WEEK 16 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

Chadwell Heath Spartans are through to the quarter-finals of this season’s Fenton Cup competition after reversing their fortunes against Haringey Borough Under 23s to earn a hard fought win at Coles Park. Enoch Salami and Ryan O’Connell were both on target, rendering Leo Ruci’s goal as just consolation as Spartans won 2-1.

FENTON TROPHY

In the Fenton Trophy competition, Saint City Reserves also put themselves into the hat for the last eight of that competition but had to work hard to earn victory against fellow Division Two side CSM London Under 23s. The only goal scoring moment of the game came courtesy of Kenneth Obananaya’s strike which enabled City to walk away 1-0 winners.

SENIOR DIVISION

On Friday evening, Philip United ensured they remained top of the table for another week at least, sitting three points clear after a comprehensive 8-1 home win against AS Rapid Londra at Parsloes Park. Dee Okojie and Joshua Wisdom both scored twice with Tamas Retyi, Raj Palit, Michael Olatunji and Stone Esenga on the scoresheet, overcoming a Nicusor Buzatu effort for the visitors.

A few yards away, Bakers693 put in one of their better performances of the campaign but still ended on the wrong side of the result, FC Petrocub London eventually prevailing in a 2-1 scoreline to net three points for themselves. Mario Embalo continued his scoring streak for the hosts with another goal but that wasn’t quite enough in the end.

The Saturday action saw a couple of score draws, beginning up at Mark Hall where Ongar Town were taking on Walthamstow Reserves, the hosts beginning the day with a thirteen point lead over their opponents. And that was how it remained by the end also as Ethan Hook’s goal for Town meant that the game ended locked at 1-1.

Over at Ashton Playing Fields, Woodford Town Reserves were at home with the visit of a Sporting Hackney side still trying to scramble for vital points to move closer to safety. There was little between the sides in the game with both netting in a 1-1 draw to share the spoils, Arthur Massingham the player on target for Town.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, it’s Barkingside Reserves leading the way at the top of the table by a point, moving to the summit on the back of a sixth win of the season, taking home all three points from Lakeside Sports Ground after a 3-0 away win against Redbridge Community.

With other rivals in cup action, Kit Out London had the chance to close the gap on the promotion places and they duly obliged, picking up a fourth league win of the season after victory in a seven-goal thriller against Inter Newbury at Parsloes Park. Charles Ariwa scored a hat-trick and Bobby Brown one as their side ran out 4-3 winners, Dawid Potoczek netting an Inter hat-trick in reply.

There was a big result affecting matters at both ends of the table as bottom side FC Baresi Reserves travelled to Fairlop to take on a promotion chasing Motormen side. Despite starting the day without a league win to their name this season, FC Baresi managed to take all three points in a 2-1 victory, as Gabriel Mazur and Melvine Boni both scored.

There was a cracker of a game in the fourth and final fixture from the division as Something From Nothing were the host side at Fairlop to take on Romford Town Flyers, five points between the sides at the start of the game. Junior Likosso, Junior Milla and Temi Alaka all struck for SFN though with Ibrahima Sow scoring twice in reply and Alvin Smeraldi once, the game ending locked at 3-3.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, there were wins for all of the top three sides, beginning in East Ham where a local derby fixture pitted Saint City up against Flanders co-tenants London Cranes. But it was the Saints who reigned supreme once again with Derek Adu scoring a hat-trick, Richard Seixas netting a couple and Ibrahim Basri completing the scoring in a 6-3 result.

Second placed Sporting Bengal United Reserves are the side with the games in hand to get close to the leaders and they ensured it remained that way for a while longer after a fifth success of the season, defeating Stratford East. Sporting were 3-1 winners to take their points tally up to sixteen but with a fourteen gap to make up on City.

Down in third, Newham Wanderers are also on sixteen points following the weekend’s results, earning the biggest win of the day in the division after a comprehensive away victory against London Park City in Seven Kings. Wanderers struck the back of the net eight times, eventually winning the game 8-1 in the end.

The other game from the division came from Hackney Marshes where Priory Park Rangers were in action with a home clash against Vallance, Rangers heading into the game with a two place and two point lead over their opponents. And that was the way it stood by the end also as the teams battled to a point apiece in a 2-2 draw.

DIVISION ONE

It’s as you were at the summit of Division One where Ocean Pacific remain with a three point lead over their closest rivals, adding win number nine to their account for the season following a 3-1 away win against Old Barkabbeyans. Bruce Akatwijuka scored for Barks but that proved just consolation as Ocean struck three of their own.

One of the sides with the best chance of catching the leaders are Old Esthameians who sit second at the midway point of the league campaign having made a strong start of their own, an eighth win of the season secured on Saturday after a 5-2 home victory against eighth placed Loughton Town in Newbury Park.

With plenty of games in hand, Condor are another of the teams to show the ability to keep the chase alive and they racked up win number six on Saturday, coming away from Woodford with all three points after a 4-2 win at Leyton City. Awal Lawal scored twice for City with Darius Darie’s double adding to further goals from Ruslan Belicescu and Mihai Bozianu for the visitors.

