WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of all the Corinthian League action from the weekend

CORINTHIAN CUP

The Halloween weekend saw one of the shocks of the competition so far in the Corinthian Cup as Division Two’s Debden Sports Reserves overcame higher league opposition to defeat Critics in Barkingside, winning 2-1 to take their place in the quarter finals. Daniel Florence scored the hosts’ goal but Sports goals from Harry Maslin and Billy Barr gave victory to Debden.

SENIOR DIVISION

There was just the one top flight game on Sunday and that produced a seven goal humdinger as FLY entertained Manford Way at the Flats seeking to extend their lead at the top.  Way were able to achieve that feat but needed to come through a close game with Tariq Humaid scoring a hat-trick for the hosts in a 4-3 losing cause.  Khadean Campbell scored a hat-trick of his own for Manford, George Edwards netting the other.

DIVISION ONE

It’s six from six for Roose in Division One who lead the way by two points after racking up their latest success, a hard fought game away at St Augustines. James Edelman struck for the Saints but two Shaye McKenzie-La-Rose goals in reply from the leaders were just enough to win it 2-1 in their favour and hand them another three point haul.

Sitting just a couple of points further back, Theydon Green are second and still remain unbeaten in the league after they overcame Benchviews in East Ham with three unanswered goals. Sam May-Parrott swooped in with a brace, Noah Friend delivering the final blow on the scoresheet to confirm a 3-0 win for the visitors.

For third placed Gants Hill, they also sit unbeaten from their opening seven games of the season but did drop points with a 2-2 result against Barking Riverside at the weekend, the teams having to settle for a share of the spoils. Bruno Dos Santos and Aaron Matthews were the players finding the scoresheet on the day for Riverside.

Over in Loughton, Total Football were the hosts as Royal Lions A looked to bounce back from last weekend’s county cup exit but came up against a solid Total side who themselves wanted the points. It was the hosts who did walk away with maximum points with a 3-0 success, Carl Parsons scoring twice and Mahnu Bahbutta one to keep their side interested in the top end of the table.

DIVISION TWO

The biggest result from Division Two affected the very top end of the table and saw leaders, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers, slip to a first league defeat of the campaign as they were beaten 2-1 away at Abridge Village. Michael Katende struck for Abridge and helped his side earn win number three of the season, climbing a place into fifth.

Second placed AC Milano didn’t miss their chance to close the gap at the top with a successful trip to Newbury Park as they returned home with all three points in their clash with Leytonstone Athletic at Oaks Park. The visitors were 2-0 winners to make it five wins in six, extending their unbeaten run with Melanijus Butkus netting both off the bench.

Another side to close the gap at the top end were Newbury Forest who themselves have made a very decent start to life in the league and picked up win number four, beating Higham Hill on the road in a 5-2 scoreline to take their tally to twelve points so far. That result, accompanied by others, saw Hill drop a place in eighth.

The division’s remaining game saw East London Harriers put in a winning performance with a fruitful trip to Barking Abbey School where took all three points with a 2-0 win against Barking. Jack Hurley and Tommy Carter-Hamilton were the scorers for Harriers on the day, a result which moved them up a place and into seventh.

DIVISION THREE

It was another winning weekend for Upshire Forest who maintained a three point gap at the top of the table with a home win against Singh Sabha Barking, ending the latter’s perfect start in the process. Indervir Virdi scored for Barking but two Daniel Roult goals and a Jimmy Brooker strike mean Upshire won the game 3-1.

Colebrook Royals sit in second place and with a couple of games in hand, that record helped by their successful trip to east London on Sunday as they came out 5-3 winners in the game against Alpha at the Flats. Ben Sitki scored twice with manager Joe Cole, Nedret Ozkasim and Omar Mahmood the other scorers to make it a winning performance.

The other side still well amongst the title chasing group are United Amateurs who despite their disappointment of a county cup exit last weekend, turned things around to pick up a big win against FC Mexico B. Bradley Bennett scored four, Leon Arif netted two and Thomas Chawner struck also to hand United a comprehensive 8-1 win.

Ainslie were the biggest winners of the day in Division Three with a thumping 8-0 performance, following up their cup win last weekend with a victory against Korona Redbridge this time around. Eric Kelly put in a five goal performance with Jonathan Carter, Ryan Radley and Nial Mullins goals producing the goods for the east London side.

DIVISION FOUR

There are three sides sharing the lead in Division Four with goal difference keeping Belfry at the top with a fifth win on Sunday secured on the back of a 7-1 home success against United Borough. Jamie Redington scored four to extend his winning record, Nathan Casey, Ryan O’Connell and Jordan Riches all on the scoresheet with the others for their side.

It’s Warren Senior providing the test for the leaders, sitting second on goal difference aided by their win on Sunday away at Ace Athletics in Barkingside. Stuart Connor scored the Ace goal off the bench but two Lewis Gardiner efforts plus a Scott McGlynn goal handed all three points to Warren in a 3-1 scoreline.

