WEEK 15 REVIEW: Northend and St Francis bag county cup successes

A cold weekend, the penultimate of 2014, brought us no shortage of goals and drama across the divisions. Premier Division side St Francis secured a terrific London Junior Cup third round victory against last season's Ilford & District League champions, East Londoners. The visitors, now residing in the Essex Olympian League were beaten 3-2 as St Francis booked a fourth round tie away against Sloane in February. Also victorious in outside competitions were Northend who finally managed to play their Essex Junior Trophy third round fixture against Runwell Hospital A and booked their place in a January fourth round tie at Essex Olympian League side Barkingside U21 with a 3-2 win. 

A Division One Cup quarter final saw leaders Blue Marlin miss a host of chances in going a goal down at half time scored by Bari's Romeo Lopez but eventually defeating London Bari Res 2-1 to progress to the semi final with the goals from debutant Charlie Butcher and captain Rorie Mckenzie in a win that extends their unbeaten run this season.

In Premier Division league action, Chingford Athletic have moved up to 2nd in the table following a 6-1 demolition of Rainham Working Mens Club. Michael Mignot bagged a brace alongside strikes from Tom Pearce, Jake Mignot and Tobias Hayden to leave them five points behind leaders May & Baker EC A with two games in hand. Antony Holmes was on target with Rainham's consolation goal. The leaders themselves ran out 3-2 winners at Melbourne Sport courtesy of a Carl Patten hat-trick to ensure they will be top at Christmas. John Shubert scored both of Mels goals who remain in 7th position. Clovis Clifford and Brandon Dujon both netted as Newham Res move up to fourth place in a 2-0 win at Cranes United while Chingford Harriers edged their encounter with AAH Romford as Paul Shawyer and Edwin Jabbari found the onion sack in a 2-1 win.

The only game in Division One this weekend saw second placed St Johns Deaf open up a three point gap over third placed Vittoriosa Falcons as the former won 1-0 with Huseyin Er notching the only goal of the game. That results leaves Division One as a two horse race with St Johns Deaf and Blue Marlin seemingly the sides to be facing off for the title in the second half of the season.

There were plenty of goals in Division Two and this is a division which is fascinatingly poised for the second half of the season. Leaders Grove United came through a tricky fixture against Newham Royals to win by the odd goal in five, with Harry Chalk notching a double and Rob Arundall completing the scoring. Cowley Community's late winner against third-placed Leyton Green in a 4-3 win leaves them as Grove's biggest contenders for the title and with league top scorer Izynna Ogedi-Uzokwe in the ranks and scoring twice again, who would bank against them. Jamie Kavaz also netted for Cowley. With games in hand and an unbeaten record to protect, West Essex Res are perhaps the outside bet for the title and it was a convincing 6-0 win for the Highams Park side against Canio with Harry Finch (2), Adam Norris, Otis Gatehouse, Gary Barnett and Charles Saunders finding the target. A Bradley Routledge hat-trick led Custom House to revitalising 4-0 win against St Francis Res with Paul Wooster netting the fourth goal.