WEEK 1 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's opening day league action

Another exciting season of Essex Alliance League football got underway on Saturday under bright blue skies with a host of goal-filled matches up and down the divisions.

PREMIER DIVISION

The early leaders in the Premier Division after the opening weekend are the newly refurbished United London side who, with a host of new players this season, secured a hard-fought 5-2 win over an improved Leyton Falcons outfit. James Alexander scored a brace for Falcons but goals from Samraj Gill, Tre McDon, Emmanuel Wazola, Harry Chalk and Billy Texeira saw the points head to United London.

The defending champions, Jolof Sports, were back in action on Saturday and keen to open up their defence of the title in a positive fashion. They did just that as they took on old rivals, London Cranes, in their opening match-up and came through winning 3-1 in West Ham.

DIVISION ONE

New side Docklands Albion are leading the way in Division One after the first week of the season as they made their debut with a trip to Walthamstow to face promoted Ryan Reserves. Albion secured a solid opening day victory, seeing off Ryan 3-0 with goals from Stelios Elias, Kris Brown and Tashan Benjamin.

Promoted Colebrook Royals Reserves opened their Division One campaign with the visit of Three Colts to the Grange on opening day. A hard-fought clash saw the Royals edge the match by the odd goal in winning 2-1. Robbie Carter scored both of their goals to see them to second in the table.

DIVISION TWO

The first leaders in Division Two are cup winners, Lymore Gardens, who cruised to a 5-1 win over newly established Forest Green Reserves in Leyton. A goal apiece from Bradley Williams, Shaquille Jordan, Alex Osbourne, Daniel Crowie and Ashley Godwin were more than enough to secure victory and start the season on a positive note.

There was a big win for Chingford Athletic’s new look reserve side who travelled to West Ham-based Inter Plaistow and departed with maximum points in a 4-1 victory. Braces from James Lee-Legan and Billy Harding cancelled out an Edmund Adade strike for Inter.

Also recording a first weekend win were new side, Newham United Reserves, who were on the road in Romford at Flyers in their debut league clash. Patrick Junior and Sean Watson both scored for Flyers but Newham goals from Adeniyi Semiu, Desmond Anyanwu, Babatunde Akinlabi and David Rullins carried their side to the win.

The final match-up in Division Two saw a refreshed Rainham Working Mens Club open their season with the visit of newly formed United London Reserves. Corley Ross was on target with United’s only goal of the game as Rainham scored twice to take the points and open the season in style.

DIVISION THREE

Chingford Harriers bagged a very impressive opening day win on Saturday as the Chingford outfit hosted new club Chigwell in an entertaining clash. Two goals from Nicholas Shawyer and debutant Jun Nishiyama plus goals from Gerard O’Hara and Edwin Jabbari were enough for Harriers to make a winning start to the new season.

Also winning on the first day of the season were Kitroom who travelled across the borough to league debutants, Frenford A. A closely fought match was settled by the odd goal in three with Paul Iseghohi scoring for Frenford but seeing Kitroom strikes from Demetri Marcus and Hristo Sirakov settling the match 2-1.

Spare a thought for league debutants, Custom House Community, who had a difficult introduction to Saturday football as they went down 17-0 to Old Esthameians Reserves. Danny Morgan scored five goals for Old E’s adding to hat-tricks for Shaun Vickers, Jack Morgan and Neil Robinson plus singles from Danny Harris, Max Shuttleworth and Thomas Boomsma. The only way is up now for Custom House as they try to eradicate the memories of week one.

DIVISION FOUR

The battle of the league’s new sides opened the action in Division Four on Saturday as Debden Park were the first visitors to Dagenham United Reserves at Manor Road. A goal-filled encounter ensued as Daniel Rule’s hat-trick plus a brace from Ross Densham were enough for Debden to win 5-3. Jeffrey Nketia, Chris Mascall and Ryan Barlow netted the consolation goals for the hosts.

Royal Forest are the league leaders in the newly formed Division Four, securing a comfortable looking 4-0 win on the road at Avondale Rangers in Loughton. Having shown solid form in their opening season, Forest will now be looking to build upon that this time around.

And rounding off the day’s action, the newly formed Brook City were in action for their league debut with a home league match against Wanstead Warriors. A tight match was settled by two goals which both went the way of City as strikes from William Mills-Wade and Samson Cox-Vinell scored them an opening day 2-0 victory.