WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of Sunday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

The November action made a brief appearance on Sunday prior to the impending suspension and East Way Athletic made sure that they will go into the break with some momentum after they picked up a 4-1 home win against Warren United. James Dawkins grabbed the United goal but four in reply for East Way saw them to within a single point of the leaders.

Flanders also kept in touch with the title chasing sides, moving fifth on the back of a 4-1 win of their own as they took home the points from their game with London Mavericks. Reece Simpson, Jeff Nguede, Shomari Barnwell and Leon Lewis were all on the scoresheet for the hosts to earn a second league win of the campaign.

There was also a second league win of the season for El Valiente who made the move up to seventh in the standings following a hard fought victory away in Dagenham against KLIK. After bagging some silverware in midweek, they were 3-2 winners on Sunday to end a great week for club.

It was also a good morning’s work from East Stars who moved off the bottom of the table on the back of a high scoring draw at Roding Valley against Repton Park. The sides combined in a six-goal thriller with Joshua Adu scoring twice and Maximillion Murariu once for the Stars but Park shared the points, scoring three of their own in a 3-3 draw.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the Premier Division, there are now three teams on thirteen points at the top of the table and FC Ballr lead that group on just goal difference after they recorded a 4-1 victory over the weekend in their clash against Panda. Ayodele Awosika scored twice with Jamie Age and Devante Davis netting the others.

That scoreline was mirrored in Dagenham where Barking & Dagenham Wanderers were the hosts to Ultimate Vision with nine points separating the sides pre-match. That gap was slashed to six as Vision ran out 4-1 victors with Reece Tranter, Tom Richardson, Stephen Judge and Ryan Chapman goals completing a first league win.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Roose have closed the gap on the leaders to just two points as they faced up to Abridge Village in their clash in Hainault, staring the game behind their opponents. They had leapfrogged them by full time, earning a narrow 2-1 win as Leon Isaac and Shaye McKenzie La Rose goals cancelled out a Reece Clarke strike for Abridge.

Gants Hill remain as one of just two unbeaten sides in the division and they extended that record with a derby victory against local rivals AC Milano. It took just a single goal to pull the sides apart in a close game with Hill the beneficiaries of that result to see them over the line in a 1-0, moving fourth in the process.

The biggest winners in the division were Valentine United who are in supreme form in front of goal presently, making it sixteen goals in two games with a fine 8-2 win against Korona Redbridge. Tomasz Cenin and Jacek Miedzak both netted for Korona but four strikes from Lloyd John, a hat-trick from Tyrone Scarlett and a Chris Jennings effort helped their side to the win.

There was a huge result at the bottom end of the table as two winless sides met with Wanstead Albion visitors to Westlands to take on Hornchurch Oakmont, both seeking their first wins to move away from danger. In a close game, just one goal separated the sides and Sean Thomas grabbed it for Hornchurch to take a 1-0 win, moving above their opponents.

DIVISION TWO

Three points separate the top four sides in a terrific Division Two challenge this year and FC Galaxy lead that group by two points as they recorded a fifth successive league win, taking maximum points in a 2-0 home victory against St Augustines. It was two Mihai’s in the goal action with Dinu and Mareniuc scoring the crucial goals.

Sitting third are Theydon who also have a perfect league record this year with four wins in four, aided by their most recent effort, a 4-2 home victory against Emerson Park. Dion Bishop scored twice with Chris Walling and James Carter netting the others to round off a very good first phase of the season.

Royal Albert are another of the sides in the mix at the top end of the division and they returned home with the points from their trip up the A406 to face Frenford at the Jack Carter Pavilion. Tony Shaw scored twice for the promotion chasers with Korede Silva’s effort completing a 3-0 victory.

And rounding off the Division Two action, FC Mexico A have struck a little bit of form in recent weeks and pulled off an excellent victory on Sunday with a 1-0 win against Chingford Athletic A at Emerson School. Ian Tucker grabbed the only goal of a close game to pick up maximum points, closing to within a point of their fifth placed opponents.

DIVISION THREE

It’s as you were at the top of Division Three where Eastbrook United stay six points clear after picking up a sixth league win in seven, a super start to the season. They had a tough game against Ainslie though where goals from Heavenly Bende and Jayde Abraham overcame a Kyran Johnson strike to win it 2-1.

Roneo Colts sit second on goals scored as they recorded a win on Sunday against Lonsdale at the Flats, taking a 3-1 victory. Elliot Greaves got on the Lonsdale scoresheet but his efforts proved in vain as Rorie McKenzie, Bryan Paredes and Rob Kilminster goals took the points back to Dagenham for Colts.

And just behind their great rivals, Bretons Manor are well in the picture too for a promotion charge and bounced back well from recent setback to take maximum points, coming from behind to beat Jaffna 3-2. Deluxchan Thursiyanthan and Maayon Ravindran scored for the visitors but Manor responded with William Semain netting two and Perry Whatling one.

The day’s mid-table battle from the Flats saw Alpha move to within a point of their opponents, FC Mexico B, as they edged a five goal thriller by the odd goal in a 3-2 win. Jason Grant was in inspired form with a hat-trick to carry his side to the win, their third in six league games this season.

