WEEK 9 REVIEW: Review of all of the weekend's league and cup action

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were two ties played in the Trophyland Cup this weekend with both ties going with the higher division based side.

FC Mexico safely booked their passage through to the quarter final with a 2-0 victory over Ridgeway Rovers courtesy of a two goal performance from Rhys Tyrrell to secure their spot.

Taking on FC Mexico in the quarter final will be fellow Division Two side, Westferry Elite, who came through an eight-goal thriller against Division Four’s Heathside in winning 5-3. Chris Parkin scored twice for Heathside with Sam Owen also netting but not quite enough to get their side through.

PREMIER DIVISION

Valentines United secured a very important win on Sunday, their first league win of the season as they took down second placed Lactico in a 3-1 scoreline. Gregory Blake, Jimmy McCann and Jake Mernagh scored the all important goals to lift their side up to eighth in the table.

Ainslie Wood were also victorious on Sunday as a hat-trick from star striker Eric Kelly led them to a comfortable 5-1 home victory over Quality Control. James Sims-Williams and Jack Gillett also netted for Wood to cancel out a Devonte Forsythe-Young goal for the visitors.

DIVISION ONE

Chingford Celtic have opened up a five point gap at the top of Division One after beating closest rivals Barking 3-1 in a top of the table clash. A Ross Chimes double proved the difference with Dom Farmer also scoring for Celtic to render James Cook’s goal for the visitors merely a consolation.

Moving up to third in the table are Aldborough Hatch who came from 2-0 behind against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers to win 3-2 late on in the game. Hosts’ goals from Robert Eden and Nick Read appeared to be leading their side to victory only for Hatch to mount a stunning comeback.

Fourth placed Korona Redbridge remain very much in the mix for promotion but they had to settle for a point, sharing the goals in a 2-2 draw with an improving Emerson Park side. Dawid Smolarek got both of the Korona goals to ensure they took at least a point home with them.

Rounding off the Division One action saw two of the bottom three face each other with St Augustines hosting Warren United Reserves. Nathan Hitchman found the back of the net for the hosts but wasn’t quite enough as Ryan Fraser, Thomas Metcalfe and Harrison Slater all scored for Warren to take the points on the day in a 3-1 win.

DIVISION TWO

Docklands Albion’s resurgent form continued on Sunday as they took apart a high-flying London Fire Brigade side in an 8-0 victory. Ross McWilliams scored a hat-trick for the visitors with a Wilson Diogo double and singles for Michal Gorka, Tashan Benjamin and Haseeb Kashmiri completing a resounding victory.

Waltham Athletic left it late but stay top of the pile in Division Two as Rickie Brown’s late winner settled a tight encounter against Romford Galaxy. His goal, the only of the match, saw his side to a 1-0 victory and opens up a four point gap on the second placed side.

That side are Park Tavern who remain unbeaten themselves, coming from behind against Lonsdale to eventually run out 5-3 winners. David Hornsby took his season tally to fourteen goals with another hat-trick as Kristopher Brown and Nicholas Tormey completed the victory over a spirited Lonsdale side.

DIVISION THREE

Asianos Reserves finally saw their unbeaten run come to an end on Sunday as Alpha pulled out a 4-3 win in Leyton. That wasn’t without drama however as Asianos had pulled back the game from 4-0 down to 4-3 to set up a grandstand finish but pulled up just short. Alpha goals from Ashley Godwin, Kai Haysman, Mikey Ward and Nathan Gannon done the telling damage to record a crucial victory.

There was a first victory of the season for AC Milano Reserves on Sunday as they hosted Partizan CMC and edged a victory by the odd goal to win 2-1. That win moves the West Ham-based side up off of the bottom of the table and gives them renewed confidence.

Upshire Reserves stay second in the table as they made it a league double over Alliance United this season in a 3-1 victory. Jake Messenger found the back of the net for Alliance but it was Upshire who took home the points to Waltham Abbey and keep the pressure on Wanstead United.

And after a start to the season which has been largely forgettable for FC United of Hornchurch, they have now won their last two league matches to move clear of the relegation places following a 3-0 home win on Sunday against Fairlop Rangers.

DIVISION FOUR

Hornchurch Oakmont were big winners on Sunday as they hosted rivals Oak Royals at Westlands in a crucial match-up. And it was Hornchurch who came away the happier side as George Terry’s hat-trick saw his side to a 6-1 win. Nathan Adams and Sean Thomas also found the back of the net with Jack Gotobed scoring the Royals’ consolation.

The leaders, SL Menfica, found it tough going in their match as they travelled to face Grey Area in Chadwell Heath. Level at the break, it wasn’t until the second half that Menfica made the pressure count as Lewis Clark, Jake Muller and David Guess all netted to win the game 3-0 and keep up their perfect record as we enter November.

Epping Forest Falcons go up a place to third in the table as they saw off Central Colts in a 3-1 win for the Woodford-based side. Jimmy Turner was on target for Colts but a Michael Girling brace along with a goal from Ryan Lawless proved the difference for Falcons to take the points.

COUNTY CUPS

There was a great result for Upshire in the Essex Sunday Premier Cup on Sunday as they beat a well-fancied AFC Pegasus side from Colchester 1-0 at Larsens. The single goal was enough to inflict a first defeat on the visitors and book a third round clash at Atletico Trotters in the next round.

There was not such great news for Flanders however who put up a valiant effort away in the depths of the Essex countryside at Heybridge Social, bowing out of the competition following a 5-3 defeat.