WEEK 22 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

The latest Senior Division action got underway on Friday evening as Frenford Development made the trip across to Parkside to face Aveley Under 23s, the visitors setting ten points clear of their opponents heading into the game. Frenford continued their good form, running out 3-1 winners on the night with Damilola Olaiya, Kishawn James and Teraun Davis all netting in the win.

One of the results of the day came at Parsloes Park where Kit Out London enhanced their hopes of survival somewhere with a terrific win against fourth placed Walthamstow Reserves.  Adam Okorodudu, Akeem Matthews and Mauro Ieal all found the back of the net to give their side a vital 3-2 victory, overcoming Stow goals from Dylan Flynn and Issa Sidibe.

Ahead of next week’s big game at the top of the table, leaders FC Baresi’s progression towards that game saw them in home action against rivals Lymore Gardens at Wodson Park, a vital fixture to keep their momentum moving forward. But Baresi goals from Murat Karagul, Raymond Poku, Noyan Tajbakhsh and Junior Appiah set up a strong 4-0 winning performance.

Their opponents in that big clash next week will be Woodford East and they were on the road on Saturday, travelling across to Wadham Lodge to take on Sporting Hackney with the Parrots attempting a league double over the Peacocks. But the visitors put in a solid showing to take all three points with Billy Barr, Sajid Aziz and Sam Jarvis goals setting up a 3-0 win for Woodford.

It was three points also for in-form CSM London who made it five games unbeaten following success against Rapid Chingford, returning back along the A13 with three points after a 6-2 win at Lakeside Sports Ground. Cristian Cazacu and Costel Nitescu struck for the hosts but Jaydon Charles and Ramiz Mahmood doubles in reply, plus goals from Michael Payne and Lewis Grantham gave the CSM the win.

After an indifferent spell of form in the run-up to the festive period, FC Petrocub’s start to the new year has seen them bag two successive victories, their latest endeavours seeing them earn a 3-0 home win against Bakers693. That result saw the hosts move up a place into eighth spot and four points clear of Bakers.

The last of the top flight action came from Hackney Marshes where Haringey Borough Under 23s were the visitors to face a Priory Park Rangers side still in need of desperate points to avoid the drop this season. Despite Borough starting the day fifteen points and eight places above Rangers, the teams had to settle for a share of the spoils in a 0-0 draw.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

There was a cupset in the Premier Division Cup as East division side, Soul, belied their league position to overcome the West division leaders, Philip United, as they won a five-goal thriller against them in Hainault. A goal apiece from Igor Furtado, Zane Essel and Michael Ogunbo earned their side a place in the second round, winning 3-2.

In the day’s other first round action, it was ninth placed West side North East Lions taking on ninth placed East side Redbridge Community. With little between the sides it would seem, the game finished in a 1-1 draw at full-time, Jemel Richards scoring the Lions goal, meaning a shootout would be needed. It was the hosts, Redbridge, who eventually held their nerve to win the shootout, 7-6.

There was second round action too with an all-West tie seeing Wapping host a Snaresbrook side at Hackney Marshes with the quarter-finals the reward for the winner. With the sides unable to find a winner between them, the game ended in a 1-1 draw with Harry Prince scoring from ‘Brook and Krouchi Hocine scoring for Wapping. It was Snaresbrook who won the shootout, 5-4, to move into the last eight.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

There were big results in the East division on Saturday, beginning in Hainault where unbeaten league leaders, Fairlop Rovers, were in home action with the visit of third placed Dagenham United. It was the visitors who left the happier of the two sides as they ended Fairlop’s perfect start, winning 3-0 through goals from Brian Henry, Shaquille Mathurin and Tejean Lewis.

There was another big result affecting the promotion race with sixth placed Waltham Abbey A hosting a Newbury Athletic side at Town Mead, the visitors starting the day five points behind their opponents. A five-goal thriller was settled 3-2 in favour of the Abbots as Liam Adams struck a brace and Cassidy Igwe the other to move them up into fourth spot.

There was also an important three points picked up by Something From Nothing who made it four wins for the season following a well earned 2-0 home win against basement side Leyton City. Damilare Eniolorunda and Marcus Ursu both got on the scoresheet for the seventh placed side while City remain tenth, six points adrift of safety with five games remaining.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, there were plenty of goals, beginning at Hackney Marshes where Renegade reached double figures in producing a 10-1 win at home against London Park City, a result which moved up a number of places into fourth spot. That was Renegade’s sixth win of the season so far while City drop to seventh.