DIVISION FOUR

The Division Four title race continues to excite and the big game of the day saw the top two, Cobra and Upshire Forest, meet at Old Dagenham Park to see if one would blink. But by full-time the one-point gap remained with the sides finishing 3-3. Bradley Johnson scored twice for the hosts but Forest goals from Ross Vasquez-Hyde, Callum Gater and Oliver Campbell kept them top by a point.

Leytonstone Athletic remain well placed to pounce on any slip and gained ground on Sunday with an entertaining 4-3 victory away at previously unbeaten Total Football. George Burton was in hot form with a hat-trick, Jake Hubbard scoring the other. Nile Painter scored twice in reply for Total and Max Cummins grabbed their other consolation.

Sitting one place back in fourth, Theydon Green could also yet challenge those sides at the top and kept their hat in the ring with a 3-0 win at the Flats as they took maximum points against Eastern Avenue. Noah Friend was the main enemy to Avenue with a brace, Ben Harris scoring the other to take a third league win.

Chingford Athletic Reserves made the most of result around them to skip up a couple of places to fifth after they took all the points from their trip to Titans United in Dagenham. Jamie McMeakin was the hero with a hat-trick for his side to confirm a 3-1 win on the day, their third of the campaign.

It was a good morning’s work for Romford Athletic Dons as they travelled along Forest Road to face Young Royals at Old Parks, both sides keen to get their seasons moving. Chris Ratty was in good form, scoring twice for the Dons, James Dunn scoring their third to put them on the right side of a 3-1 victory.

DIVISION FIVE

In Division Five, Dagenham Rangers closed the gap on the leaders to just a point as they picked up an important win at home against Ping City Phoenixes as the sides met at Barking Park. Rangers were 5-2 winners on the day to scoop a fifth league win in a congested top end of the Division Five standings so far.

Stow Rovers have joined that promotion chase as they made it four wins from six in the league to move them fourth on the back of a 3-1 win in Newbury Park against Singh Sabha Barking. Oliver McGill, Ben Rimmer and Taiwo Oshinyemi scored the Rovers goals with Jordan Hamilton netting Barking’s effort in reply.

DIVISION SIX

There was a huge result in Division Six where Barking Reserves’ perfect record came to a halt as East Tilbury Town put in a big performance to win 2-1. Jack Howard grabbed the Barking goal but Town efforts from Rodang Ngesang and substitute Jo Megege completed the win in their side’s favour.

Epping Forest Falcons moved their side into the promotion picture becoming the fourth side to sit on ten points on the back of a hard fought victory against Woodford Green United. Beau Striebig got on the Green scoresheet but his efforts proved in vain as Falcons scored twice to take the result in a 2-1 win.

There was also a third league win for Epping Royals who, despite sitting eighth, are just a point off second place in what is an incredibly congested table. Joseph Bothwell and Calvin Bell scored the Royals’ goals with Chris Ttofari coming off the bench to score the Mansfield Rangers effort in another 2-1 scoreline.

CORINTHIAN CUP

Central Colts made sure of their place in the second round post-lockdown coming through a potentially tricky tie at an in-form Oceana. Colts were 3-0 winners on the day to book their place in the last sixteen.

There was plenty of action in the day’s other tie where Hatch Lane met Barking in a fiery encounter in Dagenham, the former running out 17-1 winners. Hatch goals from Daniel Florence (7), Lucio Vare (4), Alanie Mounter (3), Matthew Cherrie, Lee Harding and Steven Marshall, each with two, completed the win for their side as they head into the quarter finals.

TROPHYLAND CUP

There was a first round replay in the Trophyland Cup as Blackwell Rovers made their way to Loughton once again to face Monkhams with a second round place at stake. Billy Barr and Ryan Radley goals for Rovers helped their side level to 2-2 after extra time. And in the shootout it was Rovers who held their nerve to go into the hat for round two.

ENDEAVOUR CUP

In the day’s second round Endeavour Cup action, the results all went to form with Division Five leaders Royal Lions in the hat for the quarter finals although they didn’t get things all their own way against Colebrook Royals Vets. Michael Farley scored for the Royals but two Olatunja Oshodi-Glover goals confirmed a Lions 2-1 win.

And that scoreline was reflected on an adjacent pitch where Tekkers Vets avoid a potential slip up against lower league opposition as they overcame Royal Lions Reserves in a close game. Wesley Imbert and Ricardo Khan netted the crucial goals for Tekkers to send their side into the quarter finals with a 2-1 win.

Valence United completed the domestic action for the weekend as Custom House Community made the trip to Dagenham to face United. Rowan Newland’s brace extended his scoring form with Ryan Knight and Jordan Cook efforts enough to render Dockers goals from Bobby Devlin and Jamie Wooster as just consolation in a 4-2 scoreline.

CHARITY CUP

It was quarter finals day in the West Essex Sunday Charity Cup with Brook Athletic and JK Silvertown finally getting to complete their tie after some delay. And JK were the winners on the day, overcoming an in-form Brook side to book their place in the final four.

In the day’s Trophy semi-final action, Goresbrook from Division One were up against a high-flying Thames Ironworks Community from Division Two in a mouth-watering contest. But it was Goresbrook who ended the day the happier as they ran out 3-1 victors to book a place in the final against Loxford Lions.