WEEK 13 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from Remembrance Weekend

FENTON CUP

The Remembrance Weekend Fenton Cup action saw probably the biggest shock of the season so far as Division One’s RCXI put in a memorable performance to beat Senior Division opposition, Tower United, in a 6-2 scoreline. Michael Temitayo netted a hat-trick with Oluwaseun Koya, Sammy Anjorin and Jide Lewis efforts completing an excellent win to send them into the quarter finals.

Also into the hat for the quarter finals are DTFC as they came through a close battle with their fellow Senior Division front-runners, Woodford East, at Hackney Marshes. It took just one goal to separate the sides on the day and that came from the boot of Stanley Green who ensured his team kept their cup run going, winning 1-0.

There was some entertainment at Leyton County Ground where Lymore Gardens and FC Baresi met for an all-Senior Division clash in the first round. Lymore had raced into a lead with two Andre Rashford goals and a Rio Brown effort. But a Paul Benfield hat-trick sparked a Baresi fight back to make it 3-3 and take the game to a shootout. Lymore held their nerve to win an epic encounter 8-7.

In the other game played in the Cup, Division One’s high-flyers Belfry made the trip to Walthamstow to take on Premier Division’s Crookz United for a place in the second round. Despite a Warren James goal for the visitors, Crookz made their higher league placing count with a solid win, going through to next round with a 4-1 scoreline under their belt.

FENTON TROPHY

There were two all-Division Two clashes in the weekend’s Fenton Trophy action where Royal Forest  overcame a side placed six points ahead of them in the shape of Emerson & Upminster Reserves, defeating their top half opponents in a 4-1 win. Josh Owers scored twice for Forest with Frank Carver and Harry Killick netting the others to head into the quarter finals.

Joining Forest in the last eight of the competition are Old Esthameians who faced a Ryan Under 23s side sitting a few places below them in the standings but constructed a seven goal thriller between them at Wadham Lodge. Old E’s came through a close game with a narrow 4-3 to book their place in the last eight.

SENIOR DIVISION

There was a change at the top of the Senior Division table once again on Saturday with Chadwell Heath Spartans taking full advantage of the previous top two being in cup action as they edged a close game at home to CSM London. Two Jack Evans goals overcame a Ramone Senior effort for the visitors to give Spartans a 2-1 win.

There was an important three points for Blue Marlin in the race to avoid the drop as they saw the visit of fellow strugglers Rapid Chingford to Fairlop Oak. Scott Campbell struck a brace and Lewis Forman netted off the bench to edge a close game 3-2. That saw Marlin move up a place to twelfth, just one point shy of safety.

The final game in the division was a real thriller as previously point-less Chigwell Town were on the road with a visit to FC Petrocub seeking to address that situation. The two teams battled their way to a 3-3 draw by full-time with Harry Tew-Robinson scoring twice and Joe Creasey once for Town to secure their first point of the campaign.

PREMIER DIVISION

The Frenford A express train is really beginning to motor at the top of the Premier Division and they now lead the way by nine points after putting ten goals past All Prospects in a 10-1 result. Damilola Olaiya has been in fine scoring form and he struck a hat-trick with Daniel Francis, Malachi Hercules and Isimia Iguisi scoring twice each and Keenan Gravillis once to earn another win.

Athletic Newham Under 23s are one of a number of sides who do have games in hand on the leaders to cut the deficit and they’re now up to third in the standings following a solid 2-0 win at home against bottom of the table London Park City. That saw Newham move to eleven points having just been beaten once in the league this term.

Moving second, North East Lions’ first half of the season has been a little up and down but they did get back to winning ways with a important 1-0 win away at Dagenham United. Adnan Miah was the scorer of that only goal of the game to give Lions a fourth league win while sending United to just a second league defeat this term.

Two of the other sides in the top half, Eastside and Wapping, met in the division’s final fixture with the teams beginning the day just a point apart. A close game saw the sides finish level at 2-2, preserving Wapping’s advantage over ‘Side for the time being. Jordan Mills-Smith and Kamrul Ahmed efforts were on target for Wapping to help side secure a point.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Cowley Community put themselves top of the table, jumping above their previous top two who were both in cup action, earning a sixth league win in seven this season in a 5-2 win against Francis Luke. Jose da Silva netted twice for the visitors but Cowley goals from Kyle Cargill (2), Inarhu Martin, Michael Taylor and Chris Wright were enough to take the points.

Newham Wanderers have moved into the top half and onto nine points as their endeavours were successful on Saturday, defeating an in-form Wanstead side 4-2 in a local derby match. Malam Injai scored a hat-trick and Joao Cruz struck the other to render Wanstead efforts in reply as just consolation.