Third placed City Site are the other side to be level on points with five wins, sitting third after a hugely important win against Romford Athletic Dons at Forest Row, ending the visitors’ perfect start so far. Alex Paraskeva scored four for City and Harry Watkins netted the other to complete a win by the odd goal in nine, a 5-4 victory. Luke Bates scored two in reply, Billy Pearmain and Damien Donnelly netting in reply for Dons.

Eastern Avenue are only three points further back from the cluster of sides at the top and returned to winning ways with a 2-0 home win at the Flats against Chingford Athletic. Boamah Kwakye scored for Avenue and aided his side in reaching a fourth league win in the process, sitting fifth after their opening games.

It was a good morning’s work for Horse & Well who had their most profitable outing of the season, beating Brymans Park in an 11-2 scoreline at Debden Park High School. James Marsh led the way for his side with four goals, Joe Powell scored twice, Chris Leckie, Daryl Noble, Chris Marsh, Luke Brushett and Chris Chettleburgh also on target to earn a stunning win. Shane Taylor and Olu Olowogboye scored the Park goals in reply.

DIVISION FIVE

The big result of the day in Division Five came from Douglas Eyre and saw Mansfield Rangers’ perfect start to the season come to a close as they fell to defeat against third placed Royal Lions B. James Scott scored for Rangers but his goal proved not enough in the end as Lions ran in three of their own to win the contest 3-1.

That result enabled Colebrook Royals Reserves to take their place at the top of the table but not without a real battle against Lonsdale in their game over in Dagenham. Kalium Fletcher scored once again for the hosts to extend his record but a goal apiece from Phorell Brooke and substitute Calvin Bell made sure of the points for Royals who won 2-1.

It was also a great day for Debden Sports A who secured their maiden win of the season with a 3-2 away win over in Hainault against Manford Way Reserves. Brendan Anamole, Neel Patel and Alex Williams were the men finding the onion sack for Sports with Jake Li and Daniel Moulden’s goals for Way not being enough.

Dagenham Rangers also came through by the odd goal in their local derby game against rivals Titans United at Barking Park, the match finishing 3-2 in favour of Rangers courtesy of a Jack Field brace and an Isaac Boateng effort on the scoresheet. Andre Elie was the scoring with both of the Titans goals in his first appearance off the bench.

DIVISION SIX

The top of the table battle in Division Six saw unbeaten Young Royals move clear at the top by a point as they ended Valence United Reserves’ wonderful start with a narrow 3-2 win in Barkingside. Danny Rudd tried his best to steer Valence to the win with two goals but those proved in vain as Raj Vijay scored twice and Panushanth Kulenthiran one for the hosts.

Over at Stonards Hill, Epping Royals moved into third position following a fourth win of the season, coming from behind to defeat Ridgeway Rovers in a pulsating 4-2 game. Julian Berisha and Ryan Vallance had scored to give Rovers a lead but Royals goals from Joseph Bothwell, Tim Crossland, Nathan Henderson and Asaph Lomena turned things in favour of their side.

There was a real thriller of a game in Hainault where hosts Warren United and Epping Forest Falcons produced a nine goal game at the Rec. It was fourth placed Falcons who ended the happier of the sides with a 5-4 aided by a Dill Cadoret hat-trick and efforts from Tharshan Rasanayagam and Etwal Teja.

Ping City Phoenixes started their game against Havering Palace with a six point deficit to make up but they certainly managed to slash that by half with a terrific 3-1 home win over in Barkingside. Jack Flood scored twice for Ping with William Salter netting the other, rendering Ashley Anim’s effort as just a consolation for the visitors.

The day’s final game in the league came from just a bit further along Forest Road where Royal Lions C were in home action with the visit of Zone 4 Athletic, those sides beginning the day level on six points each. But it was Lions who roared to victory in this one, netting a 6-1 win for their side, overcoming a Sam Galer goal for Zone.

COUNTY CUP

In the London Sunday Challenge Cup, the holders, Hatch Lane, are through to the third round of the competition but had to do things the hard way with a tough test against unbeaten Flyhouse Athletic in Newbury Park. Hatch were able to edge the game 2-1 to ensure they continued their defence.

Last year’s semi-finalists, Baiteze Squad, were the other side with a home tie and they entertained Barnet Sunday League side Zaza in their game at Chigwell School. The game saw the sides finish level at 2-2 but it was the visitors who held their nerve in the shootout, winning that 4-2 to move through.

There was a nine goal thriller between Olympia and London All Stars, the Corinthian side making the journey to their hosts and seeing their participation in this season’s competition come to end with a 5-4 defeat in the second round.

The last tie of the day was another Barnet versus Corinthian tie as El Valiente travelled to north London to take on Heavy Hitters in their fixture. It was a Heavy win for the hosts, as El Valiente slipped to a 3-1 defeat to exit the competition.