WEEK 7 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and county cup action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

Football can be a funny ‘ol game and in the space of two weeks, in two different competitions, there have been two completely different outcomes to a fixture between FC Galaxy and Barking. After a 5-0 defeat last time out, Barking turned the tables at the weekend to make the draw for round two of the Corinthian Cup, winning 4-2 as Devine Osuji scored twice alongside singles from Sachmond Akanovisi and the stalwart Joe Blewitt.

In the day’s other tie completed, two of the league’s Senior Division sides met in Hainault as Alliance Stars were paid a visit by Repton Park with a place in the next round at stake. With both suffering from differing league form, it was a Star performance from the hosts who won through 5-3 to continue their run in the competition.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There was a plethora of Trophyland Cup action with the game coming closest to a shock result seeing Division Four’s Lonsdale take Alpha all the way in a seven goal thriller. Denis Holaj scored a hat-trick but his efforts were not quite enough in the end as Alpha scored four of their own to edge this tie and head on through to the third round.

There were goals galore in another Division Three vs Division Four match-up where Titans United faced up to higher league opposition and put on a real performance scoring four. But Inside Success made the draw for the third round with braces from Harris Abubakar and Taiwo Shomuyiwa plus goals from Shemar Morris, Halameen Agbaje and Quam Deen helping them win 7-4.

Another good game saw two in-form sides meet in Hainault where Leytonstone Athletic were up against Division Two side Royal Lions A, the sides combining for a nine goal game. George Burton scored twice with Ben Jones grabbing the other but those efforts were not quite enough in the end as Lions continued their run, winning 6-3.

There was success for other Division Two sides also as Roneo Colts made it through to the third round on the back of a solid 4-1 win against Ultimate Vision Reserves, a side who have made a good start in Division Four. Colts’ win sees them through to an away tie in the next round….FFFFF

Monkhams are also into the hat for the next round as they returned home from their short trip to Barkingside with a victory under their belts, coming away victors from their clash against Division Four side Hillside, winning 5-0. Charlie Thomas and Billy Shefford both netted twice and Tom Overton once to secure the win for the visitors.

There was a big game in the first round ties which saw two of Division Four’s finest go head-to-head in Hainault with Ainslie facing United Amateurs with little between the sides in the league. In fact, an early season 1-1 draw was replicated in this cup tie with Thomas Chawner from United and Jay Digance from Ainslie on target. Ainslie held their nerve in the shootout to win 4-2 from the spot.

St Augustines’ solid start to the campaign continued into the cup competitions on Sunday as they faced a potentially tricky tie away against Ace Athletics. But any potential slip-up was avoided with a positive performance form the Saints, Callum Daniels netting twice to extend his own scoring record and helping his team win it 3-0.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

There was a shock of sorts in the Endeavour Cup where bottom of the table Woodford Green United put in a sterling performance against Division Six’s leaders, Mansfield Rangers to end their unbeaten start, beating the Walthamstow based side 4-2 despite Rangers goals from Claudius Edwards and Kemston Allen. Green head on to face Young Royals in the next round.

Safely through to round two of the cup are Valence United who made light work of their tie on the road away to Royal Lions B, coming out 8-0 winners. James Cook, Rowan Newland and Ryan Knight all scored twice along with goals from Jordan Cook and Michael Kane. They will now face Byron Red Star in the next round in a few weeks.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, Hatch Lane continue to impress and open their points lead at the top to eight following the weekend’s results, this week beating off a solid El Valiente side 4-2. Dominic Stephens, Ayrton Andrews, Lucio Vare and Jermaine Francis all found the back of the net to ensure their side maintained a perfect start.

Sitting second in the table are East Way Athletic who jumped up on the back of a solid win on Sunday as they took all three points against London Mavericks over in Newbury Park. That confirmed Athletic’s third win in five this term in what has been a very promising start for the Leyton based outfit.

And FC Ballr are now up to third after they made it three wins from six in their league campaign over the weekend, their latest win coming at home against Secret. Two goals apiece from Adebola Sotoyinbo and Timothy Ogunrinde were the difference in the end as Ballr collected a 4-2 win and three points in Dagenham.

PREMIER DIVISION

Five goals were the theme in the Premier Division where Avintul put in a five star performance with a 5-2 win against third placed Barking Riverside in Chigwell. Dumitras Olari was in fine form with a four-goal haul, Gheoca Dumitri scoring the other to give their side a second league win of the campaign in a division which remains incredibly tight.

It was also a good morning’s work for Roose who were comfortable winners themselves after scoring five against East Stars over in Hainault. Michael Isiquzo netted for Stars but Roose were in fine fettle in front of goal and were able to pick up a 5-1 win with David Owiredu (2), Joseph Kelly, Calli Barnard and Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose all netting in their team’s first league win of the season.

DIVISION ONE

The race for the Division One title looks well poised between at least two clubs as Oceana continued their early domination at the top, scooping a sixth league win on the bounce to stay well clear by five points. They overcame a stubborn FC Mexico A side to eventually win the game 3-1 with Jamie Hart, Lewis Belcher and Robert Coe goals doing the damage.

Theydon Green will undoubtedly be there or thereabouts come May time and continued their good run in the league with a fourth win in five to keep in touch with the leaders, beating Chingford Athletic 7-4 in a goal-filled contest over at Roding Valley High School.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Eastbrook United have extended their lead at the top to four points following the weekend’s results but they had their work cut out facing FC Mexico B who played their part in a thriller.  Mujib Ayoola scored twice and Rhys Tyrrell once for the Mexicans but Matthew Morris scored twice off the bench for United with Heavenly Bende and Callum Harris goals making it 4-3.

