WEEK 13 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

There was almost a cupset in the Fenton Cup as Premier Division’s North East Lions went toe to toe with Woodford Town Reserves at Ashton Playing Fields. Lions led in the game, including a Lewis Momah effort, but Town goals turned the tide with Jack Barnes, Arthur Massingham and Remarle Lawrence goals giving them a late 3-2 victory.

FENTON TROPHY

Over in the Fenton Trophy, it was a more routine victory for a higher ranked side as Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves extended their strong form with a big 7-0 win at home against Romford Town Flyers Reserves at Parsloes Park. Owen Rami scored a hat-trick with Brodie Gingell, Jack Chawner and Connor Hoffman scoring the others to put Spartans into the next round.

SENIOR DIVISION

On Friday evening, the focus was on Parsloes Park where Philip United continued their decent run of form to keep pace it the top two, edging a close game against FC Petrocub London by the odd goal. A 2-1 win for Philip saw them take a tenth win of the season, sitting four points behind in third place while Petrocub remain eleventh.

It’s as you were at the very top where Frenford Development continue to lead the way at the summit by a point, racking up win number eleven for the season on Saturday afternoon following a 3-0 away win against Sporting Hackney. Bilal Hussain, Reon Murray-Whyte and Hendrew Schmidt all found the back of the net to hand their side the victory.

At Parsloes Park, second placed CSM London also earned themselves win number eleven for the season as they earned themselves a comprehensive 8-2 home win against AS Rapid Londra. Dylan Flynn scored a hat-trick for CSM with Derrich Assibey, Luke McElroy, Marco Lavedera and Ramiz Mahmood also on the scoresheet while Vlad Farcas and Andrei Boga scored for Rapid.

There was north London derby action at Lea Valley Academy where Haringey Borough Under 23s made the short trip up the A10 to take on Kulture with just two points between the sides at the start of the game. A close encounter meant that gap remained by full-time with the match ending 2-2, Oliwier Fusiek and Louis Nathanael both scoring for Borough and Landry Gogoa bagging a Kulture brace.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, we begin with a seven-goal thriller at Westlands where Romford Town Flyers were up against Motormen. The visitors started the game five points behind their opponents but slashed that to two in a 4-3 win, overcoming Town goals from Bradley Mott and Seyhan Cucel with a Roy Stevens hat-trick off the bench, Judeyah Sanderson grabbing the other.

There were ten goals in the game at Lakeside Sports Ground where Redbridge Community were up against a Something From Nothing side fresh off of a first win last time out. But it was the seventh placed Redbridge side who took the honours, winning 8-2 to earn themselves a fourth league win of the season.

In the earlier game at Lakeside, it was FC Baresi Reserves in action as hosts with Kit Out London making the trip down the A13 in search of more league points. Kit Out started in the bottom four before the games got underway but a 2-0 win meant they climbed up a number of places to fifth with Myron Stoby and Charles Ariwa finding the target.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

There’s little changed at the top of the West division standings where Saint City are onto twenty-one points following another strong win, travelling to Vallance and returning with all three points in a 5-1 success. Noah Chesmain, Jordan Lemard, Bacari Mane, Liam Adams and Richard Seixas grabbed the City goals to rack up win number seven.

There were a number of goals in another of the games from the division where Unitey produced one of their better performances of the season in beating London Park City in a 6-0 scoreline in Seven Kings. That saw Unitey earn a third victory of the campaign, moving up into fourth spot in the table.

Completing the action from the second tier was the game from east London where Stratford East were up against Sporting Bengal United Reserves at Flanders. It was the higher placed Bengal side who took the victory, winning 2-0 to move second in the table on goal difference, trailing the leaders by nine points but with three games in hand.

DIVISION ONE

Ocean Pacific have increased their lead at the top of the Division One table following the weekend’s results, moving six points clear as they defeat West Essex Reserves in the Waltham Forest derby. Ocean produced a 2-0 winning performance against their third placed opponents, a result which keeps them unbeaten so far.

Sitting as the closest chasers in second spot, Old Esthameians are still in the race but did see crucial points dropped in Saturday’s contest with FC Alpha, the two sides having to share the points in a 1-1 draw at Noak Hill. Serghei Scupoi netted for Alpha with Brad Harris firing for E’s too to take a point.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two action saw a glut of goals, beginning with the biggest winners of the day, Dagenham United, who earned themselves an 8-0 victory at the Marshes against struggling Haringey United. Noah Ogunyomi scored twice off the bench, Samuel Shipillis, Charlie Landers, Mark Sogunro, Tyler Leon and Tajay Smith netting the others.

Also scoring eight were a Royal Forest side who bounced back well from their recent setback to take a vital three points haul in Loughton against Saint City Reserves. Denison St Louis struck twice and Alfredo Araujo once for City but those proved in vain as Forest scored five of their own in a 5-3 win.

Another game affecting matters at the top end of the table saw Parsonage Leys travel down to Barkingside to face an Old Parkonians A side. Two Shane Hovell goals and a Charlie Fiander effort had given Parks the lead but a Leys fightback with two Casey Ajayi strikes and goals from Dan Florido and Joshua Wilkening gave the visitors a late comeback 4-3 win.

Old Barkabbeyans Reserves remain well within the promotion picture themselves after a few weeks of the season and racked up win number four in the league on Saturday after a strong home win against CSM London Under 23s. Tunji Ebun-Cole’s hat-trick proved vital with Miles Brown adding two others in a 5-3 win, Fred Sayer scoring in reply for CSM.

DIVISION THREE

There were three games in Division Three, beginning in Dagenham where the league leaders, IONA Wheels, ensured they remained top of the pile, taking a local derby victory against Jays in a 4-0 scoreline. Tommy Heneghan scored twice for the hosts with Harry Gilham and Jack Stockdale also finding the back of the net to make it six wins for the campaign.

The other winners from the division came from Hackney Marshes where London Academics were facing a Redbridge Community Reserves side with just four points between the sides as they started the day. But that lead was extended to seven points by the hosts as Academics edged the game 2-1, a result which carried them up into fourth spot.

Over in Walthamstow, it was sixth versus seventh in the table as Chingford Harriers hosted Buckhurst Way. With little between the sides, the game ended locked at 2-2 to hand each side another point. Regan Marshall and Connor Bailey scored for the hosts with Tommy Akrasi-Bonsu and George Martin netting for Buckhurst.

COUNTY CUP

It was second round day in the BBC Essex Premier Cup with Waltham Forest Borough’s long away day trip to Stanway Pegasus Reserves proving a fruitful one, walking away with a big 5-1 win under their belts to earn a home third round tie against Toby.

Also through after a win on the road are Lymore Gardens who saw their tie reversed to Kelvedon Hatch’s School Road ground. But that didn’t stop Lymore coming away winners against the former competition winners, 2-0 victors to head on through.

Their opponents in the next round will be Dagenham United who successfully navigated their tricky home tie, a Dagenham derby against May & Baker EC Reserves, also in a 2-0 scoreline, to make the round of thirty-two.

Also through into the next round after a win against Essex Senior League reserve opposition are Fairlop Rovers who were involved in Saturday’s early kick-off at Walthamstow Under 23s and picked up a well earned 3-1 win. Their reward is a home tie against Shenfield AFC later in the month.

Another away day winner were Greengate District who travelled down to the coast on Saturday to take on Southend Manor Under 23s at Southchurch Park. They returned with a win under their belts, comfortable 4-1 victors on the day, with Takeley Reserves their next opponents.

Not too far away, at Belfairs Park, there was a close game in the clash between hosts Leigh Ramblers and Ongar Town which was eventually settled by the odd goal, the hosts running out 2-1 winners to put an end to Ongar’s run in the competition.

Another close game came from Barleylands where Inter Newbury were the visitors to face a Hashtag United Reserves side, the two teams trading blows to see the game ended in a 4-4 draw at the end of the ninety minutes. h them scored an extra-time winner to edge the game 5-4.

In Great Wakering, Walthamstow Reeserves had one of the longer trips of the day and came from behind against Wakering Sports to level the game at 3-3, only to them see their re-energised hosts strike three late on to take a 6-3 victory in the end.

There was a five-goal thriller in another of the games as former league side Aveley Under 23s took on London Cranes in east London with the sides closely matched. It was the Millers who left the happier of the sides, 3-2 winners to put themselves through.

It was a difficult afternoon for Bakers693 who made the long trip to Garons on Saturday to face a high-flying Old Southendian side. Looking to put aside their league struggles, it was another tough afternoon as the hosts racked up eleven goals in an 11-1 win.

Also exiting the competition are Waltham Abbey A who were in action against higher-ranked opposition, travelling to Barleylands to take on step seven side Toby. And it was the hosts who took the win, Toby 3-0 winners in the contest.

It was a case of de ja vu in Dagenham where Chadwell Heath Spartans made an exit from the competition against lower ranked opposition, defeated 3-2 after extra-time by May & Baker EC A once again on Saturday after the game had ended 2-2 at ninety minutes.

There was one Essex Junior Cup tie also completed which saw Condor make the trip to Hainault to face Olympian side Sungate Reserves. Condor had a successful afternoon, winning 6-1 to head on into round three.