WEEK 6 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

CORINTHIAN CUP

The first round action in this year’s Corinthian Cup continued on Sunday and there was almost a shock in the first of those tie’s as Scott Hill’s brace gave his Wanstead Albion side a 2-1 lead at the break against Premier Division Flanders. But the top flight outfit edged past their Division Two counterparts in the end with Aaron Ansah and Derrick Osei goals seeing them through in a 3-2 scoreline.

The day’s other action in the competition saw an all-Division Two battle as Thames Ironworks Community played host to Chingford Athletic Reserves at the Flats. Omani Green grabbed two goals for Chingford but his efforts were in vain as Thames won 3-2 to put themselves in the hat for round two where they now face Flanders in an interesting looking tie.

PREMIER DIVISION

The reigning champions, Repton Park, have opened up a six point lead at the top of the Premier Division as they earned maximum points from their trip to Barkingside where they faced Elda at Oakside. Joey May and Remi Nelson were both on the scoresheet for the hosts but Adam Matthews netted a hat-trick and Jesse Spearing grabbed two to see Repton win it 5-2

DIVISION ONE

The race for the title in Division One is looking well poised as KLIK made their move up to second in the table following a big away win on Sunday against St Augustines. Kyran Allen grabbed the Saints’ goal but KLIK efforts from Ricardo Teixeira, Sean Thomas and Jay Hazelwood proved to be just too much in a 4-1 victory for the visitors.

Another side remaining there or thereabouts are FC Mexico A who made it two wins and two draws from their opening five fixtures, overcoming eighth placed Korona Redbridge in a 2-0 scoreline in Barkingside courtesy of goals from Rhys Tyrrell and Sam Prince. That win sees the men in green move up a place to fourth in the standings, just a couple of points off the promotion places.

DIVISION TWO

Remaining top of the Division Two standings, Central Colts have opened up a three point lead at the top of the table as they secured maximum points from their clash at home against Barking in a local derby. Gabriel Ogunwomoju’s brace and singles from Ansel Abrams and Tunde Olagunju proved the difference in a 4-0 scoreline.

Abridge Village are now up to fourth place in the table as they romped to a comprehensive win away at Frenford. Tosin Olodo and Leon Adeyemi both scored twice in their first appearances for Abridge with Ronnie Fitzsimmons’ goal completing a big 5-1 victory on the day, helping their side to all three points.

Also on the climb up the table, Roose made it two wins and a draw from their opening four games over the weekend with a hard-fought home victory against FC Mexico B as the sides met in Hainault. After their great win last time out, Harry Amoah and Uros Vakanjac goals for the hosts earned them another 2-1 win to move up to fifth place in the tables.

DIVISION THREE

There was just a single game in Division Three on Sunday with a number of sides in county action. Blackwell Rovers took advantage of that situation, moving up a number of places to second in the table on the back of a 3-1 home win against Roneo Colts. James Pottle netted for Colts but his effort was in vain as Rovers scored three in reply.

DIVISION FOUR

Game of the day in Division Four came at Robert Clack where the top two sides, Roneo Colts Reserves and Inter Ladzio, met with only goal difference separating the sides prior to kick off. An absorbing clash saw Colts lead 2-0 before Inter Ladzio levelled it through strikes from Jay Crews and Rhys Parkin. But late goals saw Colts over the line with Bobby Port scoring twice, Kane White and Jeffrey Nketia with the others in a 4-2 victory.

Moving up to third in the table, Bretons Manor closed the gap on the promotion places as they recorded a third win in four games when they faced up to Asianos Reserves at Castle Green. Sam Cooper and Berty Frith were the men on target to edge their side to a narrow 2-1 win, with just goal difference keeping them outside of the promotion places presently.

The other game in the division saw Titans United make a trip to Walthamstow to take on Ping City Phoenixes with the visitors trailing Ping by a point coming into the game. The two sides combined to score six goals with Titans the beneficiaries of four of those efforts to run out 4-2 winners on the day, that result seeing them move up a couple of places to seventh.

DIVISION FIVE

There was just a single game in the sixth tier on Sunday where the league leaders, Total Football, extended their lead at the top of the table to six points with a big 9-1 win over Woodford Green United. George Ridley scored a hat-trick with efforts from Chris Atkinson, Aaron Dadzie, Rowan Nijjar, Carl Parsons, Nile Painter and Tahmid Azad completing the scoresheet.

ESSEX SUNDAY JUNIOR CUP

There was a clean sweep for Corinthian sides in the Essex Sunday Junior Cup action with Valentine United picking up the most emphatic of those wins with a 7-0 home victory against former Corinthian side, Woodford. They will now head to the seaside in round three with a trip to the Southend area to take on either Corinthians or Kursaal Flyers.

Also into the hat for the next round are last season’s Trophy semi-finalists, Hornchurch Oakmont, who had a trip to Thurrock on the their hands to face Jacks Lads. Oak extended their good run once again, edging a close game by the odd goal in three to record a 2-1 victory. They now host Railway Academicals at home in November.

There was another battle against a Thurrock based side as Goresbrook headed down the A13 to Grays to take on Fleetwood for the right to face either White Roding or Flitch United in the next round. A seven-goal thriller was finally won by Goresbrook to take that spot in the last 32 of the competition.

Completing the action in the Cup, an all Corinthian clash saw Division One’s Oceana take on an in-form Walthamstow Avenue side from Division Two. Having started the season quite well, Oceana made their one division advantage count, recording a 3-0 victory and a long away day in the next round against north Essex side, Notley.

ESSEX SUNDAY JUNIOR TROPHY

Our sides also faired well in the Trophy with Ridgeway Rovers Under 21s Reserves picking up the biggest win of the morning, a 6-0 home win against fellow Corinthian outfit, Eastern Avenue. They could now face their own first team in the third round if they come through their own tie against Zone 4 Under 23s.

Monkhams were also big winners in Sunday’s round two action where they played host to Harlow based New Town Rangers Reserves in Loughton. The hosts put in a top performance to run out 6-1 victors and will be at home again in November when Angels Athletic made the trip up from south Essex.

Also into the hat, Theydon put in a second successful attacking display in the competition as they put four goals past Chelmsford based Galleywood Rangers, following the seven they scored in the opening round. They were 4-0 winners on Sunday and will now host Harlow’s Bray’s Athletic Reserves in the third round.

West Essex continued a terrific start to their season, adding further county cup glory to their unbeaten league start. They were 6-3 winners in an entertaining game on Sunday when they travelled to Combination side Newbury Forest Reserves, a result which books a place in round three against either Ockendon Town, Barking Riverside or Keith Park Rangers.

The winning action was completed by Division Four’s Romford Athletic Dons who were in action against fellow Corinthian side Cobra, flying high in Division Five. After a shootout victory in round one, Dons done things slightly more easily this time around although Cobra put up a real fight, the match ending 2-0 to the Dons. They now head to Thurrock to face Grays Athletic in the next round.

There were a few sides who saw their participation ended for another year with East Tilbury Town going out away to South Thurrock in a 3-0 scoreline. There was further success for Thurrock sides as Grays Athletic made the trip to Beckton to face Newham Athletic, sending the Corinthian side to a 7-1 defeat.

United Amateurs also exit the competition at the second round stage as Barking Colts were 1-0 winners in a close game while another Combination side, Loxford Lions, put Lonsdale to the sword in a high-scoring 6-3 win over our Corinthian side.

Finishing off the day’s action, Chigwell United saw their unbeaten start to the season come to a halt with a 3-1 home defeat to Harlow-based Boca Jogabonito.