WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

Halloween Sunday certainly served up it’s fair share of tricks with the early morning deluge obliterating part of the fixture list. But we did manage to get a good number of games played despite quite challenging conditions.

CORINTHIAN CUP

There was some surviving Corinthian Cup action as AC Milano and Abridge Village finished level at 3-3 after ninety minutes. Randu Adu, Mohamed Kidia and Nadeem Khankhara all struck for Milano with a Jake Clarke brace and an Aaron Gurney goal levelling it up. It was Milano who went through on spot kicks, winning 4-3.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There were also a couple of Trophyland Cup ties completed, both seeing seven goal performances. The first of those was a big win for Windmill Warriors who were up against Mayfield Kings in Hornchurch. A William Arrowsmith hat-trick off the bench was the difference with Billy Barker also scoring twice and one apiece from Ross Braybrooke and Charlie Myers. Khalid McCready and Igor Sousa struck in reply for Kings but saw their side go down 7-2.

Over in Walthamstow, there was a David vs Goliath match up where Division Two’s Asianos were the hosts to an in-form Raphael Park Rovers side hailing from Division Four. And it was the higher ranked side who avoided any kind of slip up as Asianos won through, winning 7-1 to set up a tie against Higham Hill in the second round.

PREMIER DIVISION

The three Premier Division games produced some real excitement, none more so than perhaps the game down at Hainault which saw Roose fight back against Barking & Dagenham Wanderers to take all three points. Trailing 5-2, Roose took a 7-6 win in the end to leapfrog their opponents and move up to sixth in the standings.

In a slightly less goal-filled contest, there was just the five goals further down Forest Road at Flyhouse Athletic where Belfry were the visitors and ran out victors by the odd goal. Lewis Rix scored twice and Charlie Heatley once, rendering Flyhouse goals from Jordan Mullings and Lloyd John as just consolation in an eventual 3-2 scoreline.

Over at Chigwell School, another close game was witnessed as hosts Avintul were up against the league leaders with Brook Athletic in town attempting to extend their great start. And that they did, albeit with a stern test before them as they overcame a Gheoca Dumitru goal with two of their own. Samir Bihmoutine and Andre Junior got on the Brook scoresheet to give them a 2-1 win.

DIVISION ONE

The top two sides in Division One are really setting the pace at the top now and Oceana kept themselves in pole position for the moment with another strong performance, defeating Barking 8-0 on Sunday in Hainault. Oliver Turner scored a hat-trick, Robert Coe and Luke Gellard both struck twice and Jack Williamson’s effort completed the win.

But not to be outdone in the scoring stakes, Theydon Green’s form at present will give them much confidence for when the leaders eventually meet and they were 18-1 winners on Sunday in an incredible game against Snaresbrook. George Johnson and Daniel Hearty both scored four, Luke Steele a hat-trick, Josh Steele a brace and singles came from Ben Harris, Bill Johnson, Joe Johnson, Ben Brookes and Harry Boyd-Walker.

Completing the action in the third tier, FC Galaxy have pushed themselves into the top four after they picked up a third league win of the campaign with a home win against FC Mexico A in Dagenham. Matthew Harvey and George Wickings both netted for the visitors but two Mihai Mareniuc goals in reply plus strikes form Mihai Gherasim and Cristian Popa were enough to confirm a 4-2 win.

DIVISION TWO

Royal Lions A have closed the gap on the sides above them in Division Two as they took advantage of results around them by beating Thames Ironworks Community in Hainault to give them a fourth league win of the season. That result moves them onto twelve for the season and just a point outside of the promotion spots.

It was a similarly productive morning for Roneo Colts who themselves were able to make ground up on the sides above, albeit with more games played so far. Dwayne Francis-Riley’s brace and strikes from Chris Ross and James Smith were the difference, rendering Krzysztof Oleksiewicz’s effort for Korona Redbridge as just consolation in a 4-1 scoreline.

The leaders of the division, Eastbrook United, managed to top up their points account by one more but had a tough test at home against Frenford despite having beaten them in the cup one week previous. Callum Harris got the United goal for their side, helping them finish 1-1 to remain unbeaten with four wins and four draws to their name this season.