With a number of teams in cup action, that gave Total Football the opportunity to make their mark in the division and they got themselves up to fifth following a solid 2-0 home wing against Asianos in Loughton. Ryan Johnson and Fahed Gani goals were the difference for the hosts to keep them in the hunt for honours.

There was a first win of the season for Ilford based Frenford who’s Sunday side have had their struggles this term but put in a good performance on their trip to East London Harriers, coming away 3-1 winners from South Ockendon to move up a place. Frankie Worboyes got on the Harriers’ scoresheet but the visitors done enough to win it in the end.

DIVISION THREE

Higham Hill are the leaders in Division Three but had to come from behind in their clash on Sunday as they took three points home from Hainault where they had been the visitors to face Goresbrook. Charlie Barrett grabbed two goals for the hosts but Charlie Saywood, Billy Jago and Chris Hambris strikes turned the game in Hill’s favour to win it 3-2.

Dagenham Town certainly found their scoring boots on Sunday as they entertained Imperial Row in Brentwood, the two sides starting the game just three points apart. By full-time however, that lead was up to six points as Town recorded an emphatic 11-1 win despite James Hutton grabbing the Row goal for the visitors.

Upshire Forest are up into the top half of the table as they took advantage of sides around them being out of action to move sixth on the back of a terrific 5-2 home win against title chasing Debden Sports Reserves.  Upshire’s Aaron was in a “Rich” vein of form scoring a hat-trick, coupled with Luke Robinson’s brace to render Alfie Harris and Charlie Harper goals as just consolation.

DIVISION FOUR

There are at least four sides showing they have what it takes for a promotion tilt in Division Four and Singh Sabha Barking hope to be one of those as they recorded a third win in four this season, scoring the only goal of the game in a narrow 1-0 victory away at Chingford Athletic Reserves. Jagrai Raj was the difference between the sides with that big moment in the game.

It was also a good morning for Blackwall Rovers who are finding their feet at this level and made it two wins for the season with a hard fought 3-2 home win against Romford Athletic Dons with the bottom half of the table looking incredibly congested. Michael Haig, Ben Hodgson and Louie Webster grabbed the Rovers goals to secure the win with Chris Ratty bagging a brace in reply.

DIVISION FIVE

There are new leaders in Division Five where Belfry Reserves took advantage of other sides around them being in cup action to top the standings on the back of a 3-0 win at home to Dagenham Rangers as the sides met at Fairlop Oak on Sunday. The top end of Division Five remains one of the most intriguingly poised divisions with a number of sides in the frame to challenge.

Custom House Community’s recent form has seen them move onto twelve points in the division and level with two sides above them aided by their most recent victory, a 4-2 win away at Athletico City in Newbury Park. Donte Laurent, Jamie Wooster, Jack Field and Bobby Devlin goals were enough to take the win and sit fourth.

Not far behind are fourth placed Byron Red Star moved to nine points from their games this season following an away win on Sunday against Young Royals, earning the points from a 4-0 scoreline in Barkingside. Ryan O’Connell scored twice with Richard Oduwole and James Thorne efforts finishing things off to keep them in the mix.

Perhaps saving the best for last in this division round-up, there was a nine-goal stunner over in Brentwood where United Borough took on Ultimate Vision A, the two sides starting just three points apart. Borough goals however from Oliver Boyd, Luke Suchley, Luke Overton, Ryan Rodwell and Prince Woni proved decisive to win this one 5-4.

DIVISION SIX

Valence United Reserves had a good morning as they successfully accrued three more points from their trip to London Legacy in Newbury Park to move to ten points for the season. Motayyab Saeed struck for Legacy but two Kamal Mahoney goals off the bench for Valence plus efforts from Krystus Coleman, Ayomide Ibuola and Keenan Mitchell made it 5-2 by full-time.

The day’s late game from Barkingside produced a bit of a shock result as mid-table Ivory United were defeated by winless Epping Forest Falcons who took their first win of the season. Falcons were 4-1 victors against United, a result which lifted them to ninth in the standings as they seek to maintain their form in forthcoming games.

COUNTY CUP

It was a great morning for the majority of our sides in the county cup, including one giant killing as Senior Division’s United Dian went down to a 2-1 defeat after extra time, beaten by Premier Division Belfry at Oakside. The visitors now face Benflica in the next round in November.

Abridge Village caused a shock, taking down a top flight side from the Harlow & District League, overcoming a two division deficit to edge a nine-goal thriller 5-4 against Brays Athletic. Their reward is a place in round three where they still await confirmation of their opponents.

There was also a terrific performance from Flyhouse Athletic, another side who were taking on top flight opposition with a trip to Thurrock to face Ockendon Manor on Sunday. Flyhouse were comfortable 7-2 victors on the day to set up a tie at Halstead Town in November.

The only reverse for a Corinthian side also came from the Thurrock area where Barking & Dagenham Wanderers put in a sterling effort against top flight opponents in the form of Aveley United and were only undone by the odd goal, defeated 4-3 to exit the competition at this stage.

And Colebrook Royals Reserves made it almost a clean sweep in the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy with their rearranged tie against Harlow Hurricanes seeing them breeze through 5-2 into the next round to confirm a tie against Old Southendian early next month.