WEEK 12 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from Halloween weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

There were plenty of trick or treats at the top of the Senior Division table over the Halloween weekend, beginning up at Wodson Park where an in-form Walthamstow Reserves side travelled with confidence, taking on leaders FC Baresi. An entertaining game eventually ended 3-3, both sides taking a point each. Raymond Poku scored twice and Romuald Boco the other for the hosts.

A key game took place in east London where hosts Lymore Gardens and Woodford East produced an eight-goal thriller which swung one way and then the other. Connor Braithwaite struck twice for the Peacocks with Billy Barr scoring the other but those efforts proved in vain as Lymore fought back to level and then won it 5-3.

Chadwell Heath Spartans were another side on the move up the table, taking advantage of teams around them not being in action to record a fifth league win, returning home with all three points from Wadham Lodge with a 2-0 victory against Sporting Hackney. Elie Fanga and Billy Gipp were both on the scoresheet for Spartans, taking their side level with four other clubs on nineteen points.

There were some further important games affecting matters at the other end of the standings where Priory Park Rangers moved outside of the relegation for the first time this season, picking up all three points in a 3-0 away win against fellow troubled CSM London. That was Rangers’ third win of the campaign, taking them a point clear of danger for now.

Frenford Reserves moved themselves further clear of difficulty with a strong win on the road, the Ilford based side returning home from Noak Hill with all three points under their belts following a 4-0 victory against Kit Out London. A goal apiece from Shanlon Thomas, Tyler Shillingford, Elidon Selmani and Joel Opara were enough to record a fourth league victory.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, the Fairlop Rovers runaway train shows no sign of making a stop just yet and they rolled away to a big 7-0 victory on Saturday, defeating Redbridge Community in the Forest Road derby. Harry Rouse scored a hat-trick for Rovers, Dylan Scutt scored two, efforts from Aaron Russell and Logan Simmonds rounding off the victory.

There was a spook-tacular result for Leyton City in the Newbury Park derby match, the side starting the day bottom of the table and without a point but ending it with the scalp of Newbury Athletic who had won four from four this term and sat unbeaten. Serge Makofo scored twice, Jose da Silva and Sterlange Nzeza netting the others in an incredible 4-0 win for City.

Over at Barking & Dagenham College, hosts Dagenham United were able to move a point closer to the promotion places but missed the chance to move second as they were held to a 2-2 draw by eighth placed Soul. Shaquille Mathurin certainly knows where the back of the net is and he struck once again with Cain Dash scoring the other to ensure they walked away with at least a point.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Snaresbrook had good reason to “scream” in Premier Division West, the east London side taking full advantage of their rivals being weather-affected to move above them to the top of the standings, earning a 2-1 home win against Wanstead at Nutter Lane. Ali Rajim scored both of the ‘Brook goals to complete a seventh league win of the season so far.

Over in East Ham, London Cranes went into their home clash with Renegade in some good form, starting the day fifth in the standings and four points clear of their opponents in the standings. But it was the promoted Renegade side who walked away with the honours, winning 2-1 to net their third success of the campaign.

In the division’s remaining game, it was third versus eighth with Newham Wanderers the hosts to a Barkingside Under 21s side with a nine-point gap between the sides starting the day. But there proved to be little between the sides, the game ending in a 2-2 draw as substitutes Michael Asabre and Joao Mendes both struck to give Wanderers a point.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, it’s tight at the top with just two points separating the top three sides with unbeaten Royal Lions hold the aces as things stand, moving to a spook-tacular 6-0 win against the previous leaders on Saturday, Old Esthameians. Kuene Fernandes scored four goals for the Lions, Lee Harris and Drey Johnson netting the others to complete an important victory.

That result enabled a shift up the table for Woodford East Reserves who now sit second in the standings and into promotion contention, the Peacocks defeating Freetown in a 2-1 scoreline at Castle Green to walk away with all three points. Robbie Carter and Tom Osmond were the men on target, helping Woodford earn a fourth league win.

With games in hand, Saint City will be hoping to break into the promotion picture as the season progresses and they bounced back well to earn a third league win, defeating Chingford Athletic Reserves 2-1 at Flanders Playing Fields. Richard Seixas continued his scoring form with another couple of goals.

