WEEK 8 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

Manford Way remain three points in the clear at the top of the table as they came through a close game at home against FC Ballr, edging the contest by the odd goal in a 2-1 win. Adebola Sotoyinbo got on the Ballr scoresheet but Manford goals from Khadean Campbell and Richard Kone were enough for the leaders to make it four wins from six.

Baiteze Squad and Hatch Lane renewed old rivalries in the league on Sunday with the sides meeting in Chigwell and the hosts coming off the back of two defeats. But it was Baiteze who ended the day the happier of the clubs with them recording a comprehensive 4-0 success to end Hatch’s unbeaten start to their season.

The only remaining side with a perfect record so far in the league are Flyhouse Athletic who sit second after three games following another terrific win, beating East Way Athletic on Sunday over in Newbury Park. Kieran James made the biggest contribution with a hat-trick, Steven McCormick joining him on the scoresheet in a 4-0 win.

El Valiente took themselves up to seventh in the standings as they secured a valuable home point against a London All Stars side yet to drop a point. Ali Bangura and Bruno Tavares both netted for All Stars to end the game 2-2, sharing the points in the process. The visitors do move up to fourth however following other results around them.

DIVISION ONE

Roose have gone top of the standings in Division One with an excellent fifth win of the season as they made it five wins from five in the league, adding victory against Total Football on Sunday to their tally so far. Nile Painter had struck twice for Total but his efforts proved in vain as two Charlie Hawes goals plus strikes from Jack Murray-Sharpe, Joe McDermott and David Owiredu made it a 5-2 Roose win.

Five was the theme in this division with second placed Gants Hill also netting five as they took all three points against FC Galaxy in Dagenham to remain unbeaten in the league. The experienced Eduard Bica bagged the Galaxy goal but that proved just consolation as Hill rattled five of their own to record a 5-1 win.

And fourth placed Critics were also in on the act of scoring five with that tally themselves in their home clash against FIFE from Old Parkonians. Dean Florence scored a hat-trick, Dylan Florence and Afolabi Obafemi striking the others as they remained in touch at the top with a 5-1 victory. Richmond Appiah grabbed the FIFE goal in reply.

It took just a single goal to separate the sides in the division’s remaining game where St Augustines put a second league win on the board in beating a presently winless Benchviews side by the odd goal to nil. Augustine Appiah came off the bench to net that only goal as the Saints won 1-0 on the day to move up a few places in the standings.

DIVISION TWO

It’s been a great start for Barking & Dagenham Wanderers who made it six wins on the spin on Sunday though did have to come through a very close game to finally edge Inside Success by the odd goal in five. Dwayne Francis-Riley, Regan Downes and stalwart Ricky Brown all got on the scoresheet for Wanderers and just done enough to earn the win.

Despite a mixed start, Cloud 9 are sitting in third after six games and put in a terrific performance at the weekend to beat winless Barking at Forest Row. Louis Parham, Jack Porter and Alan Goddard were all at the double with goals, Daniel Bright and Louie Baker scoring the others are Cloud won 8-0 on the day.

Debden Sports Reserves are on a good run of form and extended that on Sunday on the road as they made their way to South Ockendon and returned with all three points following a hard fought 3-1 success against East London Harriers. Charlie Thomas scored twice and George Bird swooped in with the other to see the visitors up into the top five.

Leytonstone Athletic and Higham Hill renewed old rivalries in their match-up in Newbury Park on Sunday, the teams going into the game just a point apart from each other after mixed starts. And a point was how the gap remained at full time as George Burton’s two goals were equalled by two from Hill, the match ending level at 2-2.

DIVISION THREE

Upshire Forest remain on the top of the table following their efforts on Sunday, making a touch trip to the Flats to face fifth placed Alpha. But Forest were 3-0 winners against their promotion contenders, Daniel Roult, Tom Lawn and Charlie Grimmer all finding the back of the net to hand their side win number four.

Colebrook Royals Vets are up into the promotion places, taking advantage of sides around them being out of action and beating their old rivals, Valence United at The Grange. One apiece from Joe Lovell, Alan McCormack, Nedret Ozkasim, Ben Sitki and Mason Harris-Breen done the damage as the Royals scooped a third league success.

DIVISION FOUR

There are now four sides sitting top of the Division Four table on twelve points each with goal difference keeping Belfry Reserves top for now aided by their big 7-2 win at the weekend against Eastern Avenue at the Flats. Jamie Redington netted a hat-trick and Luke MacDonald scored twice, Nathan Casey and Ryan O’Connell scoring the others to hand their side the win.

