WEEK 10 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON TROPHY

The Fenton Trophy action continued at the weekend where an all-Division Two clash saw Royal Forest up against Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves. The two sides combined to produce an eight-goal contest but it was Forest who walked away 5-3 winners as Stanley Kweya’s hat-trick and a Fifi Banin brace set them on their way, Samir Abdoulainaf scoring twice and Thomas Chawner once in reply.

SENIOR DIVISION

It was a full Senior Division fixture list on Saturday and a big weekend for FC Baresi who increased their advantage at the top of the division, aided by results around them and their own victory, taking home all three points against fourth placed Haringey Borough Under 23s. Two goals from Noyan Tajbakhsh and one for Murat Karagul proved decisive at Wodson Park.

Woodford East were one of the sides to close the gap on the leaders as they accrued a further three points on the road with a solid 3-0 win away at Kit Out London. A goal apiece from Timothy Monsheju, Ben Smith and Andrew Rowe were enough on the day to move the Peacocks third on goal difference while Kit Out sit bottom and six points adrift of safety.

Over in Dagenham, hosts Bakers693 were hosts to title chasing FC Petrocub on Saturday, beginning the day eleven points and eight places below their visitors to May & Bakers. But the sides could not be separated on the day with the game ending in a 1-1 draw, the sides therefore having to settle for a share of the points.

At Wadham Lodge, an in-form Lymore Gardens side were the visitors to take on Walthamstow Reserves in Waltham Forest derby match, Stow trailing by six points heading into the contest. But despite that deficit, it was the hosts who caused a bit a shock, winning 4-1 against the title chasing opponents to move up into eighth place.

At the Marshes, Priory Park Rangers earned another valuable point in their quest to avoid the drop but it was almost much more as Chadwell Heath Spartans were the visitors to east London. Priory were leading the game until the dying moments when Ray Hunwicks popped up with a vital leveller for Spartans to see them take a share of the points in a 1-1 draw.

Over in Beckton, another side in a relegation fight are CSM London, entertaining a Frenford Reserves side whose results have been a little hit or miss this term so far. Ramiz Mahmood and Spencer Forte both netted for the hosts but two Isima Iguisi goals off the bench for Frenford, plus efforts from Reon Murray-Whyte, Kishawn James, Elidon Selmani and Damilola Olaiya ended it 6-2 in Frenford’s favour.

In the division’s remaining game, it was a trip down the A13 for visitors Sporting Hackney who made the journey to Lakeside to take on Rapid Chingford, the Parrots looking to follow up Monday night’s shootout win against the league leaders. There was little between the sides on the day however with neither side able to trouble the scoresheet, the game ending in a 0-0 draw.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, the leaders saw their first points of the season dropped in east London as Philip United were held to an entertaining 4-4 draw at London Cranes. United’s four goals came courtesy of efforts from John Quissua, Deon Thwala, Tamas Retyi and Michel Bolou but those proved not quite enough as Cranes netted four of their own to take a point.

That result gave Snaresbrook the chance to cut the gap at the top and they duly obliged with a comfortable 5-0 home victory against North East Lions at Nutter Lane, the gap reducing to four points with a game in hand.  Ali Rajim scored two, Will Gleeson, Harry Prince and Harry Killick netting the others to make it five league wins for the season

Despite a reverse in their last runout, another side to benefit from results around them are Newham Wanderers who got themselves close to the promotion places after a strong 7-3 home win against FC Baresi Reserves in east London. Adam Patel, Hashim Hussain and Berns Adeniyi all got on the scoresheet for Baresi but those goals proved not quite enough in the end.

Moving up into fourth spot are Wapping who were in prolific form in front of goal at the Marshes as they came through their derby game with Renegade, defeating them 6-2 to record win number three this term. Zakaraia Rahal was the hero with a hat-trick, Ryan Stowell scoring twice and Sabiq Khan once to render Nawttan Sanca and Anthony Ralenekov goals as consolation.

DIVISION ONE

It’s all change at the summit of Division One this week as Old Esthameians took advantage of results around them to move top by a point, E’s returning home from Dagenham with three points after a 4-2 success at Eagles Football. That was their third win of the season from their opening seven games, albeit their closest rivals do have games in hand.

One of those clubs is Royal Lions who dropped off the top following an exciting, high-scoring draw against fellow promotion contenders, Chingford Athletic Reserves. Just a point separated the sides before the game and that was how it ended, the match ending 3-3 to keep both sides well in the mix at the top.

Woodford East Reserves are another side hoping to break into the mix for promotion and they recorded a second win of the campaign with a strong 8-0 away win against Haringey United at the Marshes to move fourth. It was the Osmonds who done the business with Tom netting three and Will two, the remaining goals shared between Georgie Smith, Joe Connor and Harry Drew.

