WEEK 17 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

Chadwell Heath Spartans continued a positive run of results with another cup victory this weekend, defeating Premier Division side Old Esthameians in a 5-1 result at Fords. Ryan O’Connell scored two, Mitchell Smith, Billy Gipp and Deren Kale adding the others to send the holders into the last eight.

FENTON TROPHY

It’s a quarter-final place confirmed in the Fenton Trophy too where Get Rich Together secured their progress in the Lakeside derby, defeating Redbridge Community 4-1. Christopher Grant scored two with Isaiah Djoboga and Jake Cameron adding the gloss.

SENIOR DIVISION

Friday night saw a big match between sides in the promotion places as leaders London Harts United travelled up to Ongar Town and returned with all three points after a stunning 5-0 win. Tam Retyi scored a hat-trick with Michael Olatunji and David Moyo adding the others to move their side eight points clear.

Haringey Borough Reserves were also in action on Friday and raced into an lead only for CSM London to mount a terrific fightback and level the game before a late Borough winner in a 4-3 scoreline, Nana Sarfo, Junior Milla and David Komolafe with the goals for CSM.

Over at Noak Hill, another game between two sides in the top five saw Saint City in town to take on FC Petrocub London. A fast start saw City ahead early doors and despite late pressure, held on to win the game 3-1 with goals from Mubaraq Alade, Harry Carter and Derek Adu.

In the game at Robert Clack, it was Woodford Town Under 23s who left the happier of the two sides as goals from Jayden Bangura and Reon Murray-Whyte saw them end 2-0 winners against Dagenham United in a crucial game towards the foot of the standings.

There were six goals at The Drive where Sporting Bengal United Reserves moved four points clear of danger with a vital 4-2 win over Frenford Development. Khari Pobi and Beau Samuels both struck for the hosts but Ezekiel Ertl’s double plus Seth Mutsvanga and Darnell Fuller goals gave Bengal the win.

The Wadham Lodge derby pitted Ryan and Kulture against each other having started the day level on points towards the bottom of the table. But a goal apiece from Koray Ahmet and Landry Gogoa proved enough for Kulture to take the points in a 2-1 success.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

Old Barkabbeyans have moved top of the Premier East table on goal difference following the weekend’s results, Yunus Mussa scoring both of the goals in the game to hand his side a 2-0 win over Manford Way Reserves.

With games in hand, fifth placed Inter Newbury can still make their move towards the summit and continued that push with a 3-1 away victory over Condor in the Dagenham derby as Halameen Agbaje’s brace and a Jordan Gallagher effort proved pivotal.

It was an important afternoon’s work for Motormen who secured just a second win of the season on Saturday with a 6-2 away victory over Athletic Newham Under 23s. Kamarni Collington, Soloman Sharpe and Vaughan Wrightson all struck with braces for the visitors in the win.

It ended all square at Fairlop as Something From Nothing took another valuable point, drawing 1-1 in their clash with sixth placed Kit Out London. Aaron Francis-Hendricks scored the hosts’ goal which keeps them in tenth.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

It’s looking like a two-way battle for the West honours as both leading sides banked wins, including an 8-0 success for leaders Newham Wanderers over FC Baresi Reserves, goals arriving from Muhammed Camara (2), Emmanuel Chukwumah, Mussa Jamanca, Robertson Morais, Manuel Sanuo, Umar Zeb and Stefan Radu.

Over at Fords Newbury Park, second placed Vallance put a big gap between themselves and third placed Unitey with a 3-0 win over the same, remaining unbeaten too, helped by a goal apiece from Oscar Harris, Kaywan Khourshid and Kudus Olowe.

That result gave an opportunity for sides below third to make up some ground and Onyx done exactly that, netting both of the game’s goals in a close fixture at London Cranes. Mason Young and Nathan Gilberto-Grosvenor were the scorers of the goals.

Another close game saw Sporting Hackney start the day a point behind hosts North East Lions in their game at Peter May but, despite an Oskar Plusa strike for Lions, it was the Parrots leaving with the points as they edged the contest 2-1 to move above their opponents.

More local derby action came from Wadham Lodge where West Essex Reserves played host to an Ocean Pacific side sat just one place off the drop zone as play got underway. A couple of Sergio Baca goals proved vital however for Ocean to bag all three points, winning 2-0.

