WEEK 31 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

In the Fenton Cup, Newham Wanderers have secured their way into the hat for the quarter-finals of the competition following a 3-1 win away at Division One leaders and local rivals, Saint City. The hosts made their higher league status pay with the win, despite Richard Seixas extended his scoring record for the season for City.

SENIOR DIVISION

It was a day of celebration for FC Baresi who became the newly crowned league champions, securing the points they needed at Wodson Park by winning 3-1 against FC Petrocub with goals from Noyan Tajbakhsh and Murak Karagul. Needing just a point, they were comfortable winners, securing promotion to step six for next season. Many congratulations to all involved on this achievement.

Even without a point earned, the result from Woodford East’s short trip to Parsloes Park to take on Bakers693 would have wrapped things up anyhow, the Peacocks held to an entertaining 3-3 draw against the Dagenham side. Aaron Blake came off the bench to score twice and Yuri Bettega once to get East a point.

Chadwell Heath Spartans remain in third place but missed the chance to further secure that position as they were held to a draw against Kit Out London who, themselves, earned another valuable point in the quest to beat the drop. Darnell Fuller and Junior Mendeng both scored for the visitors at Lakeside as the game ended 2-2.

It was an emphatic victory for Lymore Gardens on Saturday who moved fifth in the table on the back of a comprehensive 7-2 home win against Walthamstow Reserves to climb above their opponents. A Joshua Morris hat-trick led the way with Dylan Roberts, Daniel Muamba, Artem Lukash and Johneli Lungikisa also on the scoresheet for their side.

That result also enabled further progression up the table for Frenford Development who moved into sixth spot following a 4-1 away victory against Sporting Hackney at Wadham Lodge which keeps the hosts still battling against the drop. Teraun Davis bagged a brace with Kishawn James and Tyler Shillingford goals also contributing.

Over at West Ham Foundation, hosts CSM London have moved to the cusp of mathematic safety in the top flight, their penultimate home match of the season seeing them earn all three points against Rapid Chingford. Lewis Grantham added to his goal tally for the season, scoring both of this side’s goals in a 2-1 success.

Down at Parkside in the day’s early kick-off, a crucial battle between two of the sides still facing up to the possibility of the drop met with Priory Park Rangers the visitors to take on Aveley Under 23s. With both sides keen to record a win, it was a point apiece that they had to settle on, the game ending in a 2-2 draw, a result which really helps neither side.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

The second round action in the Premier Division Cup finally reached a conclusion on Saturday with London Cranes making the journey up to Town Mead to face Waltham Abbey A for a place in the last eight. It will have been the Abbotts coming away the happier of the sides, winning the tie 4-2 on the day to set up a quarter-final against rivals Fairlop Rovers.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

There are new leaders at the top of Premier Division East as Fairlop Rovers resumed their role atop the standings, making it ten wins for the season in the league with a big 7-0 victory against Leyton City in Hainault. Dylan Scutt scored a hat-trick with Logan Simmonds, Ellis Morgan, Danyal Arshad and Elliott Hastings also netting in a Rovers win.

It was also a good afternoon for Ongar Town who moved into second place in the table following a win of their own, defeating Soul 3-0 at Mark Hall in a result which saw them record win number nine this term. William Lockett and Scout Bown were both on the scoresheet for the hosts to keep their side in the promotion mix.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In Premier Division West, the biggest win of the day came from Parsloes Park where Barkingside Under 21’s produced a seven-goal winning performance to leap above opponents, Wapping, into the top half. Zakaria Rahal struck for Wapping but his efforts proved in vain as ‘Side found the back of the net with regularity to win it 7-1.

At the bottom of the table there was a six-pointer between two relegation threatened sides as FC Baresi Reserves met Athletic Newham A in a double header at the County Ground. FC Baresi Reserves were 1-0 winners in the first game courtesy of Suhayb Aftab’s goal off the bench. The sides then settled for a 1-1 finish in game two with Dayaan Salifou netting for Newham and Ronnie Karayianni on the Baresi scoresheet.

Over in Walthamstow, another pivotal contest saw hosts North East Lions in home action with the visit of London Park City to Peter May, the former needing points to stave off the risk of the drop. A closely contested game was settled by just a single goal, that being scored in City’s favour as the visitors won it 1-0 to move into fifth spot.

DIVISION ONE CUP

It was an important weekend in the Division One Cup group stages where matters were resolved for Woodford East Reserves who ensured they finished top of the group with a 7-0 win in their final game, beating Haringey United 7-0. Tom Osmond scored a hat-trick, Owen McKelvey scored two with Will Osmond and Robbie Carter striking the others to move into the semi-finals.

In the other group, Royal Lions missed the chance to move level with the leaders but did confirm their place in the semi-finals after earning a point against Freetown, the latter’s first point of the competition. The game ended in a 2-2 draw over at Castle Green with Donald Adaakwah scoring both for Freetown.

DIVISION ONE

Back in the league, Old Esthameians’ final game of the season was one to end the season on a high with, E’s taking all three points against Lymore Gardens Under 23s at Parsloes Park to make a surge into fourth spot. A 2-0 win for the visitors was their sixth league win of the season while Lymore remain twelve points above the relegation zone.

DIVISION TWO

There was just the one game in Division Two where Royal Forest were able to return to the top of the table after a short period away, moving level with their title rivals but top on goal difference. They were 4-2 winners in Loughton, picking up a win against Chingford Harriers to make it twelve wins this term, despite Harrier goals from Dwayne Kelly and Darlington Ojo.

DIVISION THREE CUP

It was quarter-final day for two Division Three clubs as Changing Lives made the trip down to Newbury Park to take on Broadway Athletic to battle for a place in the semi-finals. It will have been a happy trip back up the M11 for Lives for whom Imoro Braimah scored twice with Ismail Aziz and Aboubakar Mohammed netting the others in a 4-0 win.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, title chasing Collier Row Wheels followed up their county cup semi-final victory last weekend with a trip to Hainault this week to take on an in-form Melbourne Sports side. The sides were well match on the day and both had to settle for a share of the points in a 1-1 scoreline, Farhaan Korimbocus scoring the Wheels goal.

That result opened the door for Glendale to climb into second place, at least temporarily, securing a tenth win of the season with a solid away winning performance against Romford Flyers at King George’s Playing Fields. Tawfiq Rahman scored off the bench but Glendale goals from Freddy Todd, Lawson Leo and Ahmed Abdullai gave the Dales a 4-1 win.

In the final game of the day, it was tenth versus eleventh with Beckton Sporting Club looking to build on their first ever win last weekend with a trip to take on Newham & Havering Borough this week. And it was to be a second win on the spin for Beckton, earning a 2-1 win against Borough to record their first league points.

Photo Credit: FC Baresi