That scoreline was mirrored not too far away as Forest Green were the hosts to a Something From Nothing side with the latter starting the day a place below their opponents. But that had all changed by full-time as SFN won 4-2 courtesy of two Khai Bailey goals plus efforts from Thomas Bergmann and Micah Innocent. Mickel Smith and Darren Gillings struck in reply for Green.

And two further sides who swapped places in the table were Renegade and Barkingside A as the former increased their league wins tally to two with a 2-0 home victory against ‘Side at the Marshes. Nana Baah and Alwi Salah goals were the difference to the home side as they moved up to seventh on the back of this victory.

DIVISION TWO

The game of the day in Division Two was the battle of the top two as Rainham Working Mens Club went out with the hopes of cutting the lead on Fairlop Rovers at the top. But things didn’t quite pan out that way as Harry Oliver and Dylan Scutt goals were enough to see Rovers win 2-1, despite a Nathan Wilson strike for the hosts, extending the leaders’ advantage to nine points.

Unitey are now third in the table and just goal difference keeps them out of the promotion places after a comprehensive 6-1 win against Loughton Lions in a local derby. Taylor McLaughlin was on targets for Lions but a Bubintende Masadi hat-trick and singles from Eddy Litambolo, Ahmed Dousa and Matthew Surry confirmed victory for the hosts.

It was also a good afternoon’s work for St Francis who opened their points and wins account at just the second attempt, defeating winless Newbury East at Oaks Park High School in a 2-1 scoreline. Theo Jacobs-Aaron and Ross Basunda goals were the difference on the day between the teams as Saints moved up a place to eleventh, just a point from safety with plenty of games in hand.

DIVISION THREE

The gap at the top of Division Three remains at just two points after leaders Royal Forest Reserves kept up their perfect record with another win against Buckhurst Way, defeating their opponents 4-0 at Bancroft Rugby Club. Sereign Lette-Jallow struck twice alongside goals from Tom Alexander and Richard Grove.

And just a couple of points back, FC Baresi Under 23s kept up the pressure on the leaders with their fifth win of the season as they returned home from Old Barkabbeyans Reserves with all three points in a 3-0 win. Kii Jean-Baptiste was the man in form on the day and he scored all three goals for Baresi on a memorable afternoon.

The in-form Melbourne Sports are up to third place with five league wins of their own this term, coming from behind twice in the game against Glendale to win 6-2 in one of the league’s oldest derby matches. Two Dave Hennessey goals had given Glendale a lead at the break but a superb second half performance from the Mels broke their opponents’ resistance to take the win.

Together United’s sparkling form has seen them climb as high as sixth in the standings now and they made it four wins from five on Saturday with a 5-2 against Lymore Gardens Reserves at Hainault Rec, despite Omani Green’s goal. That result sees Together go level on points with fourth placed Old Barks and just four off the promotion pace with a game in hand.

It was a good afternoon for ASA also as they put six goals past their opponents, Flyers Under 23s, as the sides met at Hackney Marshes. Jubayed Miah scored a hat-trick for his side adding to efforts from Saigeethan Senthan, Mithurn Vijayarajah and Ramanan Selvarasa to confirm a solid 6-2 victory for the eighth placed side.

DIVISION FOUR

After a couple of winless afternoons for Chingford Harriers, they returned to form on Saturday with a solid victory at Emerson & Upminster A, defeating the mid-table side 2-1 to go two points clear at the top. Darlington Ojo’s form in front of goal continued and Cedric Onchuru grabbed the other with Ritchie Weeks coming off the bench to net Emerson’s consolation effort.

Sporting Pillars are third in the table and with games in hand as they added to their points tally with a win against Avondale Rangers on Saturday, winning 9-3. Daniel Gutierrez scored four and Rayan Allam three with Ousmany Dibaga and Gavin Afriyie finishing things off. Jake Clarke, Chris Harper and Blaijan Kitufueni all netted in reply for Rangers.

The Reserves of Dagenham United are in some fine form at present and sit fourth on the back of their most recent success, a 2-1 home victory against West Essex Under 23s at Castle Green. Cain Dash scored twice to set up his side for a winning performance, overcoming Javen Cole’s goal from the visitors.

With results around them going in their favour, Flyers Under 21s excellent recent form has now seen them move into the top half, moving fifth after a terrific 4-0 win against Newham Royals at King Georges. Bradley Maycock struck twice with Harry Cossington and Jack Atherton goals completing the scoresheet on the day.