leader at the top of Division Four also as the weekend’s top game at this level saw Manford Way travel across to fellow unbeaten Debden Sports A at Chigwell Lane. A close game was edged in the end by the visitors as Callum Owen’s brace and a Charlie Fawsitt goal sent Manford to a 3-2 win, overcoming Elliot Betts’ goal.

That result also enabled Royal Lions to make up ground at the top end of the table as they moved third in the standings, earning a big home win against Coppice Row to make it two wins in four so far. Jordan Santos got himself on the Coppice scoresheet but that was overcome by Lions’ seven in reply, the visitors dropping to sixth spot.

Over in Walthamstow, the third of the division’s unbeaten sides, Asianos, kept their good start going with a home victory against Eastern Avenue at Low Hall Farm. Asianos goals from Adnan Haji (2), Adnan Ali, Lewis Jones and Anjum Malik proved too much for the visitors in a 5-2 scoreline, Albert Prempeh and Cieran Lennon-Hunte netting in reply for Avenue.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, Athletic Newham have moved to the summit of the division as they returned to winning ways with a big result in Beckton, defeating previously unbeaten Mansfield Rangers in a 4-2 scoreline to go top. Claudius Edwards and Chris Ttofari struck for Rangers but Athletic goals from Russell Jones, Ronnie Wilson, Jack Field and Jack Andrews turned the game in the hosts’ favour.

The biggest winners of the day in the division were Young Royals who picked up just a first win of the season after producing an 8-0 away victory against Legacy City in Hainault, jumping above their opponents in the process. Amalraj Kakumanu scored four goals, Gavin Rajendren netted two off the bench, Sujiven Jeyaratnam and Thilakshan Nanthagiri scoring the others.

There was also a win for Alpha who are up into sixth place in the table following the weekend’s action, defeating May & Baker EC at Wanstead Flats by the odd goal in five in a 3-2 result. Lewis Francis scored twice and Tafari Miller once for the hosts, countering Shane Hovell and Jordan Miller goals for Bakers.

Completing the action from the division, Valence United B were in home action on Sunday in Dagenham as they were visited by an Epping Town side still very much in the mix at the top end of the table. A close game ended in a 2-2 draw with Joseph Bothwell and Asaph Lomena netting to equal home goals from Ryan Knight and Rowan Newland.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Ping City Phoenixes remain clear at the top of the table following the weekend’s results, making it five from five in their local derby victory against Hainault Athletic at the other end of Forest Road. Ping were 6-0 winners on the day with Jack Flood’s hat-trick setting them on their way and further strikes from Charlie Prevost and Dan Knight.

Second placed Colebrook Royals A also added another win to their account following a victory against Inter Newbury in the game at The Grange. A pair of hat-tricks from Oliver West and Lenny Hunt set the Royals on their way with George Marlborough and Jake Austin adding the others in an eventual 8-1 win, sitting three points off the pace.

Also scoring eight were now fifth placed London Legacy who were in fine form in front of goal in their home fixture against Debden Sports B at Parsloes Park. Rhys Clements and Montel Odunsi netted for Sports but a hosts’ hat-trick from Walid Benmouna was added to by a Denilson Simao brace and further efforts from Tom Rogers, Mohamed Noor and Jevonte Small to end it 8-2.

Over in Hainault, the remaining game from the division came as Newbury Drive took on a JK Silvertown Reserves side at Fairlop Oak, Drive starting the day three points ahead. They had extended that to six by full-time, 5-2 winners in the game after Luey Young and Mitchell Edmonds both scored twice and Mason Stafford struck the other.

DIVISION SEVEN

The battle for top spot in Division Seven sees three teams now sharing top spot after Valence United C gained an important win at the weekend to sit third after ending Warren United’s perfect start to the season, 3-1 the final scoreline. Reece Stanley scored twice off the bench with Keenan Mitchell netting the other.

