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

ENDEAVOUR CUP

The first quarter-finalists of the new season were confirmed on Sunday with Gatcliffe producing the result of the round so far to overcome higher league opposition in a 6-2 winning scoreline away at FC Mexico in Barkingside. Joe North and Ben Norton both scored twice for the Division Seven side with Nico Bunduku and Dane Young netting the others. Emmanuel Rowe scored for Mexico in consolation.

Joining them in the hat for the last eight of the competition are the highest scorers of the day in the competition, Colebrook Royals A, who continued their decent start to the season with a strong 9-2 home win against United Amateurs Reserves. Jedd Coster and Jake Austin struck braces, James Deaney, Lenny Hint, Jonathan Lomotey and Oliver West also netting for Royals. Liridon Hasani and Memsur Gorda scored the United goals in reply.

Completing the trio of league cup ties, there was a terrific contest at Redbridge Sports Centre which pitted two high-flying sides from Division Six and Seven together in the form of Ping City Phoenixes and Emerson & Upminster. Emerson came from behind to lead through Alfie Webb and Archie Larkin goals but two Jack Flood efforts and a Rafael Perez effort gave Ping a 3-2 win.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, second placed East London Ballers missed the chance to go top of the table as they were held to a 1-1 draw in their derby game against Baiteze Squad at Parsloes Park, leading early in the game through a Khristopher Oti goal. But Baiteze levelled the game up to ensure the sides shared the spoils ahead of their upcoming national cup action against each other.

DIVISION ONE

Repton Park have moved four points clear at the summit of Division One after they returned their fourth win of the season to remain unbeaten, seeing off Total Football in a 2-1 scoreline in the Roding Valley derby match. Joe Kemp and Thomas House both found the back of the net to put their side in the driving seat for promotion.

There was a much improved performance from UK Moldova who, despite their position in the league at the foot of the table, earned a valuable point against an unbeaten Barking Riverside outfit to move level on points with the sides above, finishing 2-2. That result keeps Barking in third spot as they try to chase down the league leaders.

DIVISION TWO

Four teams share the lead in Division Two, all on nine points, Woodford Town moving second in the standings following the weekend’s results as they came away comfortable 6-1 home winners against Stone Town. Keenan Lewis scored for Stone but four Luke Dimond goals for the hosts, accompanied efforts from Sam Jarvis and Mason Naylor onto the scoresheet.

Also moving into the nine-point club were FC Galaxy who now sit third in the standings and just outside of the promotion places on goal difference after a strong 4-0 home win against City Site in the Dagenham derby. Tatian Radu scored two, Robert Ciobanu and Mihai Mareniuc netting the others to make it three wins in five this term.

Another Dagenham based side who moved up the table are Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, their home clash with Upshire Forest seeing Wanderers end the visitors’ unbeaten start to the season in a 2-0 scoreline. A goal apiece from Keanan Bancroft and Deji Akinyemi were enough in the end for the hosts to record their third win of the season also.

Daglanta went into their match on Sunday in east London trailing opponents, Singh Sabha Barking, by four points in the table. But they had slashed that deficit to just a single point by the end of the game, winning 5-1 to pick up a second win. Eric Sowonola scored two, Tobi Adesina, Andy Morris and Excellence Muhemba finding the back of the net also to move their side seventh.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Leytonstone Athletic are five points clear at the top following a fifth win in five this season, edging a close game with Colebrook Royals Reserves on Sunday at Hainault Rec. Lewis McGillicuddy and Jordan Rock bagged for the Royals but Leytonstone goals from George Burton, Ryan Kelland and Jack Ferris meant it was the hosts walking away 3-2 winners.

South Ilford Catholics are up into second place in the table, leaping above their opponents from Sunday’s game, Woodford Town Reserves after a seven-goal thriller at the Rec also. Town goals from Billy Brown, William Sandell and Barney Kiernan gave their side a shout but Catholics were in fine form themselves with four goals to take a 4-3 win.

There were goals aplenty in the other fixture as Ainslie earned themselves a third win of the season, ending United Amateurs’ unbeaten start to the season in an 8-3 result. Ryan Radley’s hot streak saw him add another hat-trick, Jack Back and Sidikie Marah scoring twice each and Ibrahim Conteh grabbing the other. Amadu Jalloh, Jack Swaby and Frankie Faulkner netted for United in reply.

DIVISION FOUR

There is a real battle hotting up at the summit of Division Four where Debden Sports A took advantage of results around them to move a point behind the leaders, coming away 4-1 winners from Cardinals Athletic after a 4-1 win. Oscar Simmons scored twice, Jack Sawdon and George Scott netting the others to make it five wins from six.

That gap was made all the tighter after the Hainault derby between hosts Prospect Protégé and leaders Manford Way ended in a score draw at Fairlop Oak, the two sides having to settle for a point in a 1-1 scoreline. Tommy Burke scored the Prospect goal with Jalil Taiwo accredited with the Manford effort to keep them top by a point.

Byron Red Star are up into third place in the table as they took advantage of other sides being out of action to move to nine points on the back of a 6-2 away win against Coppice Row. Stefanos Ladoukakis, Denzel Mensah, Sion Daley, Adrian John, Gabriel Adeshina and Richie Morris all found the back of the net for their side to earn victory.

