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

FENTON CUP

There was high drama in the opening ties of the Fenton Cup third round this weekend as the cold weather proved to be not the only shock to the system for some of the teams.

The shock result of the round so far must go to FC Baresi as the Division Three title chasers overcame a two division deficit in eliminating Division One’s Three Colts on Saturday. Despite going a goal down, Delano Lloyd once again proved his worth to the FC Baresi team with a priceless hat-trick to send Colts to defeat in a 3-1 final scoreline and booking a place in the quarter-finals.

Another side who will be pleased with their afternoon’s work will be Rainham Working Mens Club as the Division Two side sent their third higher league side packing in a row. Having already dismissed Blue Marlin and East Ham Inter in the previous rounds, Ryan Reserves were the latest victims as goals from Nick Tormey, Matt Humphreys, Ryan Gallagher and Barry O’Donnell confirmed a 4-0 victory and a place in the quarter final hat.

There will also be a quarter final place for London Cranes as the Premier Division side overcame a potentially difficult opponents in the shape of Lymore Gardens in West Ham on Saturday. Eugene Goumou scored twice for Lymore but a brace from Arnaud Feudjio added to singles from Hakim Kolo and Shafik Walusimbi to secure safe passage for Cranes into the next round with a 4-2 win.

Also scoring four goals were London APSA who will be eagerly awaiting the quarter-final draw after a comfortable victory at the weekend against Division Three’s Redbridge Development. Amaar Edwards got his name onto the scoresheet for the Motormen but his effort proved in vain as APSA scored four of their own to win 4-1 on the day.

PREMIER DIVISION

Back into domestic action and the league action in the Premier Division was centred around a mouth-watering match in Romford where Colebrook Royals were the visitors to face United London. With just a single defeat between the two sides, this was always going to be a big match and it is the unbeaten Colebrook Royals who maintained their record as Chris Stowe’s brace and a George Brislen-Hall goal secured a 3-1 win on the day to go top of the league.

There was also a very important win for Lopes Tavares London who travelled to East Ham to take on Docklands Albion Under 21s and inflicted just a second defeat of the season on Albion. Lopes’ recent upturn in form has seen them move up to fifth place in the table with this latest victory by a 2-1 margin closing the gap to just a point on the sides above them.

There was a hugely important win for West Essex Reserves at the weekend as they entertained Blue Marlin in a Redbridge derby match in Hainault. Callum Bloss and Adam Norris done the damage with the West goals as they competed to a 2-0 scoreline, a result which leaves their opponents still two points adrift at the foot of the table.

DIVISION ONE

Docklands Albion have extended their gap at the top of Division One to five points with another victory, this time at home to East Ham Inter on Saturday. It was all about the substitutes in this match as Samuel Daminabo scored twice after coming on with another, Tashan Benjamin, finding the back of the net to cancel out a Elisio Carvalho goal for Inter in a 3-1 result.

That gap at the top of the division has widened this weekend as a result of Sporting Hackney Reserves’ home draw at the Marshes against Singh Sabha Barking. Hackney remain unbeaten in the league but were held to a 1-1 draw as Jordan Hamilton’s strike for Singh Sabha levelled up Daniel Aburdan’s goal for the hosts.

Colebrook Royals Reserves followed in the footsteps of their first team counterparts by picking up an important win of their own, defeating Cowley Community 5-3 at The Grange. Takunua Ndadzungira scored twice and Lekan Bakare once but Jamie Rolt’s hat-trick and two goals from Jamie Wood handed victory to the Royals who move up to fifth in the standings.

Melbourne Sports will be feeling much better this weekend as they moved away from the relegation zone with a third league win of the season, beating Forest Green in a five goal thriller. Mels strikes from Jordan Green, Scott Lincoln and Marcus Dadson done the damage with Juao Casimiro and Lloyd Boateng efforts for Green not quite enough to force a share of the spoils as the hosts won 3-2.

