WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of all the opening EAL football action
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A new season in the Essex Alliance League got underway this weekend, beginning on Friday night where an entertaining game at Oakside, home of Lymore Gardens for this season, saw the hosts rescue a late 3-3 draw against new boys Kulture Klub. Two Dylan Roberts goals clawed Lymore back from behind to put them in a lead but they still needed Johneli Lungikisia's late goal to take a point.
Also on Friday night, there was opening action at Coles Park where hosts Haringey Borough Under 23s were taking on Frenford Development under the lights. The visitors struck with the first goal from the penalty spot, the hosts levelling in the same vain from their own spot kick. Borough then led before Frenford's late goal saw both teams walk away with a point in a 2-2 draw, Keenan Gravillis and Isima Iguisi netting for Frenford.
The leaders after the first round of games are AS Rapid Londra, under their new banner, opening the season with a thumping 7-0 home win against Bakers693 at Lakeside Sports Ground. Bogdan Toana and Federico Ardei both struck twice along with Vlad Bucur, Vlad Farcas and Ionut Labunt all getting on the scoresheet to kick things off in style.
Newly promoted Fairlop Rovers made their opening bow in the top flight with a home clash against FC Petrocub at Peter May Sports Centre following elevation from the Premier Division. But they will be pleased with their Senior debut, edging the game 2-1 as Ellis Morgan and Jack Kibblewhite both scoring to hand their side three points.
Another two sides making their first start in the Senior Division on Saturday afternoon were Ongar Town and Philip United, those teams meeting at Mark Hall and in search of their first points. And it was last season's Premier East runners-up, Ongar Town, who opened their account for the season, winning 2-1 courtesy of a goal apiece from William Lockett and Max Galati.
Over at Parsloes Park, Chadwell Heath Spartans were the visitors to take on CSM London on the opening weekend but it was the hosts who had the better of the exchanges with Jesse Jones scoring twice for CSM, Ramiz Mahmood netting the other, leading their side to a 3-1 home win. Aaron Hunwicks was the Spartans goalscorer with their consolation effort from a set piece.
A Wadham Lodge double-header of action began with the early kick-off between Sporting Hackney and Waltham Forest Borough, the latter having rebranded over the summer and looking for a positive new beginning. A five-goal thriller ensued between the sides but it was Borough who kicked things off with a winas Dylan Florence, Sadiq Akanbi and Samir Bihmoutine all found the back of the net in a 3-2 success.
The last game of the day was the late kick-off at Wadham Lodge where league new boys, Woodford Town Reserves, made their debut in the competition with a trip across to last season's Senior Cup winners, Walthamstow Reserves. It was a contest where the defences rained supreme as a goalless draw was produced by the two sides, each taking their first point therefore of the new season.