WEEK 23 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

There were two third round games in the Fenton Cup on another freezing weekend, beginning at Flanders where there was almost a cupset, Division One’s Saint City taking Premier Division’s Unitey all the way to a shootout, after the game had finished 1-1. Noah Chesmain struck for City with Muamar Osman’s goal levelling the game. But it was Unitey who won in the shootout as they prevailed 2-1 to head into the quarter-finals.

In the day’s other completed tie, it was another Division One versus Premier match-up as Lymore Gardens Under 23s played host to a Waltham Abbey A side in their game at Parsloes Park. But it was the higher ranked Abbots who made their safe passage into the last eight with a 4-1 success in the game securing a quarter-final slot.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, the big game of the weekend came at the very top of the table where FC Baresi made the journey down to Mayesbrook Park to take on Woodford East with both sides knowing the importance of the result. A Billy Barr penalty put the Peacocks ahead but Noyan Tajbakhsh’s effort levelled the game at 1-1, meaning both sides took a point and the visitors maintained their buffer at the top.

That result did open the door for others to close the gap at the top with Chadwell Heath Spartans moving level with second spot, recording all three points in their home clash with Frenford Development at Lakeside. A goal apiece from Elie Fanga, Peter Adeleye and Ryan O’Connell were the difference between the sides as Spartans won 3-0 to reach the forty points marker.

Over in Dagenham, Lymore Gardens and Rapid Chingford went into their fixture with just a couple of points separating the sides in seventh and eighth respectively. It was the lower placed side, Rapid, who walked away the happier of the sides as they won 4-1 to take all three points, leaping above their opponents into seventh spot.

Just below those sides, an in-form CSM London side were in home action with the return leg of their battle against Aveley Under 23s having faced them on the opening day and presently sitting three points above the Millers. But Jaydon Charles’ recent form has really helped them move forwards and his hat-trick for CSM enabled a 3-1 win, moving six points clear of their opponents in eleventh.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, after last week’s shock reverse, Fairlop Rovers were out to reassert their position at the top of the table with a Fairlop derby fixture at home against co-tenants Soul. Dylan Scutt scored twice for Rovers with Jet Afriyie’s effort for Soul the only they could muster in reply, Fairlop walking away 2-1 winners to sit five points clear.

The other game from the division came from Newbury Park where bottom of the table side Leyton City were at home with the visit of Ongar Town. Despite their points deficit in the table, this was a closely fought encounter with goals from Max Galati and Mofi Tunde-Ojolowo for Town just enough to take the win, overcoming Melchisedek Kalenga’s goal in reply in a 2-1 scoreline.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, there were two games surviving the big freeze, both on 3G pitches, starting with the game at Seven Kings High School as London Park City’s latest endeavours saw them at home and taking on a struggling Athletic Newham A side. City did what they needed to do on the day, Alexandru Gheorghe and Robert Prutny scoring the game’s goals to walk away 2-0 victors.

There was a similar game over at Parsloes Park where hosts Barkingside Under 21s went into their contest with North East Lions with a slender two-point lead over their opponents as the game got underway. But ‘Side were 2-0 winners in this one also, securing maximum points to move five points clear of Lions in the table.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup group stage, there was a seven-goal thriller in Newbury Park as Old Esthameians took on Chingford Athletic with the hosts holding a perfect record in the competition going into the game. But it was Chingford who walked away with their first win in the competition, 4-3 winners to position themselves third in the standings.

DIVISION ONE

Back in the league, it was a battle between third and fourth as Ocean Pacific made the trip to Hainault to take on Royal Lions holding a two point lead over their opponents going into the game. But the Lions were more than a match on the day, winning the game 4-2 to three huge points and move up into third spot.

DIVISION TWO CUP

There was a ten-goal thriller at Peter May where Chingford Harriers extended their unbeaten start to the cup competition with a 6-4 home win against Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves. Andrew Bowring scored two, Jesse Middleweek, Regan Antony, Stephen Dubbery and Huai-Ginn Oliver netting the others, rendering Spartan goals from Owen Rami (2), James Oderinde and Denis Musteata as just consolation.

Also in group A, there was a second win of the competition for Rainham & Barking Phoenix who secured their place in the semi-finals with win number two, defeating Redbridge Community Reserves in a 3-2 scoreline. Calvyn Massala and Jahsial Weekes struck for Redbridge but Phoenix goals from Sean Tormey, Cameron Shakes and Charlie Perry earned their side the win.

In group B, Old Barkabbeyans have reignited their hopes of a semi final place as they made it two wins from three in the group, defeating Dagenham United Reserves in a 4-1 scoreline at South Park Drive. Dre Ferlisi scored two, Jay Elliott and Josh Robinson scoring the others, overcoming a Richie Moorton-Elderton effort for Dagenham who will hope for better luck in game two.

Over at The Drive, it was a day for Frenford A to be pleased with, getting their first cup win on the board to move third with a strong 2-0 home winning performance against Collier Row Reserves. Able Alexiou-McCrae and Abdulramon Jaji both scored for the hosts to keep them in touch with the qualifying positions above them.

DIVISION THREE CUP

There were three Division Three Cup ties on Saturday with rearranged first round action from the top end of the table as Old Parkonians A took on Collier Row Wheels in Barkingside. And despite Tommy Heneghan getting on the scoresheet for the Wheels, Parks goals from Burt Cardy and Rowan Newland earned them a place in the quarter-finals, winning 2-1.

There was quarter-final action too, beginning with the league leaders, Woodford Town Under 23s, who had a trip to Broadway Athletic to navigate in the last eight. And it was Town who left the happier of the sides as Gabriel Suciu and Arman Uzzaman both found the back of the net to win their side the game, 2-0.

Over at Bancroft Rugby Club, a closely fought game saw Buckhurst Way host a Glendale side in their quarter-final tie, the game taking until the last ten minutes to be decided as Lawson Leo fired into the top corner for the Dales before two Wesley Antonio headers made the final scoreline 3-0 to the visitors.

DIVISION THREE

In the league, it was a profitable afternoon in front of goal for Melbourne Sports who took on Beckton Sporting Club at Fairlop Oak, the second successive visit to Fairlop for the visitors. And after a double-figures scoreline last time out, the Mels inflicted a 14-2 win upon the visitors, a result which saw them climb up into fifth place.

COUNTY CUP

In the BBC Essex Premier Cup, it was fourth round day for two of our clubs who had away day trips ahead of them. Walthamstow Reserves had it all to do against the current holders, Shenfield AFC, and saw their run come to an end following a 5-3 defeat at St Martins School.

It was a long away day for Kit Out London who made the trip up the A12 to take on a Tiptree Heath side from the Essex & Suffolk Border League. Heath made good use of their home advantage to secure the win, a 2-0 scoreline seeing Kit Out exit the competition to focus on their league form.

The London Senior Trophy saw holders FC Petrocub in home action in the quarter-final seeking to extend their enviable record in county competitions but had a strong step 6 Croydon outfit in front of them. And it was the higher placed side who laid the ghosts to rest from last season, winning 3-0.

Photo Credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC / A Bridge Too Far