The other side within that twelve point club are the division’s only side yet to suffer a reverse so far in the league, that being Emerson & Upminster. They made it four wins in four games this season on Sunday as they came away 3-0 victors in their fixture at Romford Bullsharks, a result which keeps the hosts sitting in sixth.

The biggest scorers of the day in the division were Barking Colts who racked up eleven goals from their away trip to Hainault Rec, beating United Amateurs Reserves in an 11-4 scoreline. Myrtezan Celiku and Henry Sleight both scored for the hosts but they remain in search of their first league points of the season.

Over in Newbury Park, another side still searching for points are Zone 4 Athletic as they saw the visit of Gatcliffe on Sunday morning, the Dagenham based visitors searching for a strong bounceback from their recent reverse. And it was Gatcliffe who left the happier of the teams with Ben North, Dane Young and Codi Wackett goals winning it 3-1, Daniel Munroe scoring for Zone in reply.

NATIONAL CUP

It was the opening round weekend in the FA Sunday Cup at the weekend with five Corinthian sides involved this season. New entrants, AC Milano, earned their first win in the competition, running away 7-1 winners after a profitable second half against Baddoo, securing a trip to Norfolk next month.

Also through following a big away win are Brook Athletic, the Corinthian side making the relatively short trip down to Parkside to take on Thurrock Sunday League side, Aveley United. And it was a routine victory for our member side with Brook 5-0 winners to head through to a tie with Hatch Lane.

Joining both sides in the last sixty-four will be former winners, Baiteze Squad, who also struck five goals in their home game against Heavy Hitters at Mayesbrook Park, scoring early and netting four more to come away comfortable winners, setting up a tie against East London Ballers.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Junior Cup, the biggest winners of the day were Leytonstone Athletic who put away five goals without reply against Hornchurch Royals, carrying on their excellent domestic start to net a place in round two.

The cupset of the day came from Chigwell where Division Three’s Colebrook Royals Reserves put an end to City Site’s participation for the season, the Division Two side going down in a 3-0 scoreline as Royals progressed into the next round.

There was also a win for AC Milano Reserves who saw an all-Division Two encounter away at Daglanta in east London. AC Milano will have left the happier of the two teams, securing their berth in round two with a 4-2 win under they belts.

That scoreline was also reflected in another of the all-Corinthian match-ups as FC Galaxy travelled down to West Ham Park to take on East London Ballers Under 23s in the opening round action. And it was Galaxy who returned home happier with a 4-2 win in the bag.

It wasn’t such great news for the sides on their travels with Upshire Forest’s opening round clash seeing them travelling to Chelmsford Sunday League’s Anchor Athletic. With a division deficit against them, Upshire went down 1-0 to see their run halted.

Also out after defeat on the road were Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who were also up against a side ranked one division above them following a trip to Hackney & Leyton League side Loxford Lions. It was, again, another narrow defeat with Wanderers losing the tie 3-2.

Warren Senior were another first round casualty as they had a tough looking trip to Hackney & Leyton League second tier side, Lymore Gardens, at Leyton County Ground. The unbeaten hosts were the better side on the day, recording a 5-0 win.

Down in south Essex, what appears to be an enthralling game saw United Amateurs make their way down the A127 to take on Wickford & Runwell United Reserves. The game came to an apparent halt at 3-3 with the outcome on that one yet to be determined.

There was just the one Essex Sunday Junior Trophy tie taking place at the weekend and that saw Division Six’s Ace Athletics produce a strong performance against a Cardinals Athletic side from two divisions above them, Ace 4-0 winners in that one to book a place in round two.

The opening round of the London Sunday Trophy took place on Sunday where three walkover wins to Corinthian sides meant just the one tie actually took place, that being Romford Rovers’ long trip to north-west London to face Real Menza in Stonebridge Park. Rovers fought hard but eventually saw the hosts break their resolve, Menza 9-0 winners in the end.