WEEK 30 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

The Senior Division action continued in midweek with two of the title chasing sides in action, beginning from Mayesbrook Park where visitors Frenford Development held a 1-0 lead in their game against Woodford East, Keenan Gravillis scoring the goal, before two Billy Barr strikes turned it around to make it 2-1 late on to keep the Peacocks involved at the top.

Up at Wormley, the league leaders, Brimsdown, were in home action with the visit of May & Baker EC Reserves holding a near twenty-point lead over their opponents. And it was another strong performance from Brimsdown who looked comfortable in recording a 4-1 win, their goals arriving from Kwasi Marfo, Zion Sinclair, Olalekan Ayeketi and Eric Koduah.

Over at Noak Hill, FC Petrocub and Chadwell Heath Spartans renewed their battles from a couple of weeks back, a game which had finished level. But on this occasion, it was cup-final bound Petrocub who came out winners in midweek, netting a 2-0 win through goals from Grigorii Ungurianu and Ion Spinu to lift them into the top five.

The Friday night football action from Coles Park saw a key fixture involving one of the sides near the bottom as Dagenham United made the trip home with all three points, taking the spoils in their game against Lymore Gardens, moving out of the relegation zone as a result. It was Tejean Lewis who they had to thank, coming off the bench to net the game’s only goal in a 1-0 scoreline.

Onto Saturday’s action and another key game involving sides near the bottom at Fairlop Oak where hosts Oakside took on pitch co-tenants Blue Marlin, the latter in desperate need for points. But it was the hosts who were in great form, Oakside completing a 5-0 win with Jahvid Irish’s hat-trick leading the way and Luke Caston also on target.

At Mayesbrook Park, it was the inbound versus current tenants clash with Jolof Sports in action against Woodford East, two of the sides still chasing down that league title. It was a game of just one goal which went the way of Jolof, netting a 1-0 win to move into fourth place with still six games in hand on some of the sides above them.

That result was made all the more important as Frenford Development took a valuable point from the league leaders, Brimsdown, where the sides had the settle for a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at The Drive. Kieron Chiedozie’s scored a goal for the hosts who continue to unsettle some of the title and promotion contenders despite their mid-table position.

Eleventh placed Kit Out London’s latest exploits saw them in home action against relegation threatened Walthamstow Reserves and it was a fruitful day out as they confirmed a first win in three with a 2-1 win. Charlie Cole and Salim Edaghai both got on the scoresheet for London to give them a bit of comfort against the sides below in the standings while Stow remain in the drop zone for now.

The division’s action is rounded off in a key game from Wodson Park where title chasing FC Baresi faced rivals FC Petrocub in a cracking game, the sides eventually having to settle on a point apiece in a 2-2 draw. Nicola Rapacchiani and Noyan Tajbakhsh scored the Baresi goals but they remain third ahead of the remaining eight games of the campaign.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

The two top sides remain locked at the top of the Premier Division East table following the weekend’s results, Chingford Athletic having come through one of the tough remaining hurdles with all three points, a 3-1 success against Aveley Under 23s. Dylan Scutt’s brace and a Harry Rouse strike were the difference between the sides to keep Athletic unbeaten at the top.

The leaders, Underscore United, remain top on goal difference as things stand and kept themselves well in the mix with a strong home performance against RCXI. Underscore were 5-2 winners on the day to take a twelfth league success of the season ahead of their remaining three league fixtures of the season.

Sitting twelve points further back in third place, Waltham Abbey A’s recent form has now seen to eight league wins for the season, their latest success earning them a 2-1 home win against London Park City on Saturday. Dom Farmer and Jason Emanuel were the scorers for the Abbotts to maintain an outside shout of a promotion finish.

There was a big performance also from Wapping who bounced back from the recent disappointment of defeat to take three points off of a top half side, winning 2-1 against Fairlop Rovers at Castle Green to edge closer to safety. Muzakkir Mohammed and Darren Sosanya were the men on target, rendering Toby Stephen’s goal as just consolation.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the west division, score draws were the theme as an unbelievable game between Wanstead and London Cranes saw attack dominate defence with the game ending in a 6-6 draw at Wadham Lodge. The result does little to affect either team’s finishing position though they bottom of the table Wanstead can take some momentum into their rebuild for the new season.