At Wadham Lodge, there was a cracker of a game between two relegation-threatened sides as Wanstead took on FC Baresi Reserves with just a point separating them heading into the game. Bems Adeniyi, Ronnie Karayianni, Joshua Adu and Hashim Hussain were all on the visitors’ scoresheet while Zoltan Balogh struck twice in reply and Jada Andrews once, meaning Baresi walked away 4-3 victors.

Bottom of the table, Athletic Newham A, were in home action with the visit of Barkingside A to Flanders, both sides keen for the points to steer them clear from any relegation worries. A close game saw the sides finish level at 2-2 to take a point each, ‘Side remaining eighth while Newham still trail safety by four points, albeit with games in hand.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, there was a big win for the league leaders, Woodford East Reserves, who kept up their push for the title with a big 10-0 home win against Freetown to remain seven points clear at the top. Tom Osmond’s four goals led the way for the Peacocks with Jake Roberts, Robbie Carter and Will Osmond all adding a brace each to round off the scoring.

With games in hand, Saint City still hold things in their control and they produced a big away performance on Saturday to edge the game 3-2 against Chingford Athletic Reserves. Richard Seixas, Jamie Moore and Ibrahim Basri goals were just enough in the end for the visitors to return home with a seventh league win under their belts.

Seventh placed Lymore Gardens Under 23s went into their home clash with Royal Lions with, perhaps, low expectations, sitting six points behind the visitors at the beginning of the game. But they had reason to be cheerful by full-time, beating their loftier opponents in a 3-2 scoreline to secure a fourth league success of the season.

Over at Peter May Sports Centre, third placed Ocean Pacific were hoping for a bounce back in form following last week’s reverse as they took on an Old Esthameians side in Walthamstow. The teams were well matched on the day as the game ended in a 2-2 draw, the sides walking away with a point each from the game.

DIVISION TWO

It was first versus second in Division Two as leaders Royal Forest made the journey to Havering to take on Rainham & Barking Phoenix with both sides knowing the importance of the outcome. There was little between the sides however and the game ended at 1-1 to prolong the title race for a while longer, Dillon Anderson’s scoring for the Phoenix with Stanley Kweya striking for the Trees.

Over in Dagenham, bottom of the table Redbridge Community Reserves were in action with the visit of Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves, just a single goal between the teams when they last met in December. It was the Spartans who walked away winners once again, 5-3 victors courtesy of an Elie Fanga brace and efforts from Elischua Monanage-Wealthy, Owen Rami and James Oderinde.

DIVISION THREE

Leaders Woodford Town Under 23s extended their lead in Division Three to nine points on Saturday as they picked up a 4-1 home win against Old Parkonians A at Whitbread Sports Ground. Arman Uzzaman’s hat-trick paved the way for this side to take the win, George Piwowarczyk also netting, while Jay Mahmood struck with the Parks goal in reply.

Fourth placed Glendale moved to within a point of the promotion places, their first action of the new year seeing them earn all three points with a comprehensive 13-1 victory at home against Beckton Sporting Club. Wesley Antonio struck five for the Dales, Mouhamed Gueye a second half hat-trick, Maryis Shamku a brace while Abdullai Ahmed, Leo Lawson and Moustapha Gueye goals rounded it off.

Broadway Athletic have been slowly creeping their way up the league table and now sit a season high of fifth after a hard fought 3-2 home success against Melbourne Sports who they leapt above in the process. Billy Harding, Liam Cunningham and debutant Daniel Morgan were the goal scorers to edge the contest and earn their sixth league success.

Up in Harlow, seventh placed Changing Lives saw the visit of Buckhurst Way to Northbrooks on Saturday with only two points between the sides heading into that contest, eluding to what was expected to therefore be a close game. And that was how it panned out in the end as the game ended in a 1-1 draw, Abdulhalim Alhadi scoring for the hosts and Tom Richardson for Way.

COUNTY CUP

It was a tough away-day afternoon for two of our clubs in the Essex Junior Cup, beginning with Unitey who had a long trip up the A12 and A120 to take on Essex & Suffolk Border League side Thorpe Athletic. The hosts got into a lead and despite a Unitey fightback, Thorpe prevailed 4-3 winners to head into the quarter-finals.

Also facing a long trip were Ongar Town who were off to the seaside on Saturday as they faced Southend District & Borough Combination side, Earls Harl United, having disposed of the Mid Essex League leaders in the last round. But it wasn’t to be on this occasion for Town, losing 2-0 on the day to exit the competition.

Photo Credit: Dagenham United FC / Alan Shearman