WEEK 25 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

It was quarter-final action again in midweek in the Senior Division Cup, beginning on Monday evening where FC Baresi fought back from behind to net a late, late win against CSM London having trailed to home goals from Luke McElroy, Kasliumu Konteh and Conrad Doggett. But Murat Karagul and Abdoulaye Athie both struck twice and Noyan Tajbakhsh once in an eventual 5-3 Baresi victory.

On Thursday evening, the third of our last eight ties was completed at Peter May where Walthamstow Reserves and Woodford East went head-to-head for a place in the semi-finals next month. And it was the hosts who produced an 8-0 win on the night in a sparkling performance. Issa Sidibe scored a hat-trick, Dylan Flynn netted two with George Hellen, Matthew McDowell and Zidane Bolessa scoring the others.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, the league leaders faced up to another tough test with the visit of Chadwell Heath Spartans to Wodson Park on Saturday. But FC Baresi made it a good week, successfully navigating the tie in a 3-0 scoreline as Junior Appiah, Murat Karagul and Nicola Rapacchiani all found the back of the net to keep them twelve points clear at the top.

After their disappointment of Thursday evening, Woodford East knew they needed a big response in their home league fixture on Saturday against Kit Out London. They did get that, albeit with Kit Out making it hard work for them, the Peacocks eventually prevailing 3-2 at Mayesbrook Park. Billy Barr, Joshua Fisayo and Andrew Rowe goals proved pivotal, cancelling out visitor goals from Mykai Akinya and Charles Ariwa.

Fourth placed Haringey Borough Under 23s took advantage of results around them to close the gap on the top three, running out 4-1 winners at CSM London to end the hosts recent unbeaten streak in the league. Lewis Grantham netted for CSM in Beckton but four Borough goals were more than enough for them to earn the plaudits.

Over at Parsloes Park, Lymore Gardens and Bakers693 were in action in the Dagenham derby with both keen to reignite their league form in a congested mid-table. Lymore goals however from Tyrique Peters, Munnir Saad and Wisley Baltazar were the difference between the sides as the hosts earned all three points in a 3-1 success.

At The Drive, Frenford Development were in home action at the weekend with the visit of Sporting Hackney, the latter needing a strong run of form in the remaining part of the season to steer clear of any relegation worries. But they met an in-form Frenford side, the hosts taking the honours in a 3-1 result, moving Frenford up into seventh spot.

The final came saw Priory Park Rangers as hosts, facing a confident Walthamstow Reserves side in their game at Hackney Marshes on Saturday, the hosts in desperate need to points to keep in touch with those above. But the young Stow side done what they needed to do, winning 2-0 to record an eleventh league victory of the season.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, with the league leaders out of action, it afforded the chasing pack to make their move with Dagenham United the side to benefit, moving to within a point following a hard fought 1-0 win against now third placed Newbury Athletic. Jourdain Nkona scored the game’s only goal as his Dagenham side kept their promotion hopes alive.

Over in Hainault, there was a huge result in the game between hosts Soul and Waltham Abbey A, the latter still harbouring hopes of a top two finish themselves. But Soul were in good form once again and earned themselves a 3-2 win with strikes from Michael Guillen, Michael Ogunbo and Duke Aidoo enough to edge the encounter.

There was another big result affecting the bottom end of the standings as Redbridge Community’s home fixture against Something From Nothing yielded them just a second league win of the season, winning the Forest Road derby in a 1-0 scoreline. That result closed the gap on safety to five points on their opponents, with a couple of games in hand also.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, there were further big results affecting the top and the bottom with Philip United bouncing back from dropping points last weekend to record a double figures victory this time out, beating Athletic Newham A in an 11-0 scoreline. That result, combined with others, saw them revert to the top of the table once again.

That outcome was made possible following a huge result for the other promotion chasing side, Snaresbrook who started the day as leaders but dropped to third by full-time, London Cranes the side to take points off them, the game ending in a 5-2 win for the hosts. Despite sitting seven places below their opponents, Cranes’ sixth win of the season proved to be a vital one.

Those results enabled Newham Wanderers to enhance their chances of a tilt at promotion, the east London side moving into second place at the weekend courtesy of an entertaining 6-3 home success against Wanstead. Daniel Muamba scored twice and Gabriel Morlova once for the visitors but those efforts proved just consolation in the end.

