WEEK 15 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

With the second close to wrapping up in the Fenton Cup, there was just a single goal in the game between Fairlop Rovers and Saint City with Rovers the team to leave the happier, 1-0 winners and through to the last sixteen.

Also through in another tight contest are Frenford Development who saw their tie at Dagenham United end in a 2-2 draw with James Ikotun and Peter Oyetunji goals for the visitors and Derek Boakye and Tajean Lewis scoring in reply. Frenford then held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3 and head through.

In the day’s third round action from Westlands, it was an all-Premier clash between Romford Town Flyers and their West Essex Reserves counterparts. A goal apiece from Roberto Dragut, Leonardo Lopes and Ali Rajim proved enough for Romford to head into the quarters with a 3-1 win.

FENTON TROPHY

In the Fenton Trophy, results here all went to form with Division One sides doing the business, beginning in Hainault where London East saw their run concluded in a 6-3 defeat against Parsonage Leys for whom Costa Azzopardi’s hat-trick, a Jake Turner brace and Nicholas Azzopardi’s goal proved decisive.

Over at Parsloes Park, it was another win for a Division One outfit as Old Parkonians A took their place in the quarter-finals, beating Cobra in a 7-1 scoreline. Ben Allen, Shane Hovell and Aaron Leggett scored twice each, Charlie Fiander the other, while James Mapp netted Cobra’s consolation.

Another Division One side safely through are FC Alpha who were facing a potentially tricky tie against Division Two leaders, Iona Wheels. Igor Marmut, Serghei Scupoi, Alexandru Petcu and Denis Musteata struck for the hosts in a 4-2 win, Elliot Hastings and Lewis Deacon responding for Iona.

Joining those sides in the last eight will be London Academics who kept their competition hopes alive by beating Buckhurst Way in north east London. Terril Blake-Alleyne’s hat-trick plus goals from Jayden Lecointe and Archangelo Burton were enough to win the tie 5-3.

SENIOR DIVISION

The top flight action began on Friday night as the top two sides, Waltham Forest Borough and London Harts United, went to battle at Parsloes Park. Ben Newman’s first half strike gave Borough the lead but John Quissua levelled the contest and the sides shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

On Saturday, Ryan continued their improved recent form with a big 6-2 home win against Haringey Borough Reserves, a result which moves them further clear on the danger zone and into ninth spot in the standings.

Sporting Bengal United Reserves were another side to make big moves as they were derby day winners against seventh placed Greengate District. Steven Bohan struck two, Reda El Ghaibouz and Joseph Oddiri the others in a 4-1 success, Patrick Enoh-Arhur with the hosts goal in reply.

It was a good day for another relegation threatened side as Woodford Town Under 23s moved off the bottom of the table with a third win of the season, beating CSM London at home in a 2-1 scoreline, courtesy of goals from Jayden Bangura and Joel Oramadike.

Towards the other end of the table, FC Petrocub London netted themselves another three points and climb to fourth on the back of a 4-1 victory over Kulture. Valentin Siciov, Igor Boiciuc, Ion Spinu and Eugen-Nicolae Lupan struck the goals in the win.

It ended all square in the other top flight game from the weekend as Chadwell Heath Spartans took on an Ongar Town side at The Drive. Elie Fanga grabbed the goal for Spartans with Stephane Arthur’s goal meaning it ended 1-1 and points shared.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, there was a glut of goals, beginning at Parsloes Park where Kit Out London almost let a four goal lead slip before eventually winning 5-4 against Athletic Newham Under 23s. Tarik Aciyan scored two, Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi, Nicholas Evangelou and Bobby Brown the others.

There was just the five goals in the game between Old Barkabbeyans and fellow high-flying AS Rapid Londra with the visitors the side to leave with the points in a 3-2 scoreline. Paul Turcu, Mircea Mihai and Gabriel Pop scored the goals with Hamsa Duale and Yunus Mussa strikes not quite enough.

Over at Fairlop, it was a six-goal game in the contest between Something From Nothing and Bakers693, both sides starting the day locked on four points each. It was Bakers who left the happier in the end, 4-2 winners from the contest and up into ninth spot.

Another battle between two of the sides in the relegation mix saw Buckhurst Hill Under 23s taking on Motormen, a win apiece so far this term. Hill doubled that however, winning 3-1 through goals from Billy Humphreys, Harry Squibb and Harrison Wickens, Charlie Parendes with the away side’s consolation.

The goals continued in the contest from Parsloes Park where derby day saw Inter Newbury hosted co-tenants Condor, Inter the side leaving with the points in a 3-2 win. Meeshaq Malone scored two and Kyron Chiedozie’s debut saw him net one off the bench.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

It remains locked tight at the top where Newham Wanderers stay a point clear but not without a battle on their hands, scoring the game’s only goal in a tight contest against Sporting Hackney ahead of the latter’s London Cup action in midweek, 1-0 to the Wanderers in the end.