Athletic Newham Under 23s earned themselves another valuable point in their quest to beat the drop this season, taking a point against promotion contending Priory Park Rangers, the latter remaining top following the completion of their league fixtures. That result leaves Newham a point adrift of the sides above with three games of the season remaining, James Ogazi scoring the goal.

DIVISION ONE CUP

It was a memorable afternoon for Atholl who will end their first season in the league with a cup final appearance, securing a terrific win against title chasing Something From Nothing who sit seventeen points ahead of Atholl in the league standings. But goals from Mitchell Edmonds, Ralph Vincent and Charlie Thompson handed the lower ranked side a 3-0 win and a place in the final.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Old Esthameians have moved up into fifth place with a solid performance at Kwanzas London Sport on Saturday, defeating the bottom side in a 4-1 scoreline to leave the hosts needing at least four points from their remaining games to stay up. That result was also E’s sixth win of the season as they enter their last two games of the season.

Eighth placed Renegade missed the chance to move up a place with their remaining league game this season, going down to the game’s only goal against now third placed Unitey who were 1-0 winners at the Marshes. Bubintende Masadi scored the crucial goal to aid the visitors’ push for promotion.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Snaresbrook had a productive afternoon in their double header, confirming at least promotion following two 2-1 victories against FC Baresi Under 23s. Jonjo Walsh and Harry Prince struck in game one with Kii Jean-Baptiste netting in consolation before Harry Prince and Harry Killick goals repeated the feat in the second fixture, Hashim Hussain on target for Baresi with their only goal.

Woodford East Reserves are up into third spot as they came away with all three points from their home game against Royal Forest, the side they swapped places with in the table. Jordan Lema scored twice with Jack Smith and Owen McKelvey goals enough to render Trees goals from Martin Cannon, Stanley Kweya and Fifi Banin as just consolation in a 4-3 scoreline.

Both of the bottom two sides earned themselves points over the weekend with Redbridge Community Reserves getting a last gasp 2-1 victory against Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves to give themselves a shout of avoiding the drop. Ibrahim Basri’s goal for Spartans looked to have earned them a share of the spoils but a late Redbridge winner saw the points head home with them.

Over in Dagenham, Barking Potters’ recent advance into the semi-final of the Division Two Cup against Lymore Gardens Reserves was followed up with another point in the league, against the same opponents, the sides finishing level at 2-2. Despite that point, it ended the mathematical hopes of Potters staying up for this season as they look for cup glory instead.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the trilogy of fixtures between Newbury East and Flyers Under 21s finally came to an end with East ending their league season with a fourth defeat, two of which came at the hands of Flyers, going down 2-1. That result does give Flyers a shot at a runners-up finish with plenty of games in hand left to play.

Third placed Frenford A will also be harbouring hopes of a promotion place finish though will need other results to go their way with three points to make up on the sides above. But they did what they needed to do on Saturday, edging a close game against Melbourne Sports in a 1-0 scoreline, Elidon Selmani scoring the game’s only goal.

Over in Walthamstow, Glendale completed a league double over Chingford Harriers to move into fourth place in the table, overcoming a Harriers fightback to score twice late on in a 3-1 success. Dave Hennessey’s terrific free-kick gave the Dales a lead before Brandon Anthony’s effort levelled it up. But Abdulair Ahmed and Adebayo Adeyemi goals in the last few minutes gave Glendale the points.

DIVISION FOUR CUP

The first cup finalists for the Division Four Cup final are now known after an incredibly tight game was played out between Fairlop Rovers Reserves and Romford Under 19s, first and second in the league. The game was settled by just the one goal with Praise Ogbebor netting to earn his Romford side a 1-0 win and send them into the final.

DIVISION FOUR

In the league, Collier Row Wheels have done as much as they can now do to get themselves into a promotion position, moving second with their last game of the season, beating Flyers Under 23s 5-1 in Romford. Jack Stockdale continued his form with two more goals, Max Hodgson, Sean Archer and Tafari Miller netting the others for their side.

Photo credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC