WEEK 10 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend
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FENTON CUP
There were three ties across the Fenton Cup over the weekend and it saw a real cupset as Premier Division side, Sporting Bengal United Reserves, put an end to Sporting Hackney’s involvement in the competition. Bengal were comfortable 6-0 winners in Newbury Park to put their side safely into the third round.
The other tie came from Hackney Marshes where lower ranked Newham Wanderers put themselves into a three goal lead against top flight Lymore Gardens with a goal apiece from Michael Asabre, Emmanuel Chukwumah and Robertson Morais. But Lymore fought back to bring the game level at 3-3 and then prevailed from spot-kicks, 6-5, to edge into the last sixteen.
There was first round action also which came from Walthamstow as North East Lions went up against a London Cranes side in an all-Premier West contest. There appeared to be little to split apart the sides in the ninety minutes with the game ending in a 0-0 stalemate but it was Lions who held their nerve in the shootout to win that 4-2.
FENTON TROPHY
There were shocks in the Fenton Trophy competition also, beginning at Langston Road where Division One’s Loughton Town saw their involvement ended at the hands of Division Two side CSM London Under 23s. A goal apiece for Mohammed Nasim and Byron Opeodu were the different in the end as CSM edged the tie 2-1 to head through to round two.
The biggest shock of the day perhaps came in a Dagenham derby match with Division One’s Freetown succumbing to a side ranked two divisions beneath them, Jays the victors in a comprehensive 4-0 scoreline. Leo Milazzo and Joseph Olu both struck braces for their side, helping them take a place in the last sixteen.
There was no such shock for the other Division One sides, firstly as Ocean Pacific cruised their way into the third round of the competition against an in-form Ongar Town Reserves side. Ocean continued their great start from the league, picking up a 4-0 win courtesy of goals from Bogdan Ivancia, Darwin Orozco, Marlon Ortiz and Annyer Neira.
Completing the Trophy action, one of last season’s cup winners, Lymore Gardens Under 23s were back in action with a trip to Chadwell Heath to face Redbridge Community Reserves in the second round. Lymore will have left the better of the sides, winning 5-1 to head through into the last sixteen.
SENIOR DIVISION
A Friday night triple header of Senior Division action saw Waltham Forest Borough earn themselves just a second league win of the season, beating fellow strugglers AS Rapid Londra at Parsloes Park. Borough were 7-1 winners in the game as Dylan Florence scored four while Samir Bihmoutine, Jacob Melford and Aaron Blake added the others, rendering Bogdan Toana’s strike as just consolation.
On the adjacent pitch, another side still in search of some form and momentum were in action as Bakers693 took on a Fairlop Rovers side sitting a few places above them. Fairlop will be pleased with their evening’s workout, producing a 4-1 result through two goals from Joseph Cloake and one each from Harry Rouse and Jayden Francis. Richie Kalongo scored the Bakers goal in reply.
Over at Coles Park, Haringey Borough Under 23s were in home action with Ongar Town the side travelling into north London to face them, four points between the sides at the start of the game. It was Haringey who produced the goods on the night, Cairo Kelly and Sertan Kirman scoring the goals in a 2-1 win to reduce the points gap to one, Ethan Hook’s effort not quite enough for Town.
On Saturday afternoon, there were plenty of goals in the top flight, beginning with a bit of a shock result at Noak Hill where FC Petrocub London secured just a third win of the season, defeating Woodford Town Reserves in a 4-3 seven goal thriller. Arthur Massingham, Phorell Brooke and Albert James all found the back of the net for the visitors but those proved not quite enough.
At Wadham Lodge, there was a game of eight goals involving another of the sides in the higher echelons as CSM London recorded win number eight for the season, coming away 5-3 victors against Walthamstow Reserves. Luke McElroy was on fire with four goals and Nana Sarfo netted the other to complete the win.
League leaders, Frenford Development, ensured they stayed top of the pile after week ten of the season, their latest victory being a local derby win at The Drive against Chadwell Heath Spartans. Bilal Hussain led the way for his side with a hat-trick of goals, Damilola Olaiya netting the other to win the game 4-0.
Completing the top-flight action, the fixture from north London completes the fixture list with Kulture having played host to a Philip United side. The sides started the game with three points between them but that had extended to six after Philip United won 6-1 with Raj Palit scoring two, Joshua Wisdom, John Quissua, Dee Okojie and Pierre Amani netting the others.
PREMIER DIVISION EAST
In Premier Division East, Romford Town Flyers closed the gap on the league leaders to just a point as they took all three points away at Redbridge Community in a 5-2 scoreline. Alvin Smeraldi scored two with Erion Tmava and Lucas Coltelli also on the scoresheet, netting Romford’s fourth win of the season.