There was a five-goal thriller to round off the action from this division where Ocean Pacific made the trip into east London to take on Lymore Gardens Under 23s, the visitors coming off the back of defeat last weekend. And it will be Ocean who walk away the happier of the sides, winning 3-2 at Jubilee Park to move fifth in the table and above their opponents.

DIVISION TWO

League leaders, Royal Forest, ensured they remained top of Division Two for another week at least as they produced a sixth win on the spin, ghosting away from Castle Green with all three points in a 2-1 hard fought win against Dagenham United Reserves. Joe Owers and Jake Tibbitts goals were enough in the end, overcoming a Silas Afriyie goal for United.

Second placed Collier Row Reserves are sitting just a couple of points further back and produced a strong performance on Saturday against Frenford A as both sides went into the game sitting in the top three. But Row goals from Aloisio Dos Santos, Romulo Batista and Jordan Lee were the difference between the sides, the visitors walking away 3-0 winners.

That result enabled Old Barkabbeyans to move up a couple of spots after their trip around the A406 to Peter May, walking away with all three points in a 6-3 win against Chingford Harriers. Andrew Bowring, Teyon Weston and Ryan Vallance netted for Harriers but a Dre Ferlisi hat-trick and goals from Harry Dunne, Josh Robinson and Geovany Cruz sent the points home with Old Barks.

Redbridge Community Reserves and Fairlop Rovers Reserves went into their battle on Saturday level on points with both sides struggling towards the foot of the table. With a win therefore vital to both sides, it will be Fairlop who ended the day as the happier of the two teams, recording their first league win of the season, the game ending 3-1, that result enough for Fairlop to jump up into seventh spot.

DIVISION THREE

Things couldn’t be much tighter at the top of Division Three with three sides separated by just a point following the weekend’s results which saw Glendale travel to top of the table Woodford Town Under 23s and stay unbeaten following a 3-2 win. Abdulair Ahmed, Wesley Antonio and Maryis Shamku goals put the Dales ahead before Town fought back through a Gabriel Sucio brace.

The other side involved in the battle and with things in their own hands are Collier Row Wheels who made it six wins from six on Saturday to stay second, defeating Buckhurst Way. Luke Fearne scored twice for Wheels to keep them rolling to victory, Jack Hobbs striking with the Way consolation effort as they look to improve their own form in the division.

Fourth placed Old Parkonians A stay fourth following the weekend’s result but did have a bit of a scare against an improved Newham & Havering Borough side, Parks eventually walking away 2-1 winners. Burt Cardy was on target once again and Jay Mahmood netted the other, rendering Luke Joy’s debut goal for Borough as just consolation.

Romford Flyers sit fifth in the standings after eight games of their campaign, earning a third league success of the season after a narrow 2-1 win away at Melbourne Sports. Jorge Rodriguez and Sonny Davie goals proved important for the Havering based side, those efforts enough to win and take their points tally to eleven.

Completing the action from Division Three, it was another victorious afternoon for Changing Lives who jumped up into sixth place following the weekend’s results, taking away all three points from Broadway Athletic in a 5-1 away win. Ismail Aziz, Ussri Badawi, Aboubakar Mohammed, Abdulhalim Alhadi and Mohammed Dahub were all on the scoresheet to help their side over the winning line.

COUNTY CUPS

It was London Junior Cup day for a number of sides and Rapid Chingford had a long away day into south west London to take on Wimbledon & District League title challengers, Claremont Gorillas. In a close game, it was settled by the odd goal in Rapid’s favour, 1-0 winners and into the third round.

There was also the taste of victory for FC Baresi Reserves who travelled south of the river themselves to take on Bromley and South London League side, Beckenham. With the game ending in an exciting 3-3 draw at full-time, the visitors’ journey home was a happy one, winning the shootout 6-5.

The league’s only home representatives on the day were Unitey who had a home tie against Kent County League’s Sporting Club Thamesmead Reserves on Saturday. And it was the visitors in this one also walking away happier, Sporting winning 3-2 to end Unitey’s participation in the competition.

Facing opposition from the same division, North East Lions were also up against Kent County League opponents with a trip to Langley Sports in second round action. This time is was victory for a home side with Langley getting the better of Lions to win 3-1.

It was another notional Step 8 contest in the final action of the day where Middlesex County League’s Hackney Wick Reserves were the hosts to Wapping on Saturday in a game where the sides produced eight goals. But it was the Wickers who scored five in a 5-3 victory to put their side through.

Photo Credit: Melbourne Sports FC