WEEK 16 REVIEW: Review of Saturday's league and cup action

SENIOR DIVISION

The final action of the calendar year saw some of the most unpleasant conditions for some time as sides battled through the sub-zero temperatures, driving rain and blustery wind. The gap at the very top of the Senior Division has opened up to seven points after ACD United scored the only goal of the game against West Essex Reserves to net a 1-0 victory. George Munns was the man with that crucial goal to see his side safely to the win.

That gap at the top was made wider as points were dropped by second placed East Ham Inter at home where they played host to Docklands Albion at Noak Hill. In a game which is always well contested, Adam Bessadi and Erik Rusnak both scored for Inter but Albion scored two goals of their own take a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

The last game of the year brought about a first point of the season for bottom of the table London Park City after they made the short trip across Seven Kings to face Singh Sabha Barking. An entertaining contest saw the teams conjure up a six-goal thriller, the match finishing level at 3-3 to seal that first point for City who will look to improve in the second half of the campaign.

DIVISION ONE

The game of the day in Division One saw Lymore Gardens on the road as they travelled to Hainault to face a high-flying and in-form Chigwell side. With the conditions far from ideal, this was a real game of two halves as Lymore romped into a 3-0 half-time lead. The half-time team-talk however, coupled with a wind advantage, saw them rescue a point as they levelled it up to an eventual 3-3 draw.

Goals were also the order of the day up in Chingford where Forest Green were the visitors to Parmiters to take on hosts, Rapid Chingford, in both sides last game of the year. Viorel Panait grabbed a goal for Rapid but braces from Krishan Singh and Alexander Da Costa plus singles from Sylvanus Taylor-Lewis, Karel Francis and Joshua Thompson completed a stunning 7-1 win for Forest Green.

DIVISION TWO

It’s as you were at the very top of Division Two going into the Christmas break with Eastside two points clear of the rest following a ninth league win of the season on Saturday against CSM London. Ade Yusuf and Zachary Forte both netted for CSM but Eastside goals from Conrad Mullings, Joe Falzon, Jason Liu and Jonathan Odutolu wrapped up a 4-2 win for the leaders.

Chingford Athletic Development remain hot on Eastside’s coat-tails, remaining two points behind the leaders following a thumping 7-0 victory over the weekend away at South Marsh United in Walthamstow. Two goals apiece from Patrick Clarke and Luke Dimond were added to by singles from William Swain, Zachary lee and debutant Berkay Guler to safely secure the win.

Cowley Community have moved up to third place in the standings and remaining well in touch with the promotion picture as they battled the conditions and the opposition to earn a 3-1 win over Flyers. Ryan Thompson-Cobham, Lee Luck and Christopher Wright got the Cowley goals to counter a Tana Mushambadope consolation strike for the visitors.

Puma Kings consolidated their position of fifth in the league table, overcoming the efforts of fellow mid-table outfit, Rainham Working Mens Club. Liam Tormey netted all three of the Rainham goals but Puma braces from Louis Pernice and Josh Morris plus a Kadeem Kazeem effort saw their side to an important 5-3 win.

Completing the day’s action in Division Two, Aaron Rich’s rich vein of goalscoring form continued as his Upshire Forest side battled to a 3-0 win at home on Saturday against the visiting Old Esthameians outfit. Rich’s two-goal haul was supplemented by a Leighton Hughes-Franklin effort to round off a decent second quarter of the season for the Waltham Abbey side.

DIVISION THREE

Custom House United will enjoy their turkey dinner this Christmas as they ensured their place at the top of the Division Three table at the mid-way mark following a massively important 6-0 win away at fellow promotion contenders Brook City in Woodford. There was a hat-trick of braces as Matthew Guy, Robert Wooster and Glenn Levy all scored two goals each to end a successful first half of the season for the Dockers.

Well placed with a couple of games in hand behind the leaders are Haver Town Reserves who have backed up their title last season with another good start this time around. They are two points off the pace following a comfortable 3-0 win on Saturday away at New Star Soccer in Seven Kings, their eighth league win in twelve so far this season with much still to play for.

Fourth placed Frenford A saw their own promotion hopes take a blow as they made the journey along the A12 to face Flyers Reserves. Tiwa Osifuwa scored for Frenford but Flyers goals from Corey Jordan and Joshua Gustave carried the hosts to a hard fought 2-1 to end their year in positive fashion.

Tower Hamlets Reserves’ will expect to challenge at the top end in the second half of the season but they had to rescue the points on Saturday as they fell 3-1 behind to Glendale as two goals from Abbas Khabbaz and an Emmanuel Ampaabeng goal saw the Dales ahead. Hamlets rallied in the second period to level it up on the hour and took advantage of tired (and cold) legs to win it late on 6-3.

Making a move up the table, Chingford Harriers, ended their year with a win as they faced St Francis at home on Saturday, looking for some crucial points to move them away from the relegation zone. Harriers’ goals from Edwin Jabbari, James Morris and Nick Shawyer were just enough, edging a five goal contest against the plucky Saints. Tiago Lopes got both of the goals in reply but his efforts were ultimately in vain.

DIVISION FOUR

Goals were the order of the day in Division Four with the small matter of twenty-two scored in just two fixtures! Brentwood United Reserves were on hot form as they rattled six goals past Dagenham United Reserves without reply to net their sixth win of the season. Two goals apiece from Sila Misambu and Andy Lawrence plus strikes from Jonathan Mogege and Bobby Demmon wrapped up the 6-0 win and three points.

Replacement nets may be required in the Chadwell Heath area as they were peppered an astonishing sixteen times in the contest between Newham Royals and Soul Youth. Santa arrived early for the Royals it seems who had four-goal Anthony Adade and hat-trick hero Ronald Asante to thank for the majority of the damage. Andrew Cook also scored twice while Glen Brickley, Kelechi Dyke and old stalwart Richard Smith all netted too in a 12-4 scoreline. Hamzah Adnan and Nazmul Ahmed got the Soul consolation goals in reply.

COUNTY CUP

Completing the weekend’s action, there was a hugely important match in the Essex Junior Cup where the delayed fourth round tie saw Jolof Sports look for a place in the quarter finals as they hosted Colchester-based Boxted Lodgers in East Ham. In a very tight contest, Jolof finally settled it with a second half winner in a 2-1 result which secured their place in the last eight against Westhamians.