There were ten goals in a thriller of a game at Lakeside Sports Ground where visitors Barkingside Reserves picked up all three points in a 6-4 victory against FC Baresi Reserves. Omari Williams and Filippo Lovascio both netted two but those were just consolation as Yoel Mendy and Joshua Toluwaloju both scored twice in reply, Valentino Reid and Antoine Sanchez also scoring for ‘Side.
There were five goals for Inter Newbury in their trip across the Fairlop Oak on Saturday, taking all three points home from them against Motormen. Drey Johnson, Fuad Ibrahim, Reda El Ghaibouz and Shaquille Ishmael all scored the visitors to net their side just a second league win of the season.
Just a few pitches away, also at Fairlop Oak, there was another East Division clash which saw Something From Nothing go in search of their first points of the campaign, taking on a Waltham Abbey A side. A close game saw them share five goals, the Abbotts taking the spoils in a 3-2 result, a result which takes them up to fourth spot in the table.
The other game from the division came from Parsloes Park and saw hosts Kit Out London look to improve upon their recent form with the visit of a Greengate District side sitting comfortably in mid-table themselves. A close game couldn’t separate the sides with Ashraf Sheikh scoring for London and Michael Bemwin netting for Greengate, the game ending 1-1.
PREMIER DIVISION WEST
Over in Premier Division West, the big result of the day came from Flanders Playing Fields where Saint City were up against a Vallance side who had made a strong start to the season themselves. But it was a comfortable looking 5-0 win for the hosts as City walked away 5-0 winners courtesy of two Liam Adams goals and one each from Jayke Welch, Richard Seixas and Richard Boah.
There were five goals also for the other winners from the division as Priory Park Rangers moved up into third place in the standings as seek a return to top flight action, producing a 5-1 home win against a struggling London Park City side who are still in search of their first points. That win was Priory’s third of the season, sitting just outside of the promotion places on goal difference.
DIVISION ONE
The theme of goals continued down into Division One where two close games ensued, beginning at Newbury Park where Leyton City edged a thriller of a game with a 5-4 win against Old Esthameians. Ibrahim Sidibe scored a hat-trick and Nelson Goncalves one for E’s but City goals from Jean Moke, Sterlange Nzeza, Shekinah Blanchard and Awal Lawal turned it around for their side.
Over at Wadham Lodge, there was another close thriller of a game which saw West Essex Reserves in home action, taking on eighth placed FC Alpha. Denis Musteata was in good scoring form, netting two for Alpha but three West goals in reply means it was them taking away the points in a 3-2 scoreline and move third in the process.
DIVISION TWO
In Division Two, there were a couple of big games involving the promotion chasing sides, beginning at Castle Green where there was a nine-goal contest between Saint City Reserves and Old Barkabbeyans Reserves. Gasser Hendawi scored two with Funsho Olawale and Carlos Sanchez also netting but Old Barks netted five of their own to edge this thriller 5-4.
Another close game came from Parsloes Park where Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves were up against a Parsonage Leys side with both teams sporting strong starts to their campaigns to date. Owen Rami continued his form with a couple of goals, Connor Hoffman scoring the other for Spartans as their side won the game 3-2.
The Forest Road derby game came from Fairlop Oak as an unbeaten Old Parkonians side travelled along to face Glendale. A close game ensued between the two sides with the Dales having the better of the first half exchanges but failing to convert their chances meaning that Shane Hovell’s late winner for Parks edged a tight game 1-0 for his side.
DIVISION THREE
In Division Three, there were a number of tight games with Just Play the only side in the division to take a win, their away victory against Buckhurst Way in a 6-3 scoreline completing a third success for the visitors and carrying them up into fourth spot. Buckhurst sit seventh in the standings after their opening six games.
The league leaders, Romford Town Flyers Reserves, remain top of the pile but had to settle for a share of the spoils as they were held to a late draw against Cobra at Parsloes Park. Alfie Sasse had scored for Romford but Jack Scherer netted for Cobra to bring the game level at 1-1 as the points were shared.
Also at Parsloes Park was another closely fought game as two unbeaten sides, IONA Wheels and Changing Lives went head to head to attempt to get that going. Abdessamad Boualouss and Agoro Fuad both struck for the visitors but IONA also scored twice themselves as neither team could be separated in a 2-2 draw.
And that scoreline was reflected in the division’s remaining game from the Marshes where London Academics took on a Chingford Harriers side who started the day five points behind their opponents. And that was how it remained by the end, Ian Marques-Tavares scoring two goals for London and Regan Marshall netting for Harriers in a 2-2 draw.
Photo Credit: Just Play FC