Also scoring six in a big win were Wapping who made a fruitful journey across to Seven Kings to face a London Park City side who started the day above them. But braces from each of Jordon Mills-Smith and Alex Shaw started things with Mohammed Ahmed and Emre Ozuaciksoz goals wrapping up an eventual 6-2 away success.

Over at Peter May Sports Centre, North East Lions went into their clash with Renegade with hopes of closing the gap on the sides above them as they seek to avoid relegation. But they met a Renegade side who now sit fourth, the visitors netting both of the game’s goals in a 2-0 win, Renegade’s eighth win of the campaign.

There were six goals in the division’s remaining game as FC Baresi Reserves were in home action with the visit of Barkingside Under 21s to the County Ground. Bems Adeniyi and Teyon Weston both scored goals for Baresi but two Lenny Asamoah strikes helped ‘Side win 4-2 and keep up their own positive form following their point at Philip United last time out.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, Saint City have become the first side to assure themselves of a place in the semi-finals, racking up their third win on the spin. They were 13-1 winners at home against Haringey United on Saturday with Derek Adu rattling in five goals, Lua Silva scoring a hat-trick, Leo Gaspar and Ronald Asante braces and Richard Seixas finishing it off. Darren Hamilton was the scorer of the Haringey consolation.

In Group A, Lymore Gardens Under 23s have put themselves in a strong position for progression into the knockouts as they made it two wins from two with victory against Old Esthameians. Artem Lukash scored twice with Maksim Todoshchuk, Kande Ntua, Johneli Lungikisa and Warren Isoka all netting in a 6-1 success at Parsloes Park.

Royal Lions’ introduction into the competition sees them sit second after their first group game, taking all three points following a solid 4-0 home win against Chingford Athletic Reserves after those sides met in Hainault. That result sees the visitors sitting with three points from two games, needing a couple more wins from their remaining games to progress.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, Royal Forest have all but confirmed their place in the last four of the competition following a third win on the spin, defeating Collier Row Reserves in the game at Roding Valley High School. It took just a single goal to separate the sides, that going the way of the Trees who therefore won 1-0.

DIVISION TWO

There was just a single league fixture in Division Two but it saw a big scoreline as Rainham & Barking Phoenix reduced arrears at the top of the table to just six points on the leaders following a big away win against Chingford Harriers. Sean Tormey was on top form with a five-goal performance for the Phoenix as his efforts and Josh Perry’s goal made it a 6-0 victory.

DIVISION THREE

There was a plethora of goals in Division Three on Saturday, beginning with the league leaders, Woodford Town Under 23s, who were in local derby action against Buckhurst Way who hopped across the fence to Whitbreads. But Town earned themselves a 4-0 win as Umar Mohammed struck twice off the bench, along with goals from George Piwowarczyk and Aaron Campbell.

Old Parkonians A took advantage of sides around them being in cup action to move second in the table with a comprehensive 7-0 home victory against tenth placed Newham & Havering Borough in Barkingside. Charlie Fiander scored four of their goals in a top performance, Burt Cardy, Billy Mason and Josh Russell notching the others.

Over in Newbury Park, there were a glut of goals in the game between Broadway Athletic and Beckton Sporting Club. After a spell of good results, Broadway are now level with sixth place in the standings, aided by their big 15-2 win against the bottom of the table side, Beckton sitting three points adrift of the side above them.

There was a good contest in Romford as hosts Flyers ran into a 2-0 lead at the break against visitors Changing Lives to give themselves the hope of cutting the gap on their opponents. But Flyers fought back to cut the deficit and then level late in courtesy of goals from Samuel Afriyie and Jonathan Boateng, the game ending in a 2-2 score draw.

COUNTY CUP

It was a clean sweep for the league in the county cup, beginning in the Essex Junior Cup on Saturday as Fairlop Rovers made the trip to the seaside to face an Earls Hall United side. And it’s Fairlop who will be in the hat for the semi-finals as they finished level at 1-1 after extra time before winning the game 4-2 on penalties.

In the Essex Junior Trophy, the league will have representation in both semi-finals once again with Collier Row Wheels prevailing from their all-EAL tie against Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves to cause a cupset against the Division Two side, winning 2-0 at Parsloes Park.

And joining Wheels in the semi-finals will be a Dagenham United Reserves side who had home advantage in their last eight tie against Mid Essex League side Beaulieu Park at Castle Green. The hosts picked up a 3-1 win to put themselves just ninety minutes away from a potential county cup final.