Also on twelve points and sporting a perfect record with four wins from four, Warren Senior added another three points to their tally but faced a stiff test, coming through by the odd goal in nine to beat Prospect Protégé 5-4. Tommy Burke (2), Joe Elsworth and Razvan Vladut all scored for Prospect but those proved in vain as Daniel Galvin-Law (2), Lewis Gardiner, Scott McGlynn and Matthew Ling all netted for Warren.

City Site are also up there on twelve points, taking their tally into double figures following a 5-0 win on the road on Sunday, beating United Borough 5-0 over in Brentwood. James Cole and Frederick Mattock both scored twice with Alex Paraskeva netting the other for the Collier Row based outfit to hand them a fourth league win in five.

DIVISION FIVE

The two leading sides in Division Five remain locked on fifteen points and five wins each as Mansfield Rangers extended their great start on Sunday with a 7-3 away win against Mayfield Kings in Hainault. Billy Happe scored twice, accompanying Jay Kanber, Claudius Edwards, Jake Magson, James Scott and Harley Hicks onto the scoresheet. Kelson Tomas netted two in reply and Qasim Ali one for Kings.

Colebrook Royals Reserves sit second just by the virtue of goal scored and they had a tough battle ahead with a trip to third placed Royal Lions B on Sunday. Calvin Bell and Oscan Simmons both scored for Royals in the first half and then held on in the second half to hand their side another win for the season, 2-0 the final scoreline.

Up into the top four are Dagenham Rangers who completed a third league success of the season, edging a close game against Ultimate Vision Reserves at Barking Park. Jack Field scored twice for Rangers with Esley Liwala and Tim Mason goals making it four which proved just enough to take the points in a 4-3 success.

Over in Debden, two of the division’s teams without a point so far went to battle with Lonsdale the visitors to face Debden Sports A. Kalium Fletcher was on the scoresheet for the visitors with two of their goals, Allen Gurney and Charlie Owen both also netting to give Lonsdale a 4-1 win, their first in the league this season, jumping up to eighth in the process.

DIVISION SIX

Things remain tight at the top of the Division Six standings where Valence United Reserves sit a couple of points clear, aided in part by their win on Sunday which saw them see off the efforts of Ping City Phoenix in a 3-1 win. Ayomide Ibuola, Billy Biggs and Enzo Victoriano all bagged for the league leaders to keep them clear of the chasing pack.

Young Royals are the side posing the biggest threat to the leaders and they sit just a couple of points behind Valence following their latest success, beating Zone 4 Athletic 3-2 over in Hornchurch. Danny Andrews and Ricky Wenhold both scored for the hosts but Royals rendered those just consolation but scoring three of their own.

Ridgeway Rovers are up into third spot following the action at the weekend and took their points tally into double figures with a third league win, beating Warren United 2-0 over at Peter May. Sanchez Bolessa and Regan Marshall were both on target for the hosts to hand Rovers another win to keep them in touch with matters above.

The division’s remaining game came from Hainault and saw Royal Lions C play host to a London Legacy side who went into the game level on points but both seeking to shift upwards in the table. By full-time Royal Lions had moved three points clear of their opponents, winning 4-1 on the day despite a Tyler York goal for Legacy.

COUNTY CUP

In the weekend’s sole action from the London Sunday Challenge Cup, United Dian put their name into the hat for round three with a victory against their league rivals, Secret, as they produced a solid performance in Hainault to win 6-1.

There was another all Corinthian tie in the London Junior Cup where United Amateurs and Ainslie met over in Hainault. With the game level at 2-2, it was the visitors who progressed on with Ainslie winning the game 4-2 to head into round three.

In the London Sunday Trophy, AC Milano continued their run in the competition, seeing off London Sportif to confirm a spot in the third round. They were 3-1 winners in East Ham to continue a good little run of form.

FLY saw their involvement in the competition come to an end with a home defeat against Highgate Albion Reserves at Wanstead Flats, the Senior Division side going down by the odd goal in a 2-1 defeat to make their exit.

Over in Hainault, Royal Lions A played host to Turkish League outfit Yeni Bogazici Dogan Spor for their opening action in this season’s competition and despite a good start, saw their run come to an end with a 3-1 defeat.