WEEK 13 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

The league leaders, ACD United, have extended their lead at the very top to five points as they returned home from their trip to Blue Marlin on Saturday with maximum points in a 2-1 victory. They bounced back well from dropping points in their last outing by inflicting a loss upon Marlin, recording a ninth league win in the process.

That lead was extended following a defeat for second placed East Ham Inter who led through a Vitali Chiriac goal but saw Singh Sabha Barking respond back with three goals of their own to win it 3-1. That was Barking’s fourth win of the campaign, moving them up to seventh position in the table in the process.

Third placed Jolof Sports saw their long unbeaten and perfect record come grinding to a halt on Saturday as they were on the road away at Docklands Albion in Walthamstow. It took just a single goal to separate these sides with a late Jesse Appiah free-kick for Albion earning them a 1-0 win against their close rivals, keeping them sixth in the standings.

In the day’s remaining top flight action, London Cranes maintain their own title ambitions but were made to work for a win, edging a five goal thriller against struggling London Park City. A brace from Valentine Ngaham and a Shafik Walusimbi effort were enough for Cranes to prevail 3-2 and take home the points in a 3-2 win.

DIVISION ONE

FC Baresi continue to lead the Division One standings but will be starting to look over their shoulders, as they dropped a couple of points at home against Rapid Chingford in a local derby. Esat Saiti got the Baresi goal but a Florin Ivancia effort for Rapid saw the match finish up at 1-1 and a share of the spoils for both teams.

Making a rapid ascent up the table now are Chigwell who continued their stunning form in front of goal on Saturday in their clash away at Forest Green. Chigwell put six goals past Green, cruising to a 6-0 victory which sees them up to third and looking an outside bet for promotion now.

And keeping company for those top three sides will be Chingford Athletic Reserves who are up to fourth following an important win at the weekend over Wapping at the Marshes. Hamza Hanif and Abderrahmane Teladjati both scored for Wapping but Athletic responded through goals from Tom Collier, David Livie, Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi and Trey Miller to win it 4-2.

Melbourne Sports have moved out of the relegation places for the first time in a while as they secured a hugely important win at the weekend over an out of form Chingford United side in Hainault. There were a trio of braces as Jordan Green, Ryan Lincoln and Kobie Ambrose all scored two goals apiece as the Mels romped to a 6-0 win.

DIVISION TWO

It’s as you were at the summit of Division Two where the battle for the title goes on. Eastside hold top spot presently and they stayed there aided by a 5-1 win on Saturday against Inter Plaistow. Idris Shittu scored two goals with one each from Joe Falzon, Conrad Mullings and Jonathan Odutolu cancelling out a Ben Nyman effort for the visitors.

Maintaining a very healthy chase are Chingford Athletic Development who are just two points back with a couple of games in hand following a 3-1 home win at the weekend. Puma Kings were the visitors, a side sporting mixed form of late but they were defeated as Luke Dimond netted two for Chingford and Sam Jarvis once.

After a pair of cup exits in previous weeks, third placed and unbeaten CSM London were eager to respond in positive fashion but they had a tough challenge ahead of them in the shape of Cowley Community. Cowley goals from Ryan Thompson-Cobham, William Lee and Christopher Wright proved too much, ending CSM’s long unbeaten start in a 3-1 scoreline.

Another side who are looking in good shape to make a real fist of a promotion challenge are Rainham Working Mens Club who continued their great form with a fifth league win on Saturday, beating Upshire Forest 4-2 at Town Mead. Aaron Rich and Callum Godfrey grabbed the Upshire goals but a Liam Tormey brace and one apiece from Ricardo Teixeira and Nick Tormey completed the win for Rainham.

Old Esthameians have leapt above Flyers and into ninth place in the table as they beat their rivals 2-1 away in Romford. Mike Williams scored for the hosts but E’s goals from Alex Booker and Harry Coffey proved to be the difference, earning the visitors a precious third win of the season.

DIVISION THREE

It’s all change again at the top of Division Three with Haver Town Reserves taking over top spot duties with a home win against Chingford Harriers on Saturday at Hendersons. Aided by results around them, Billy Biggs and Ben McAllister goals set the side on the way to a 2-0 victory, a point clear of the second placed side.

That second place is now held by Custom House United who had to twice come from behind in their home clash against Glendale in Beckton. Volter Correya’s first half brace twice looked to be sending the points the way of the Dales but the Dockers responded through their father and son duo of Paul and Jamie Wooster before Glenn Levy’s second half finish completed the comeback in a 3-2 win.

Previous top side Royal Forest dropped back to third but with a game in hand as they slipped to a shock home defeat at the hands of Flyers Reserves at the weekend. Flyers were able to complete a 2-1 win over the title challengers, earning a fifth league win of the campaign in the process and moving up to sixth position.

And the division’s remaining action also saw a shock of sorts as St Francis picked up only a second league point of the season, holding a high-flying Frenford A side to a 1-1 draw at home at Wanstead Flats. Martin Hunter was on the Frenford scoresheet but the Saints also scored to take home a well-earned point.

DIVISION FOUR

Continuing the theme of some extremely congested top areas of the table, Division Four is also well poised for an exciting second half of the season with the top three separated by just five points. Sungate Reserves are currently top, maintaining that lead with a 2-0 win at Newham Royals with goals from Ashley Rix, Darren Reid and John Watson.

Staying second and just two points off the top are Avondale Rangers who continue to impress this term, securing their seventh league win in nine with a 6-1 away win at Dagenham United Reserves. Jeffrey Nketia scored for the hosts but Rangers goals from Neil Turner, Liam Gibson, Tony Craske, Paul Regan, Thomas Jackson-Lyall and Chris Harper claimed all the points.

Brentwood United Reserves have had some good results of late themselves and hold fourth spot after knocking ten goals passed the cup giant-killers, Soul Youth. Fresh from knocking out two sides from higher divisions in the Fenton Cup, Soul netted through Mohamed Farah, Saddik Azizur and Naxmul Ahmed. But a Brentwood hat-trick from Martyn Rifat, two from Anthony Wyman and one each from Byron Cressey, James Biggs, Jonathan Mogege, Kevin Ituko and Harvey Fielding took home the points.

The day’s remaining game came in another local derby fixture with Chigwell Mens Club hosting Loughton Lions with the latter starting the game five points adrift of the hosts. That deficit had been cut by full time however with Will Osmond scoring twice, Jay Lutman and Tommy Edwards once each to give their side the Lions-share of the points. Jonathan Argent and Sean Bellamy netted the consolation efforts for Chigwell in a 4-2 scoreline.