DIVISION THREE

The goals flew in in Division Three with a thirteen goal thriller over in Newbury Park where Imperial Row were the visitors to face Leytonstone Athletic. Reece Simpson scored four with Harry Burton and Talvin Sandhu scoring braces for Athletic but a Row hat-trick from Mitch Bllard plus goals from James Hutton and Darren Summers ensured this went the distance, finishing 8-5 to the hosts.

There were just the nine goals in a close battle in Brentwood which saw Alpha go top of the table on goal difference following a narrow 5-4 away win against Dagenham Town. Troy Jules put in a royal performance with four goals, Kai Brown netting their other effort. Joseph McEnroe scored twice in reply with Chris Bird and Tommy Ivers-Grant also scoring but just in consolation as it turned out.

In another high scoring contest, there were eight goals in the game in Loughton where Monkhams were the hosts and facing an Inside Success side. Benas Vaivada scored twice for Monkhams with George Moore, Charlie Thomas, Samuel Griffin and Sam Snell also netting to lead them to a 6-2 win. Shemar Morris and Tommy Oseni grabbed the Success goals in reply.

There were just the measly four goals at the Rec as Upshire Forest made the trip down to take on Goresbrook and seeking a place in the top half. Forest reversed their fortunes from the first meeting to take three points this time in a 4-0 result as Aaron Rich, Riley Bowers and Tom Lawn mowed their way to a fourth league victory.

DIVISION FOUR

Three games survived the elements in Division Four with victories for all of the top three sides in the division. Ainslie maintained their stronghold with a seventh league win confirmed on the back of a 3-1 away win against Ultimate Vision Reserves over in Dagenham. Connor Gardner struck twice and Jay Dignance once to send their side on their way to a strong victory.

Singh Sabha Barking are in some good form though presently and likely to push this along way as they took a fifth win in six on Sunday, defeating Titans United 4-0 over in Newbury Park. Karam Lalli scored twice combined with efforts from Jagraj Rai and Indervir Virdi which took the second placed side to another win.

Lurking just outside the promotion places, United Amateurs certainly won’t give up the chase without a fight and with plenty of the season still remaining are just two points back, aided in part by their win on Sunday as they beat Blackwall Rovers 3-1 at the Rec. Luke Howell scored twice and Jack Chawner once to give their side an important three points.

DIVISION FIVE

Division Five was largely weather affected but there was still some action as including for the league leaders, Belfry Reserves who pushed themselves further clear of the chasing clubs with a solid home win on Sunday, beating Ultimate Vision A 3-1. Daniel Lawman, Rishi Sondhi and Billy Harding all scored to lead their side to the win.

There was a good morning’s work also for Dagenham Rangers who found their scoring boots at the weekend with a stunning 6-1 win at home against Athletico City. David Macauley and Dylan Arthur both netted twice at Barking Park with Camerson Nicholson and Klodian Meta efforts finishing things off for the hosts to take maximum points.

DIVISION SIX

In Division Six, Colebrook Royals Reserves took advantage of sides above them being sat indoors by closing the gap on the promotion places by taking all three points home with them from Walthamstow having beaten Ping City Phoenixes 4-0. Goals from Archie Shipp, Harley Stevens, Oscar Woodthorpe-Browne and Leo Winer were the difference in the sides as Royals took the spoils.

Over in Newbury Park, their was a mirror image of that first result as Epping Forest Falcons took maximum points against London Legacy to secure a second league win of the campaign, shooting up to seventh in the table in the process. Emmanuel Addo was in fine form scoring a hat-trick with Etwal Teja scoring the other in a 4-0 Falcons victory.

COUNTY CUP

Just the one London Sunday Challenge Cup tie survived the inclement weather but what fine a game that was too as FC Ballr and Baiteze Squad renewed their battles once again, combining for a ten-goal thriller at Castle Green, the sides ending level at 5-5 at ninety minutes. Baiteze held their nerve in the shootout to win 4-3 to progress into the third round.