WEEK 11 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

Chigwell have maintained their lead at the top of the Senior Division but had to battle hard for their victory with a tough match at home against FC Petrocub on Saturday. Vasilica-Cristinel Ilie and Ghenadi Moisei both struck the target for the visitors but a Chigwell brace in reply from Ross Chimes and a Mark Howe effort gave their side the points.

London Cranes’ sparkling run of form has seen them move second in the table as they recorded yet another victory, a 2-1 win away at Blue Marlin in Newbury Park. Kennedy Wampamba and Moses Makanga both found the back of the net for the visitors to record a fifth league victory of the season and moving to within just two points of the leaders.

There was another cracking game in East Ham as an out of sorts CSM London were hosts to a similarly inconsistent West Essex Reserves side. The hosts ran into a 2-0 lead through goals from Omar Wilson and Rod Beya but West goals in reply from Thomas Davie, Connor Brathwaite and Abiola Balogun saw them complete a 3-2 comeback to take the points.

The day’s final game in the top tier was a mid-table battle between two sides from the mid-table area with a closely fought game between East Ham Inter and Lymore Gardens at Noak Hill. Marcel Destouche got on the scoresheet but his efforts proved in vain as Inter scored twice to record a 2-1 win, just a second league victory of the campaign.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Eastside closed the gap on the league leaders to just three points as they cruised to an emphatic 6-1 win away at Sporting Hackney Development in a local derby match at the Marshes. Idris Shittu scored twice with single goals from Michael Dager, Michael Morgan and Johnathan Odutulu completing a 6-1 win, overcoming Timi Oluwole’s effort in consolation for the Parrots.

Another of the division’s in-form sides, Chingford United, also ran in six goals on Saturday with a 6-0 victory away at Forest Green in Leyton. A pair of braces from Marian Hrehorciuc and Ruslan Belicescu were supplemented by goals from Tamer-Andrei Bozgan and Mihail Vlad helped them to a fifth league win of the season.

All Real continue to provide plenty of goal drama and this week was no exception when they took on London Park City in Walthamstow in a thirteen goal thriller. Jason Mbelek scored a hat-trick with doubles from Josias Biembongo and Isaiah Forde plus a Tristan Jones strike completing a unbelievable 8-5 victory.

There was also plenty of goals in the day’s late clash in Dagenham where Tower Hamlets Reserves were up against All Prospects under the lights of Robert Clack Leisure Centre. Prospects led through some terrific strikes but Tower fought back with a pair of goals from Atlant Bogdanovic and a Cole Edwards but the hosts held on to win 4-3.

DIVISION TWO

Royal Forest remain atop of the Division Two tree, keeping a two point lead following a hard earned victory at home to Upshire Forest in their weekend’s match in Hainault. Leighton Hughes-Franklin was on the scoresheet for Upshire but two-goal Tom Osmond and an effort from substitute Kyle Balou confirmed a 3-1 Royal win.

Remaining handily placed just a couple of points behind with games in hand, Sungate Reserves look to be the most serious contenders for the title this year and they edged their way to a fifth win of the campaign with a 2-1 victory against Rainham Working Mens Club on Saturday. Gabriel Ogunwomoju’s brace was enough for Gate to overcome a Nick Tormey effort for the Workies.

Another side to keep an eye are Three Colts who have just a single defeat to their name thus far in the league and moved fifth over the weekend with a thumping 7-0 win over Flyers. It was a day for scorers with the initial “J” as Jack Luck scored twice with one apiece coming from Julian Bryant, James Carter, James Kane, Jason Fox and Liam Bellamy.

Cowley Community recorded an equally important result in their home fixture against Melbourne Sports on Saturday as the previously point-less outfit earned themselves a first league victory of the season with a 5-0 win at the County Ground. That result saw Cowley move up to ninth place in the table with a number of games in hand on sides above them.

DIVISION THREE

After a big win last time out, Chadwell Heath Spartans followed that up with an 8-1 victory this time out as they beat Avondale Rangers in Hainault to go four points clear. Jeffrey Nketia was in hot form with four goals with Bradley Downes, Niven Nkansah, Rashid Matabaro and Janel Alexander goals earning the victory.

Moving up to fourth place, Glendale returned to winning ways with a home victory against FC Galaxy, also in Hainault. Seyi Agboola netted midway through the first half before Mouhamed Gueye’s strike midway through the second half seemingly ended the game. Galaxy’s late penalty set up a grand stand finish but the Dales held on to win 2-1.

Ilford Development were also climbers on the day as they moved up a place to seventh, beating sixth placed Flyers Development at King George’s Park. Jason Collins, Sean Watson and Michael Barek were on the scoresheet for the hosts but their efforts proved in vain as Ilford edged this thriller 4-3 in the end.

Picking up a first point of the season, Custom House United put on a sterling show as they went up against third placed St Francis in Beckton. Robert Wooster and Bradley Routledge goals were important for the Dockers as they held the Saints to an eventual 2-2 draw to give both sides the share of the spoils.

DIVISION FOUR

Dagenham United Reserves have moved up to third place in the standings in Division Four and just a couple of points off the promotion places as they picked up a hard fought win against Prospect Protégé. Richard Akinyebo’s hat-trick proved just consolation for Prospect as Mikel Martin and Tom Whelan braces handed the points to United in a 4-3 scoreline.

Also moving up the table, Together United made it three wins this season as they faced Flyers B in Romford with both sides having experienced mixed starts to their maiden campaigns. The visitors managed to get it Together to record a 2-1 win however as they moved fourth in the league standings.

There was a really cracking game to end the league action this weekend with Loughton Lions and Lymore Gardens Reserves meeting in Hainault looking to fire up their respective promotion campaigns. Will Osmond’s brace for the Lions completed a good day in front of goal for the family but Emmanuel Nwaohai and Dushane Powell goals earned their side a share of the points in a 2-2 draw.

LONDON JUNIOR CUP

There were some terrific results for our clubs in the London Junior Cup with Rapid Chingford recording yet another county cup victory as they beat the Kent County League side, Club Langley, 4-2 in their battle at Parmiters. They now go into the hat for the last sixteen of the competition in the coming weeks.

Joining their Senior Division counterparts in the draw for that fourth round will be FC Baresi who continue a strong tradition in this competition by beating Olympian League outfit, Canning Town Reserves. Baresi were 2-0 victors to earn their place at the business end of this year’s competition.