WEEK 21 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and county cup action

DIVISION ONE CUP

There was an exciting game in the Division One Cup quarter-finals where Sporting Hackney Reserves raced into an early lead against Ferns Seniors only for the hosts to level things up through goals from Lee Niven (2), Billy Howe and Sean Howe. However a late Hackney winner settled things to win 5-4 and send them through to the semi final.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup first round there was a tight encounter between Old Barkabbeyans Reserves and cup holders, Chingford Athletic Reserves, which ended goalless after ninety minutes in Barking. And in the resultant shootout it was the holders who booked their place in the next round, triumphing 5-4 in the shootout.

PREMIER DIVISION

Jolof Sports Club are the new leaders in the Premier Division, taking full advantage of a second slip in as many weeks for the reigning champions, Chingford Athletic, in seeing off Blue Marlin in a 5-2 victory.

Chingford Athletic’s trip to Hainault to face Grove United proved fruitless as the home side confirmed a 3-1 victory with a hat-trick from Harry Chalk cancelling out another Gary Murray goal.

And in the other fixture from this division, London Falcons put eight goals past Lopes Tavares London to secure an 8-3 win over their opposition and move up to sixth place in the table as a result.

DIVISION ONE

Cowley Community maintained their pressure on second place Three Colts in Division One in the chase for promotion with a narrow 2-1 win at the weekend over East Ham International. Matthew Watts and Lekan Bakare were the goal scorers for Cowley as they moved to within three points of the side above them.

DIVISION TWO

Leaders Ryan Reserves remain five points clear at the top of the Division Two table after a comfortable 4-1 win at the weekend over Inter Plaistow. Jason O’Hare was on target with the Inter goal but that proved mere consolation as the leaders marched on.

Colebrook Royals Reserves kept in touch with the leaders with a win at the weekend over promotion chasing Forest Green. Coming from behind in the game, an Ashley Somers hat-trick and a brace from Robbie Carter saw off Green strikes from Romelle Pile, Curtis Brown and Ricky Stewart.

In the division’s remaining game, Avondale Rangers saw off Glendale in the Dales derby, winning 2-0 in Loughton to confirm victory and move up a place to ninth in the table in the process.

DIVISION THREE

Division Three’s leaders Wapping made it fourteen matches unbeaten on Saturday with a hard fought 1-0 over Kitroom in Hainault courtesy of Adel Mouaden's only goal of the game. That victory, coupled with chasing sides dropping points, means that they have now opened up a ten point gap at the top and just a couple of wins away now from securing the title.

Second placed Custom House saw their chances of title glory damaged as they were held to a 3-3 draw at Lyle Park against Flyers. Sam Wilkinson, Robert Wooster and Paul Wooster were all on target for the hosts by Flyers’ goals from Ben Tomlin, Luke Appleton and Patrick Okoji helped them take home a point apiece.

Also sharing a high-scoring 3-3 draw in Division Three were Newham Royals and Brentwood United Reserves who took home a point apiece in their exciting match. That point was enough to see the Royals up a place to third with the visitors remaining seventh.