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

ENDEAVOUR CUP

The weekend’s Endeavour Cup second round action brought about a cupset in Hainault on Sunday morning as Division Seven’s Warren United produced a fine performance to defeat Division Six’s Ace Athletics. Tim Mason struck twice for the visitors but that wasn’t enough in the end as Warren won 4-2 to take the Forest Road derby honours and a place in the quarter-finals.

There was another closely fought game in the other tie between sides from different divisions as Romford Bullsharks made the trip across to Hainault also to take on an Inter Newbury side from the division above. The sides battled to a 2-2 draw with Zachery Bussell and Tyler Houlston netting for Romford but Inter held their nerve in the shootout to win that 4-1 and head through.

DIVISION ONE

Debden Sports Reserves benefitted from the weekend’s results in Division One to move third in the table after winning their local derby match against Total Football in Loughton in a 7-2 scoreline. Archie Hammond and Sonny Binet’s hat-tricks led the way with Callum Thomas grabbing the others to render Charlie Smith and Oliver Marshall goals as just consolation.

Colebrook Royals travelled to Dagenham to take on a previously unbeaten Barking Riverside outfit at Castle Green and it was the visitors who left the happier of the teams, beating Barking 6-2 to move level with them on nine points. Aaron Matthews scored two for the hosts but Royals goals from Presley Evans (2), Nicholas Chrysanthou, Joshua Te Whare, Kaci Henry and Nedret Ozkasim gave them the points.

The third game from the division came from Newbury Park and pitted ninth placed St Augustines up against a UK Moldova side who started the day bottom of the table on goal difference. It was a contest where defence dominated attack as neither side could find the back of the net, the match ending in a rare 0-0 draw.

DIVISION TWO

Woodford Town top the table in Division Two after coming through their clash on Sunday against AC Milano Reserves, moving three points clear of their opponents after a 4-2 win at Newbury Park. Luke Dimond struck twice with Sam May-Parrott and Ben Dimond also netting for Town to make it four wins from five so far.

Joining the leaders on twelve points are an FC Galaxy side who sit second on goal difference after the weekend as they came from two down against Singh Sabha Barking on an adjacent pitch to win the game 4-2 for a fourth win of the season. Tatian Radu scored twice with Alex Nedelea and Cristian Popa grabbing the others.

It was a crucial victory for City Site at the weekend too as they came out on the right side of a tight result against fellow strugglers, Stone Town, with the visitors edging it by the odd goal, 2-1 winners. Billy Rose and Ryan Clark both got themselves on the scoresheet for City, doubling their wins and points tallies in the process.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the lead at the top has stretched open to eight points as Leytonstone Athletic’s early dominance in the fourth tier has seen then rack up six straight wins, their latest victory on Sunday against Romford Town Flyers in a 4-2 scoreline. Daniel Ross scored two for the visitors but Reece Simpson’s quartet of goals carried his side to the win.

There was a first league win of the new season for Colebrook Royals Reserves at the fourth attempt, moving to within striking range of the mid-table sides above them after a 4-1 win against an in-form Ainslie side at Wadham Lodge. Plamen Peev scored for the hosts but Royals goals from Jordan Rock (2), Brandon Fulton and Lewis McGillicuddy ensured it was their side walking away with the win.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, the leaders remain as Manford Way who ensured they stay top after sending Asianos to a first defeat of the season in Hainault, coming away with a 6-2 win under their belts with Manford now the division’s only unbeaten side remaining. Herman Mwanza scored a hat-trick, adding to efforts form Charlie Fawsitt, Jake Crump and Callum Owen.

Second placed Debden Sports A are certainly keeping track on the leaders and remain just a point off the pace after a sixth win of their own on Sunday, coming away victorious in a 2-0 win against local rivals Coppice Row at Chigwell Lane. Elliot Betts and Jack Sawdon scored the goals for Sports to take them to three points once again.

Byron Red Star sit at the head of the chasing pack behind the two leading sides, remaining third following the weekend’s action, coming away 2-1 winners at Hylands Park against Royal Lions. Denzel Mensah and Jimmy Fordham-Reed scored the goals to enable Byron to take the win, their third of the campaign so far.

Over in east London, Eastern Avenue were another side to also net a third win of the season as they came through a goal-filled home clash against Prospect Protégé, winning the game 5-3 to move fourth. Cieran Lennon-Hunte, Dylan Maloyi, Paulius Olisauskas, Gerald Longwe and Fardeen Adei all netted for Avenue, overcoming two Archie Kieran goals and an Emmanuel Alo strike.

DIVISION FIVE

There is a new leader at the top of Division Five as Epping Town moved a couple of points clear after their fifth win of the year, beating Romford Rovers in a 4-2 scoreline at Stonards Hill. Peter Oola and Mason Deegan struck for Rovers but Town goals from Joseph Bothwell, Fraser McCarthy, Jack Mitchell and Asaph Lomena turned things in their favour.