Lurking with intent are sixth placed Saint City who have plenty of games in hand to catch up on and put the first of those to good use on Saturday, though were pushed all the way by Lymore Gardens Under 23s at Flanders. It eventually finish in a 4-3 scoreline in City’s favour. Richard Seixas continued his form with another couple of goals, Leo Gaspar and Derek Adu goals rounding it off.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Collier Row Reserves took advantage of sides around them being out of action to close the gap at the top to five points, coming away from their game against Redbridge Community Reserves with all three points in a 4-1 success. Kyle Dooley, Aloisio Dos Santos, Jordan Lee and Alex Paraskeva were the scorers on the day, Michael Barek netting the Redbridge goal in reply.

It was also the taste of success for the first time this season for Chingford Harriers who moved out of the relegation places following a hard fought 2-1 win against fourth placed Frenford A at Peter May. Abdulramon Jaji struck for the visitors but his goal proved not quite enough as Aaron Antony and Teyon Weston efforts gave Harriers the win.

DIVISION THREE

Woodford Town Under 23’s extended their lead at the top of Division Three to six points at the weekend, earning win number six this term with a 6-0 victory at Melbourne Sports in Hainault. Frankie Waker, Aaron Campbell and Ousman Bangura all scored twice for Town to continue their perfect start in the league so far.

Hovering with intent are Collier Row Wheels who have games in hand to make up the deficit and converted one of those on Saturday with a 5-3 away win at Broadway Athletic. Dereece Oakley scored twice and Mike Bostwick once for Broadway but a couple of Jack Stockdale goals plus one each from Kai Geere, Tommy Heneghan and Tafari Miller turned things in Wheels’ favour.

It was a profitable day in front of goal for Romford Flyers who picked up their second win of the season on Saturday with a 10-0 home win against Beckton Sporting Club at King George’s. That win saw them move up into sixth spot in the table, taking full advantage of others around them being in county cup action.

COUNTY CUP

The county cup action began on Monday evening last week where Senior Division leaders FC Baresi were in action at Mayesbrook Park, taking on fellow EAL side Sporting Hackney in the London Senior Trophy. With the game ending in a 1-1 draw, it was a shootout needed to separate the sides with a number of kicks a little wayward, it was the Parrots who headed through winning 7-6.

It was Essex cups day on Saturday and in the Essex Junior Cup, the biggest winners of the day were Ongar Town who assured themselves of a place in round two with a strong win, beating Hutton A in an 8-1 victory in Harlow.

Also scoring eight in an emphatic win were Unitey who played host to Olympian side Leytonstone Athletic over in Loughton. But it was the hosts who left the happier of the sides, Unitey racking up an 8-2 success to head through into the second round.

There was also a good win for Premier West side Barkingside Under 21s who put an end to Newbury Athletic’s winning start to the season, beating their East counterparts 2-0 to head on into the next round in November.

The East division got its bragging rights back in the clash between Fairlop Rovers and Wanstead, the former with a perfect record for the season going into the game, extending that to six wins on the bounce with a 3-1 win at Wadham Lodge.

After a Dagenham United victory in the league over Something From Nothing last weekend, it was county cup this time around but a different outcome, the sides ending in a 1-1 draw after extra-time of a close contest. But SFN held their nerve from the penalty spot to go through 4-3 winners.

There only two reverses saw London Park City end their participation in the competition for another season, Collier Row the side to do the damage in Seven Kings, beating City 2-1 on the day to book their place in round two at their hosts’ expense.

Leyton City’s early season form has not been the greatest and they were unable to use the county cup as a way of kickstarting that, going out at the first round stage with a 4-0 away defeat in Havering against Emerson & Upminster.

In the Essex Junior Trophy, It was a clean sweep for EAL sides as Changing Lives picked up a victory on their competition debut, a 2-1 home success against Mid Essex side, Writtle, the outcome in their game over in Harlow.

Also heading through after a win against outside opposition are Rainham & Barking Phoenix, specialists in this competition of course, defeating Harold Wood Athletic B  in the Havering derby in a 6-1 scoreline.

The remaining games saw wins in all-EAL games, beginning with a seven-goal thriller in Hainault where Old Barkabbeyans eventually came through to win in their game against Fairlop Rovers Reserves, the sides sharing seven-goals in a 4-3 Old Barks win.

It was more routine for Division Two’s Dagenham United Reserves who had a division advantage in their away trip to Buckhurst Way and ensured themselves of a place in the second round, United winning 5-1 to head on through.

Over in Barkingside, it was an all-Division Three contest between Glendale and Old Parkonians A who were well matched in their tie at Oakfields, the Dales getting a lead late in the first half before Parks levelled up. But a late Dales winner from the spot gave them a 2-1 win and a place in round two.

In the AFA competitions, Freetown had a home draw in the first round and were visited by Old St Mary’s in Dagenham. But their participation came to an end for another season, the visitors picking up a 4-1 win on the day to head on through.

Photo Credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC