WEEK 1 REVIEW: Season gets underway with goal glut

The new football season got back underway this weekend and what a day it was with no less than 46 goals finding the back of the net.

We start our coverage of results in the Premier Division where last season’s runners-up, May & Baker EC A, started their campaign off with a home 1-0 win against Melbourne Sports with a penalty miss denying the visitors a share of the points on the opening day. Newly promoted London Falcons played host to Jolof Sports Club on Saturday with the latter, third place finishers last season, running our 2-0 winners. The early leaders of the Premier Division are new side Buckhurst Hill Under 21 who showed that they mean business this season with a 5-0 home win against Chingford Town as Richard Akinlade’s brace added to strikes from Cam Ovel, Jerome Richards and Jordan Chambers.

There was just a single game in Division One on the opening weekend as Three Colts demonstrated why they are a team to watch out for this season with a comprehensive 5-0 win against relegated Chingford Harriers. Matt Daley scored twice along with goals from Jason Fox, James Kane and Sean Bellamy to secure the points and top the table.

There was a bucket load of goals in Division Two with 27 goals being scored in just 4 games om that division this week. New club London APSA are the early pace setters, turning it on against Leyton Green to win 6-0. St Francis Res found the back of the net four times but were edged out eventually by new boys Flyers Res winning 5-4. A brace from Oly Ade and goals from Joel Matthews and Liam Abraham for Saints proved not quite enough to take any points back to East London as Idris Mdahoma’s own double along with goals from Tom Matthews and Jimmy Olajede confirmed maximum points for the Flyers. Another new club to the league, Inter Plaistow, managed to get a point away on the road to Singh Sabha Barking in a 2-2 draw to open their campaign while an eight goal thriller in Beckton saw Chingford Athletic Res record a 5-3 victory against Newham Royals with two goals from Michael Kelly and further strikes from Jake Mignot, Sam French and Joseph Middleweek. In reply, Robert Adams (2) and Richard Smith found the back of the net for the Royals.

In the East Ham Memorial Hospitals Charity Cup, league champions Chingford Athletic took on Essex Olympian League outfit, East Londoners, in quarter final action and despite leading twice slipped to a 4-2 defeat to end their participation in the competition for the season. Chingford’s goals were scored by Gary Murray & Michael Mignot.

Next weekend, we see a near full fixture list as 13 league fixtures and 1 cup tie take place in the league.