DIVISION TWO

The game of the day in Division Two saw United London’s Reserves taking on Chingford Athletic Reserves in Waltham Abbey with the latter sporting an unbeaten record to date. That record unfortunately came to an end this weekend as a single goal was enough to separate the two sides with United the beneficiaries of a 1-0 win to remain top of the table.

ACD United took full advantage of Chingford’s slip by recording an emphatic win at the weekend against Custom House. United ran in nine goals against the Dockers with Michael Wade scoring a hat-trick, Robert Clark a brace and single goals from Liam Porter, Mike Dunn, Frankie Markham and Tommy Pidgeon to complete a 9-1 win. Tim Mason was the scorer of the Dockers consolation goal.

Remaining second in the table are Flyers who brought up a seventh win in nine matches this season with a 4-2 win at Newham United Reserves. Jason Collins, Jack Barry, Jack Swaby and Sean Watson were all on the scoresheet for the Romford-based outfit who remain six points behind the leaders but with two games in hand over them.

Lionside maintained their strong hold on ninth place with a comfortable looking win in Saturday’s trip to Leyton to take on Forest Green Reserves. Martyn Rifat’s form in front of goal is keeping them well away from difficulties with him bagging an impressive haul of five this weekend with Michael Kane’s brace extending the goal tally. Jonathan Landreth-Smith was the Green scorer with a rare goal.

And Inter Plaistow will be feeling a whole lot better after their weekend’s efforts as the West Ham-based side recorded their opening victory of the season, beating relegation rivals St Francis in a 6-1 win. Izuchi Ijoma scored a hat-trick with efforts from Samuel Garrett, Matyas Svatom and Gianni Anderson supplementing the total and cancelling out Joseph Bradley’s goal for the Saints.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Chigwell have returned to the top of the league, taking advantage of FC Baresi’s lack of league action this weekend by recording a 5-5 win against Gatcliffe. Ollie Farnham was the Gatcliffe scorer with their consolation goal but Chigwell ran in five goals to go top by a point.

Old Esthameians Reserves remain well in contention for promotion honours this year with a sixth league win of the campaign, beating Custom House Community 7-1 on Saturday. Shaun Vickers scored a hat-trick and Joe Coffey a brace with Jack Tye and Lee Vickers goals rendering Matthew Guy’s goal for Custom House as only a consolation.

As weekend’s go, Frenford A will want to remember this one as the Ilford side recorded their first league win of the season in beating Glendale 2-0 at The Drive. A goal apiece from Paul Iseghohi and Billy Bradley coupled with a performance full of desire were enough to bring up a well-earned victory.

Chingford Harriers also picked up a very useful win as they saw off the efforts of Kitroom in a mid-table derby match in Hainault. James Henry was accredited with the Kitroom goal but a two goal performance from Edwin Jabbari was enough to hand maximum points to Harriers as they moved up to fourth place in the table.

DIVISION FOUR

Haver Town Reserves have bounced to winning ways with a victory on Saturday as the Division Four leaders beat Debden Park 7-3 to open up a four point gap at the top of the table. Michael Brown secured a four goal haul with Zak Robinson’s hat-trick completing the damage to bag an impressive win.

Royal Forest will rue the missed opportunity to close that gap at the top as the Hainault side were held to a 2-2 draw against Brentwood United Reserves. Having secured a very impressive win last weekend, Brentwood have now taken points off of both of the two leading sides as they overcame a Luke Charge double for Forest to take home a share of the spoils.

The big movers of the weekend were Brook City who extended their recent form with a fifth league win, moving up to third place in the table as a result of their latest victory. Their win on Saturday saw them defeat Dagenham United Reserves in a 5-2 scoreline with braces from Danny Rising and Samson Cox-Vinell proving important to overcome Daggers goals from Bradley Woolward and James Powell.

And rounding off the day’s action, Avondale Rangers played host to Newham Royals with both sides keen to rediscover that winning feeling and reignite their campaigns. Defences reigned supreme in this one as one of the rarest things in grassroots football, a 0-0 draw, saw both sides go home with a point.