Chingford Athletic took advantage of the results around them to move third in the standings and with a game in hand, taking down second placed Athletic Newham to close the gap on them to three points. Bradley Williams, Kwame Woodley and Cary Wright scored for the hosts to complete win number five.

Over in Dagenham, it was derby day in the game between May & Baker EC and Valence United B with the visitors starting the day a point ahead of Bakers. Ross Riding struck for the hosts but his efforts proved in vain as Valence netted four to win 4-1 and move into fourth spot following their third win of the season.

The fourth game from the division came from east London where Young Royals were the visitors to take on Alpha at Wanstead Flats in a key game towards the bottom end of the table. It was the visitors who will have left the happier of the sides as Sujiven Jeyaratnam scored twice and Gavin Rajendren scored the other in a 3-0 Royals win.

DIVISION SIX

The lead at the top of Division Six is up to five points after the weekend’s results as Ping City Phoenixes make it seven wins from seven games this season after a narrow 1-0 home win against Debden Sports B in Barkingside. Joe Powell scored the game’s only goal to make it twenty-one points so far for the league leaders and bookies favourites.

Just behind them in second place remain Newbury Drive who have that points deficit to make up, not helped by dropping a couple of points on Sunday as they finished level with London Legacy at 1-1 in a tight contest. Luey Young scored for the hosts with Walid Benmouna’s goal meaning it was a share of the spoils for both teams.

The division’s other game saw JK Silvertown Reserves and FC Mexico start the day with both teams on three points after a win apiece so far. But it was JK who walked away having extended their points tally after a 4-2 win in Barkingside. That sees the visitors remain in seventh spot but closer on the coattails of the sides sitting above them in mid-table.

DIVISION SEVEN

With cup football taking centre stage for Division Seven on Sunday, there was just the one league fixture which saw Barking Colts travel to Barking Park to take on Valence United C. Starting the game in second place on goal difference, Valence put Colts to the sword in a 9-0 winning performance. Keenan Mitchell and Jordan Cook both scored two with Jack Howard, Robert Devlin, Liam Sullivan, Michael O’Brien and Rasheed Fasanya all netting.

COUNTY CUP

There were mixed results for league sides in the London Sunday Challenge Cup on Sunday with AC Milano having the most profitable morning as they picked up a big 7-1 home win against JAM in Newbury Park to book their place in the third round.

Also through are East London Ballers who were involved in the remaining first round clash against fellow Corinthian side, Club 1017, in their tie at Parsloes Park. It was Ballers who took the spoils on the day with a 5-3 win to head south of the river in round two.

The big result of the day perhaps came as the holders, Baiteze Squad, saw their defence of the trophy end in the second round as they conceded a late goal to be defeated by a strong Trabzonspor side. Having levelled midway through the second half, Baiteze couldn’t prevent a late goal and went down 2-1.

It was double delight for north London sides as Yeni Bogazici also put the boot in on Corinthian opposition, coming away winners from Newbury Park as they defeated Brook Athletic in a 4-1 scoreline to end their involvement in the competition for this season.

The London Sunday Trophy was also one of mixed results with Division One’s Roose safely through in the hat for round three as they overcame Barnet Sunday League side Highgate Albion 2^nds. A 3-1 win was the order of the day at Fairlop Oak to put the Corinthian side through.

There was less luck for the other two representatives in the competition on the day as fellow Division One side, Benchviews, endured a tough away day to take on Hartford Athletic in their own second round clash. Their run came to an end, defeat 9-0 on the day.

Also heading out of the competition in the second round are Division Three’s United Amateurs who made the trip to The Gun on Sunday, the unbeaten Camden Sunday League top flight outfit. It was the hosts who ran out comfortable 11-0 winners on the day to head through at United’s expense.

In the London Sunday Junior Cup second round, it was a double winning day for East London Ballers Under 23s who returned home from their trip to face Abbeymead with a place in the third round bagged. A 5-1 win was the outcome as they now look forward to the next round.

CHARITY CUP

In the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup, there was a cracker of a game in Dagenham where Division Three side Warren Senior produced a cupset to knock out former finalists in the competition, Barking & Dagenham Wanderers. Warren edged the tie 5-4 in the end to head in the last eight.

Also through into the quarter finals are JK Silvertown, another side with who were up against lower ranked opposition as Upshire Forest made the trip into east London. A closely fought game saw JK eventually prevail in a 1-0 scoreline in the end.

In the Trophy competition, there were goals galore in the opening round where East End United produced a stunning performance in overcoming a Zone 4 Athletic side, winning the game 16-2 in Rainham to head into the quarter finals.

There was a much closer game in the all-Division Five tie in Dagenham where Lonsdale and Mansfield Rangers couldn’t be separated over ninety minutes as the game ended 3-3. It needed a shootout to decide the winners with Rangers the side holding their nerve to win that 4-3.