DIVISION ONE EAST

League leaders, Loughton Town, continued their position at the top of the table in Division One East after edging their clash with Lymore Gardens Reserves by the odd goal, 2-1 victors through a couple of Will Osmond goals.

Second placed Royal Forest remain their closest rivals and saw the visit of Dagenham United Reserves to Roding Valley High School on Saturday where Tajay Smith’s strike for United wasn’t quite enough in the end, Forest leaving 3-1 victors.

DIVISION ONE WEST

With the top two out of league action, Hackney Wanderers used that to their advantage, moving to within a point after a 4-2 away win against Changing Lives. Jahmari Cumberbatch scored twice, Kieran Bennett and Muhammed Omotoso one each to overcome Yaya Abdoulaye’s double for the hosts.

Fourth placed SP United were another side to move up the table on Saturday as Richard Arhin’s super four-goal haul for the hosts saw them edge a seven-goal thriller against seventh-placed UK Moldova in Walthamstow, 4-3 the final scoreline.

Over in Barkingside, hosts Sich London started their game with a four point lead over bottom of the table Tajik Unity, but were able to extend that to seven with a 2-0 win here. Vasyl Kovtash and Valentin Svidruk were both on the scoresheet in the win.

DIVISION TWO

Eastside Foundation recorded a big 6-3 away victory at Castle Green over Freetown as Asher Modeste and Tyler Houston-Taylor both scored twice, Mikael Martin and Ryan Taylor the others, rendering Freetown goals from Salawu Gbolahan, Seun Lasile and Richard Kabutey as consolation.

Over in north east London, Thurrock Thameside recorded an impressive result to move to within a point of London Academics following a 4-2 win over them. Terrill Blake-Alleyne and Christopher Ntueba had struck with London goals but those weren’t quite enough in the end.

London East returned to winning ways with a strong home performance in their game against Lymore Gardens Under 23s, the hosts winning the match 4-1 to move onto twelve points for the campaign so far and up to seventh spot.

DIVISION THREE CUP

It was a strong opening performance in the Division Three Cup for Upminster Albion who moved top of the pile in the group stage after a 4-1, George Cornwell inspired win over Cobra. Cornwell scored all four for his side, Jamie Cridland with the visitors’ response.

COUNTY CUP

FC Alpha recorded a strong win in round three of the Essex Junior Cup, defeating Leytonstone United in a 10-3 result at Noak Hill to send their side through to a last sixteen battle with Broomfield in the next round of the competition.

It was a narrow defeat at Parsloes Park for Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves who saw their run in the cup reach a conclusion after a 2-1 defeat against Essex & Suffolk Border League side, White Notley Reserves.

Also heading out of the competition are Old Barkabbeyans Reserves who saw their run conclude on the road away at Olympian League sides Blackmore, the match ending 5-2 in favour of the hosts who progress on.

It was some away day blues also for Parsonage Leys who saw their run ended with a tough 6-2 away defeat against Olympian Division Three leaders, Broomfield, having beaten the reserve side of the same club in the previous round.

In the Essex Junior Trophy, it’s a place in the quarter finals confirmed for CSM London Under 23s who continue their great run in the competition with a comprehensive 5-0 away win over Danbury Mission on Saturday to move to within two wins of a final appearance.

It was heartache at Peter May however as Chingford Harriers and Leigh Ramblers A couldn’t be separated in a 3-3 draw after extra-time, but it was the visitors who held their nerve in the shootout to win that 3-2 to give Leigh the tie.

The day’s AFA Intermediate Cup action also ended at the third round stage for league clubs with Old Parkonians A seeing their run conclude with a 5-2 home defeat against an Old Salvatorians 2s side who had too much on the day.

OUTSIDE COMPETITIONS

In the Anagrams Records Trophy, the league will have representation in the quarter-finals as Waltham Forest Borough held on to net a 4-3 win against old rivals, Wakering Sports, as they now head to Hertford Heath in the last eight.

Up in Hertfordshire, it was another clash with Olympian opposition as hosts, Bishops Stortford Swifts, proved too strong on the day for Senior Division side Fairlop Rovers, 8-3 the final scoreline as Swifts headed into the quarters.

It was a tight affair in the final game of the day where Bealonians had slipped to an early 2-0 deficit against Old Bradfieldians in the Old Boys Senior Cup but rallied to complete a comeback, levelling at 2-2 before winning the shootout 5-4.