WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL action from the opening weekend
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SENIOR DIVISION
Competitive football returned on Friday evening with the opening 2026/27 season action. The Promoted Bealonians twice came from behind to take a point in a 3-3 draw against Barkingside. Dhillon Sandhu-Nelson scored two and Saweed Djinadou one for ‘Side but Dan King, Rhys Clements and Joe O’Grady goals meant it was honours even.
The goals were also flying int at Parsloes Park where Waltham Forest Borough started their new season with the visit of promoted Vallance. Borough edged the contest 4-3 in the end with Dean Florence, Dylan Florence, Luke Dimond and Louie Cooper goals overcoming two Jordi Badia efforts and one from Mikie Robinson.
The third game of the night came from Wodson Park where an Ongar Town side, under new stewardship, started their new season with a visit from Ryan. The visitors flew into the lead and held off a fightback to take the game 5-2 with Arty Benjamin and Dillon Williams both scoring twice for Ryan and Levi Burgin one. Henry Mort and Antoniou Fusco struck for Town in reply.
On Saturday afternoon, Sporting Bengal United Reserves picked up a first three points at the first attempt, defeating Saint City in a 4-2 scoreline at Parsloes Park. Sando Pereira struck twice for City but it was two Ezekiel Ertl goals for the hosts that made the different, Steven Bohan and Adam Hussain adding the others.
It was honours even for one of the promoted sides where Old Barkabbeyans started life in the top flight for the first time with a 1-1 home draw against Chadwell Heath Spartans. Meeshaq Malone scored the Barks goal with Ray Hunwicks notching in reply for Spartans to make it points shared on the opening day.
There were nine goals in the game from Wadham Lodge where Kulture took home the points by scoring the odd goal in a 5-4 win over Greengate District. Darrell Agyemang scored two, Landry Gogoa, Ezel Ornek and Mohamed Abubakar the others for the hosts while Christ Sery’s double in reply was added to by Ruben Silva and Ashley Tshitenga strikes in consolation.
It was a score draw just half a mile away at Broadfields Sports Ground where Fairlop Rovers took their first point of the season in a 2-2 scoreline with CSM London. Freddie Bose and Jack Kibblewhite both scored for Rovers while Daquan King and Mahmoud Yagob goals meant it was a honours even by full-time.