Fifth placed FC Alpha ensured they remain in the top half of the table for another week at least as they completed an away win on Saturday, picking up a hard fought 2-1 win against Freetown at Castle Green to move onto fourteen points. David Agbon and Denis Musteata were the scorers on the day to enable Alpha to walk away winners.

DIVISION TWO

Leaders, Parsonage Leys, remain three points clear at the top of the table in Division Two after they earned an eighth win of the season in the league on Saturday, taking all three points home from Grange Paddocks after beating Haringey United in a 5-2 scoreline. Jack Payton scored twice off the bench with Ross Payton, Leon Arif and Stanley Mukoma also netting. Leon Bodkin and Dwayne Smith struck the United consolation efforts in reply.

Royal Forest, with a couple of games in hand over the others, remain in the best position to challenge as they made it seven wins from eight at the weekend, a 7-0 home win against Ongar Town Reserves the reward for their efforts. Remel Green scored a hat-trick, Stanley Kweya struck two with Jake Tibbitts and Daniel Thompson also netting.

Old Parkonians A will have been pleased with their efforts, producing a key winning performance against a side sat seven points ahead of them before the start, beating Old Barkabbeyans Reserves in a 5-1 scoreline. Two Charlie Fiander goals kicked things off with Archie Fisher, Burt Cardy and Billy Mason also netting, overcoming a Simon Draper goal for the visitors.

Completing the action from the division was the clash from Fairlop Oak where Glendale were up against a Dagenham United Reserves side who began the game with a five point lead over them. But a dramatic last quarter of the game saw Dagenham lead through an own goal before Bruno Costa’s late double for the Dales turned the game on its head for Glendale to win it 2-1.

DIVISION THREE

Leaders, IONA Wheels, have moved into a ten-point cushion at the top of the Division Three table following the weekend’s results, a couple of late goals the difference in their game at home to Chingford Harriers as Wheels won 2-0 to stay unbeaten. Lewis Deacon and Jack Stockdale both found the back of the net to make it nine wins from ten at the halfway point.

The biggest winners of the day in the division were Redbridge Community Reserves who were involved in the early game at Lakeside, taking on a Cobra side sat one place and three points ahead of their hosts at the beginning of the contest. Luke Joy struck for Cobra but his goal wasn’t enough as Redbridge won 5-1 in the end to move level with their opponents on eight points.

There was a cracker of a seven-goal thriller at Bancrofts where Buckhurst Way went in search of more league points with a home fixture against Jays, both sides starting the day level on nine points. Both sides were well involved with this contest however but it was Buckhurst who took the win, edging the game 4-3 to move up into sixth place as the second highest scorers in the division.

Another close game was witnessed in the other fixture from the division where Romford Town Flyers Reserves played host to a London Academics side looking to break into the promotion picture with a win. And win they did but not without a real battle on their hands, picking up a narrow 3-2 win despite Romford goals from Alan Butt and Clinton Oduku.

COUNTY CUP

The BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup saw the majority of league sides make progress into the fourth round, beginning with CSM London’s strong away win as they defeated Essex Senior League opposition, a 7-0 victory against Barking Under 23s.

Also through at the expense of a senior reserve side were Frenford Development as they renewed old acquaintances with Aveley Under 23s at The Drive on Saturday and made comfortable passage into the last sixteen with a 4-0 home win.

It was also a great afternoon for Fairlop Rovers, last season’s county cup finalists in the Junior Cup competition defeating the Premier Cup winners of the season prior, Shenfield AFC, as ten-man Rovers put their opposition to the sword in a 2-1 win.

Another of the league’s top flight sides to make progress were Lymore Gardens who travelled to Premier Division East high-flyers Dagenham United in an all-EAL battle at Robert Clack. There was just one goal in the contest which Lymore netted to earn a 1-0 and into the next round.

Waltham Forest Borough saw their campaign come to an end at the third round stage, the former finalists of a few season ago seeing their run ended at home against Essex Olympian League sides Toby at Parsloes Park, 4-1 the scoreline.

It was the same scoreline at Noak Hill where Greengate District had it all to do against the unbeaten Essex Senior League reserve section leaders, Takeley Reserves. And it proved the end of the road for Greengate who went down 4-1 on the day.

In the London Junior Cup third round, there was less success for our sides as both saw their exit from the competition, including a step seven scalp for Redbridge Reserves who took out Kulture in the London Cup, Redbridge 2-1 winners in that tie.

North East Lions had a long away day to south London as they were up against AMG Ballerz from Division One West of the Kent County League. Despite their decent start in the league, Lions were humbled on the day, losing 8-1.

The final action of the day came in the London Under 18s Cup where Just Play were the league’s only representatives but saw their run come to an end, going down in a 5-2 defeat at Hackney Marshes against Crown Pro Elite Under 18s.

Photo Credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC / A Bridge Too Far