WEEK 10 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

An in-form London Cranes side are up to fourth place in the top division as they overcome an East Ham Inter side in West Ham. Cranes, on the back of some impressive performances were 8-1 winners on the day, seeing them close the gap on the top of the table to just two points.

FC Petrocub are one of a number of sides really pushing for honours this season and they earned another point with a home draw against FC Baresi at Noak Hill. The two sides shared four goals with Vitali Chiriac and Valentin Siciov netting for the hosts, Stanley Green and Mamoon Khan on target for Baresi to level it up at 2-2.

DIVISION ONE

All Prospects claimed a big scalp on Saturday as they took on top of the table and unbeaten Tower United in their match in Hackney. Despite Tower’s early dominance in Division One, Prospects ended their unbeaten start with a 4-2 victory which sees their side up to third in the table in the process.

There were also plenty of goals on an adjacent pitch where hosts, Eastside, were taking on London Park City. Despite an indifferent start to the campaign, London Park gave a good account of themselves but Idris Shittu and Michael Dager both netted braces for Side and Michael Morgan grabbed the other to win it 5-3 in favour of their team.

DIVISION TWO

Sungate Reserves took advantage of sides around them being out of action to close the gap on the promotion places to just a point following a 6-0 win away at against third placed Old Esthameians. Aaron White scored twice for his team with Peter Truman, Luke Macdonald, Thomas Drayton and Isaac Idu goals earning Gate the victory.

Also taking maximum points from their clash over the weekend were Three Colts who continued some fine recent form with a second league win, beating fifth placed Unitey 3-2 to move to within a single point of their opponents. Jason Fox, Joe Furling and Jack Luck were the goal scorers on the day to take the points home with them.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the highest scoring game of the day came in Beckton where Custom House United and Avondale Rangers shared the small matter of twelve goals between them, Rangers, running out 8-4 victors. Bradley Routledge scored twice with Glenn Levy and Jamie Wooster netting one each for the Dockers but their efforts proved in vain ultimately.

Moving up to second in the table, Newham Wanderers moved just a point behind the leaders, picking up a hard-fought 2-1 win at home against Glendale. Marcelino Rodrigues and Robertson Morais both scored for Wanderers, either side of a Djibril Ayofe volley for the Dales which had levelled it up during the first half but proved not quite enough.

Chadwell Heath Spartans remain the pace-setters in this division and got themselves back into the groove with an excellent win away at FC Galaxy in Dagenham. Spartans but seven goals past their opponents to remain a point clear of the rest in Division Three with their opponents remaining ninth so far.

DIVISION FOUR

The lead at the top of Division Four is up to five points as Woodford East cruised to a thumping 12-2 victory in their clash at home to Prospect Protégé in Debden. Richard Akinyebo and Emmanuel Alo grabbed the Prospect goals but East were rampant in front of their opposition’s net to record a sixth straight league win.

There was a plethora of goals in Chadwell Heath where Newham Royals made the short trip along Whalebone Lane to take on Brentwood United Reserves at Westlands. Attack was certainly more dominant over defence as Royals earned a 6-4 win, that result lifting them up to fourth place in the table.

Together United’s decent recent form continues as they earned all three points from their home clash against winless Flyers B in Walthamstow. United were 4-2 victors on they day to pick up a second league win of the season which sees them move up to sixth in the standings.

Remaining second, Lymore Gardens Reserves followed up last weekend’s disappointing result against the league leaders to take a point from their own trip to Walthamstow, ending 2-2 against Chingford Harriers. Stephen Duberry scored twice for Harriers with Akil Roberts and Tyrique Peters goals earning Garden a share of the spoils.

Completing the day’s league action, Loughton Lions were the hosts to Fairlop Rangers who made the short trip along Forest Road, both sides looking to cut the gap on sides above them. But it was Rovers who will have finished the day as the happier of the sides as they won 3-1 to pick up a third league win of the season so far.

ESSEX JUNIOR CUP/TROPHY

There were mixed results for our sides in the county cup competitions with Chingford Athletic Reserves’ run in the Essex Junior Cup coming to an end with a long trip to south Essex to take on Bowers & Pitsea Under 23s at the Len Salmon Stadium. The hosts were big 7-1 winners of the day to progress onto round four.

In the Essex Junior Trophy, the most emphatic win of the day came at Hendersons where Flyers were the visitors to face Harold Hill Reserves from the Mid Essex League. Flyers soared into the next round with a 9-3 victory that puts them through to a clash against Sungate Reserves in a few weeks time.

Upshire Forest are another side who have made it through to round four, putting their league form behind them to pick up a big 6-3 home win against Writtle A. They will have another home clash in the next round as they play host to South Essex United who hail from the Basildon area.

The longest away day win award goes to Frenford A who faced an epic trip up the A12 into the wilds of the mid Essex countryside to take on Silver End United Reserves. But they will have been very pleased with their efforts, winning 4-0 to book an away tie at Hutton A in the fourth round.

Completing the winning action for our teams, Cowley Community were another side to put league form to the back of their minds as they took on Old Chelmsfordians A in their tie at the County Ground in Leyton. Cowley put in a sterling effort to win 3-0 and will now face either Wakebury Reserves or Nazeing in the next round.

With every positive there is always a negative and we sadly saw some sides exit the competition, all however in some narrow scorelines. CSM London’s trip to Southend proved not very fruitful as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Earls Hall United. The same scoreline was suffered by Melbourne Sports who saw their participation ended at home to Notley.

Dagenham United Reserves were involved in a five goal thriller as Gosfield United Reserves made the very long trip down from north Essex to the Castle Green for their third round tie. They returned with a 3-2 win to their name however to end Dagenham’s run in the cup.

Completing the day’s action in the cup competitions, Debden Park saw their run in the competition come to an end as they were beaten 2-0 at home by South Essex United, ending Park’s hopes of a place in the fourth round in the process.