Second placed Vallance are keeping close tracks on the leaders and had a far more routine Saturday afternoon in Newbury Park as they racked up a 6-1 home win over Priory Park Rangers. Wyclef Kayonjo scored a hat-trick off the bench with Kaywan Khoursid, Kelvin Gomes and Oscar Harris netting the others.

Not too far away on an adjacent pitch, Old Esthameians continued a little spur of positive form with another win, this time edging a close game 2-1 against FC Baresi Reserves with Nelson Goncalves’ brace proving the difference despite a Mkay Kitoko goal for Baresi.

There was a crazy twelve-goal thriller at Flanders as London Cranes traded early festive gifts with Ocean Pacific in a game that finished 7-5 to the visitors. Mujeeb Kaddu scored a hat-trick and Arafat Kajjumbi two but those goals for Cranes weren’t quite enough.

Another tight game, albeit with slightly less goal action, saw North East Lions at home with the visit of Unitey to Peter May on Saturday where Yasseir Nazor and Abdualhakim Mahammed goals were just enough for Unitey to win 2-1, overcoming Joseph Getnet’s strike for Lions.

DIVISION ONE EAST

There was plenty of goal action in Division One East also where Loughton Town ensured they stayed top for another week, winning by the odd goal against an improved Romford Town Flyers Reserves side. Ben Rimmer and Samuel Yamoah goals proved just enough for Loughton to win it 2-1.

Second placed Royal Forest continued their charge, returning to winning ways with a 5-1 home victory over Old Barkabbeyans Reserves in Loughton, Josh Robinson scoring Barks’ only goal as Forest walked away with the points.

It was a win for Bealonians Reserves too who sit fourth following a hard fought 4-3 win over fellow top-half side Lymore Gardens Reserves. Alex Grayburn, Dale Young, Ashley Webster and Aaron Porter all struck for Beals to earn them the points.

Over at Westlands, it was a routine performance for Redbridge Community who took the win against Dagenham United Reserves after a 5-0 victory. Gabriel Ogunwomoju scored two with Kwesi Botchey, Luke Matthews and Freddy Nuamah adding the others.

DIVISION ONE WEST

Leaders, Leyton City, moved five points clear at the top after a strong 9-3 away victory over Changing Lives. Borja Quan’s hat-trick, braces from Tony Mpwilu and Romeo Bwana, singles from Melchisedek Kalenga and David Luwe proved too much, despite host goals from Dawod Abukr, Agoro Fuad and Amine Zaide.

Over in north east London, Tajik Unity were taking on a Get Rich Together side with six points between the sides at the start. That was expanded to nine however, Get Rich ending 4-2 victors courtesy of two Latrel Louis goals and efforts from Legend Umukoro and Isaiah Djoboga.

There was an east London derby in the final game from the division where UK Moldova made the short trip to East Ham to take on Saint City Reserves, City the side to record the win, 2-1 the scoreline despite a Boris Macari goal from the visitors.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Glendale are up into second place in the table, recording a fifth win of the season with a 5-0 away victory against Freetown. Wasiu Lawal struck with the first and last of the goals, sandwiched around further efforts from Jibo Idris, Braulio Costa and Emmanuel Ejembi.

The in-form side in the division however are CSM London Under 23s who continued their excellent form in front of goal with a 9-1 win against Thurrock Thameside for whom Ihsan Saeed’s effort proved their only scoring moment of the game.

It was a tight contest in the game in Debden where Kulture Reserves edged a close game by the end against Eastside Foundation, Edmilson De Sousa and Moussa Traore scoring the goals that carried the hosts to a 2-1 win.

DIVISION THREE

The sole action from Division Three this weekend saw Jays make the trip up to Harlow to take on Bocas Jogabonito. A goal each from Ricky Phillips, Aman Lynch-Stewart, Mohamad Adam and Anthony Bonsu for Jays meant they left with another three points, 4-2 the final scoreline.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Junior Cup, the rearranged ties from last weekend saw Sich London and Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves end locked at 1-1 after extra-time, the tie eventually concluded as Spartans won the shootout 3-1.

Over at Redbridge Sports Centre, London Park City were looking to ignite their season as they entertained a Leytonstone United side in the second round. But it was the Olympian side who took the win, Leytonstone 6-2 winners to head through.

There was victory for Chingford Harriers however in the Essex Junior Trophy as they came from two goals down to take the win against Galleywood A, edging the contest 3-2 with three late goals to move into round three.

The AFA competitions also presented a couple of wins for league sides with Bealonians continuing a strong season with a 7-0 home victory in the AFA Senior Cup, defeating Southwark to head into the last sixteen of the competition.

It was a slightly tighter affair from another of the competitions where Old Parkonians B scored the game’s only goal at Old Parmiterians Sevenths, winning 1-0 to head into round three of the AFA Intermediate Novets Cup.

Photo Credit: Kit Out London FC