WEEK 12 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and county cup action

FENTON CUP

The third round of the Fenton Cup got underway at the weekend with three ties pitting sides against in-form lower league opposition.

The Division One leaders, Colebrook Royals, hosted Premier Division Blue Marlin in their third round match-up. Nathan Desnoes was the man on target for Marlin with Mark Wright increasing his goal scoring tally this season with the leveller as the sides finished 1-1 and took the game to penalties. It was Blue Marlin who prevailed in the shootout, winning 4-3 to take their place in the quarter-finals.

In another tie which went all the way to a penalty shootout, Division Two’s leaders Ryan Reserves, took on Kitgum Boys from Division One with a quarter final place at stake for the winners. Dennis Ssuubi found the back of the net for Kitgum as the sides finished level at 1-1 before Kitgum saw off Ryan in the shootout, winning 5-4.

Custom House were looking to upset the bookies once again as they took on Premier side, London Falcons in their cup tie. But it was the Premier Division outfit who showed their class, coming through the tie with a 3-0 victory through goals from Andre Anthony, Seb Gardiner and Harry Rouse.

PREMIER DIVISION

The Premier Division title race was turned on it’s head on Saturday as the game of the day saw second placed Jolof Sports Club race into 3-0 lead over third placed United London in West Ham with Jeffrey Cobblah scoring a hat-trick. They hadn’t accounted however for an almighty comeback display from United who clawed it back, equalising from a quite astonishing long range free-kick before stealing the winner with three minutes to go! The result leaves Chingford Athletic in pole position with the festive period approaching.

Danny Morgan was the Old Esthameians hero once again as he netted a hat-trick to carry his side to a 6-2 win over Lopes Taveres London. Further goals from Neil Robinson, Jack Morgan and Francesco Egbulefu completed the scoring and sees their side strengthen their grip on sixth place.

Grove United were back in league action on Saturday with a trip to Leyton to take on LOASS. A goal from Harry Chalk helped his side to a 2-0 win that moves them up a place to fourth in the table.

DIVISION ONE

There was a shock result in Division One where the previously unbeaten Three Colts suffered their first reverse of the campaign, going down 2-1 to Cowley Community. That result sees Cowley move up a number of positions to fourth in the table while Colts now lie five points off of the leaders in the title race.

There was a big win for West Essex Reserves who travelled to Wanstead to take on St Francis and came away emphatic 7-0 winners against the Saints. Lloyd Renvoize scored twice with a goal apiece for Charles Saunders, Jack Miles, George Wickings, Adam Norris and Liam Nice completing a resounding victory and seeing their side up to sixth position.

In the division’s other match, East Ham International and Ferns Seniors shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Chris Wilby scoring the Ferns goal. The result keeps both sides in mid-table in seventh and fifth places respectively.

DIVISION TWO

The match of the day in Division Two saw Avondale Rangers race into a 4-1 lead against Chingford Harriers with Paul Regan, Tony Craske, Chris Harper and Liam McIntosh all netting for Rangers. But Harriers didn’t lie down without a fight and incredibly turned around the match with half an hour to go to win 5-4! Edwin Jabbari (2), Andrew Hogan, Nicholas Shawyer and Adam Eastick were the Harriers heroes all netting to secure an improbable victory.

Forest Green recorded yet another victory at the weekend as they defeated their local rivals, Lymore Gardens, in a 4-2 win. Kristos February’s hot streak in front of goal continued with a brace with Ricky Stewart and Marcel Destouche also scoring to cancel out Lymore goals from Paul Gunn and Paul Roberts.

Colebrook Royals Reserves continue their hold on second place in the table and one of the likely contenders for the title with a 3-0 win over Glendale. Jamie Wood, Matthew Stacey and Dion Bishop all netted for the Royals to record a sixth league win of the season.

Having waited until November to record a first league victory, Chigwell Rovers now have two in the space of a fortnight as they beat Old Barkabbeyans Reserves 3-1 on Saturday. Will Osmond scored a brace with Alfie Hutson finishing things to cancel a Timi Olaniyan goal for the hosts.

Rounding off the division’s action were Inter Plaistow and Chingford Athletic Reserves with the former completing a 5-2 win helped by doubles from Casey Parram and Samuel Garrett along with Rasheed Allen’s single. Aaron French was the Chingford goal scorer.

DIVISION THREE

Flyers closed the gap on the leaders in Division Three as they ran out 2-0 winners on Saturday against St Francis Reserves. Stephen Claxton and Tyler Rothon were the Flyers scorers to move their side to within three points of top side, Wapping.

There was an entertaining eight goal thriller between two of the mid-table sides as Kitroom and Old Esthameians Reserves shared the goals in a 4-4 draw to take a point each. Desmond Owusu notched a brace for the hosts adding to goals from Muhammed Vali and Raj Bumbra but Old E’s goals from Thomas Boomsma, Shaun Vickers, Alex Booker and Lee Vickers saw them level it up.

Upminster Reserves have climbed the table following a win by the odd goal in five against Royal Forest on Saturday. Their 3-2 victory sees the side climb to fourth place in the table, three points behind the third placed side.

It was also a big day for Wanstead Warriors who secured their maiden league point in their existence, holding Brentwood United Reserves to a goalless draw to take home a point apiece.

NATIONAL CUP

Completing the weekend’s action, St Johns Deaf took on Fulham Deaf on Sunday in the second round of the English Deaf Football National Cup. St Johns eventually ran out 5-4 winners in a pulsating encounter having held off a Fulham comeback in the second half to book their place in the next round.