Over in east London, there was a first competitive victory as a club for East End United who picked up three points at the fourth attempt following a 4-2 away victory against Eastern Avenue. Mike Elsmore scored two with Jevonte Cassar and Jack Richardson bagging the others to move out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

DIVISION FIVE

It remains incredibly tight at the top of Division Five where Athletic Newham remain a point clear following the weekend’s results, edging a tight game against Lonsdale in a 3-2 scoreline to make it five wins from seven this season. Rhys Parkin, Ronnie Wilson and Jack Field scored the Newham goals to render Kalium Fletcher and Anthony Scott goals as just consolation for the visitors.

The recent strong form shown by Epping Town has seen them catapult up the table and they remain second in the standings after a fourth win this year, seeing off Young Royals by the odd goal in a 2-1 win. Amalraj Kakumanu scored for Royals but Town goals in reply from each of Tim Crossland and Louie Brownlie meant it was the visitors going home with all three points.

Over in Dagenham, sixth placed Valence United B went into their home fixture against Chingford Athletic with a four point deficit on their opponents but managed to reduce that to a single point by the end. David Dell and Rowan Newland both scored twice with Ben King and Kamal Mahoney scoring the others in a 6-3 win. Kwame Woodley’s double and a Darryl Wilson effort accounted for the Athletic goals.

Over in Hainault, Legacy City put in an improved performance against a May & Baker EC side still striving for some momentum themselves, the game eventually settled by the odd goal. Billy Biggs and David Macauley were the players to make the big scoring impact in the end, Bakers eventually prevailing in a 2-1 scoreline to make it two wins for the season.

DIVISION SIX

With the leaders out of action, Newbury Drive took full advantage to move to within three points of top spot following a local Forest Road derby victory against Hainault Athletic at the Rec. Terry Downing and Ryan Stacey both scored for Hainault but Drive goals in reply from Jack Newbury-Neale, Luke Newbury-Neale, Charlie Thompson and Teddy Joyce saw them win the game 4-2.

In the division’s other contest, Debden Sports B went into their home clash with Inter Newbury sporting a six point gap over the opponents but a close game was eventually edged by Sports to make it three wins for the season. They were 2-1 winners at Chigwell Lane, a result which carries them up into the top half while Newbury remain three points adrift at the bottom.

DIVISION SEVEN

Two points separate the top three sides in Division Seven and Valence United C moved up into second place after the weekend’s results, earning their fifth win of the season courtesy of a 4-0 win against Romford Bullsharks. Reece Stanley, Robert Devlin, Michaal O’Brien and Rasheen Fasanya struck the goals to give Valence the win.

The other contest saw a twelve goal thriller in Newbury Park as Zone 4 Athletic and Barking Colts produced a game which ended in an 8-4 win for the visitors. Daniel Munroe’s brace plus goals from Joe Cutler and David Logan accounted for the Zone efforts but those proved not enough in the end as Colts struck eight themselves to confirm a third league win.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Sunday Premier Cup, the holders are safely through into the third round of the competition after Hatch Lane came through by the odd goal against Brentwood Sunday League side Rainham Rovers at Parsloes Park, winning 3-2.

Also into the hat for the next round and with the biggest shock of the day are Division One’s Critics. They had a tough away trip to Brentwood League top flight side Harold Wood Athletic but picked themselves up a strong 5-1 away win to head into the next round.

Another Division One side to make it through into the next round are JK Silvertown who had familiar opposition in front of them with Roose the opponents on the day. And it was JK who won the tie, a 6-0 victory putting them through into round three.

Debden Sports Reserves almost pulled off a shock as they went up against top flight opposition from the Brentwood League, taking on Atletico Trotters. The game ended in a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time before Trotters ran out 5-4 winners in the shootout.

In the all Corinthian top flight tie from Newbury Park, a derby contest saw Brook Athletic in home action with AC Milano making the short hop across the field to face their rivals. A close game once again between the sides saw AC Milano progress into round three, winning 2-1.

Heading out of the competition are Colebrook Royals who’s debut in the top county cup competition saw them host a Woodham Radars side at The Grange. But they were unable to get on the scoresheet in the game, Radars on target twice in a 2-0 success for their side.

In another tie to take place at Newbury Park, it was Benchviews in home action on Sunday with the visit of Brentwood League Senior side, Briar United. Another close game saw this one edged by the visitors, Briar winning the tie 2-1 to end Benchviews’ involvement for this season.

There was Kent Sunday Premier Cup action at the weekend also with the league’s sole representatives, Club 1017, starting their campaign in the second round with a trip to Cricketers Gravesend. They were on the wrong end of a 5-2 defeat however as their run in that competition concluded.

In the London Sunday Junior Cup, there were mixed results on the day as AC Milano Reserves edged their way through into the third round, needing a penalty shootout to beat AFC South London in Newbury Park after the game had ended 1-1 in ninety minutes.

It was the end of the road for this year in the competition for Asianos however as their trip top north London ended in a double figure defeat against Barnet Sunday League opposition with NLR running away 11-1 victors to book a place in round three.

The London Sunday Junior Shield competition saw London Legacy make a long away day trip to take on an FC Porto of London from the Southern Sunday League. It proved to not be a fruitful trip for the Corinthian side as Porto came from behind to edge the tie 2-1 to put their side through.

CHARITY CUP

The first West Essex Cup action of the season saw two first round ties in the Trophy as JK Silvertown Reserves produced a cupset against higher ranked league opposition with a 4-1 home success against Alpha in east London.

It was a less successful morning for Romford Rovers who made the trip across to east London to take on Hackney League side, CSM London Under 23s. With the game ending in a 1-1 draw, it was CSM who took the tie in the shootout, winning that 5-4.