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

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

This season's Senior Cup competition got underway in midweek last week, beginning on Tuesday evening where Fairlop Rovers were up against a CSM London side at Parsloes Park for a place in the quarter-finals. A close game saw just one goal seperate the teams, that scored by CSM's Dylan Flynn as his side 1-0 to progress through.

Then on Wednesday evening, attentions were turned to Ashton Playing FIelds where Woodford Town Reserves were up against a Haringey Borough Under 23s side with both sides eyeing a place in the last eight. Zayshaun Asamoah was on the Borough scoresheet but Town goals in reply from Remarle Lawrence, Mehmet Yusuf and Albert James meant it was a 3-1 Woodford win on the night. 

SENIOR DIVISION

The Senior Division action commenced on Friday evening with the leaders in action at Parsloes Park, Philip United facing up to a Sporting Hackney side keen to collect some points in their bid to avoid the drop. But it was Philip who once again showed their credentials for silverware with a 4-0 winning performance, moving six points clear.

That result was made all the more important as one of the contenders, CSM London, saw a couple of points dropped from their trip to Noak Hill to face FC Petrocub London. With little between the sides, the game ended in a 1-1 draw to share the points with Jesse Jones scoring that goal for the visitors ahead of their mammoth encounter with the leaders this coming Friday night.

There was a cracker of a game at Lakeside Sports Ground where hosts AS Rapid Londra and Haringey Borough Under 23s produced a seven-goal thriller.  Claudiu Florea, Andrei Boga and Ionut Labunt all scored for the hosts but two Borough goals from Mohamed Keita and one each from Louis Maffia and Patryk Bozych meant it was their side leaving 4-3 winners.

That was also the scoreline in another of the games at Wadham Lodge where Walthamstow Reserves found them in a strong lead courtesy of a brace from Callum Fisher and one each from Omar Dacas and Kemar Bello. But an improving Bakers693 side fought back and almost took something from the game, the match eventually finish 4-3 in 'Stow's favour.

Over at Parsloes Park, Chadwell Heath Spartans were the visitors to take on a Waltham Forest Borough side still sitting in thirteenth in the standings. A tightly fought game was only settled late on in the contest, Ryan O'Connell applying the finishing touch from a few yards out to make it a 1-0 winning scoreline for Spartans who move eighth.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

It's Greengate District who top the table in the East division with one to go until the festive break, making it six wins in ten this season on Saturday with a 3-0 home win against FC Baresi Reserves at Noak Hill. Muhammed Cham was the hero, scoring all three of the District goals to hand them a two point lead in the race for the title.

With affecting the schedule, there was just the one other result from the division which came from Parsloes Park in the late game, previous leaders Barkingside Reserves taking on a Kit Out London side. Kit Out started the day four points behind 'Side but ended it just one off the pace, winning the game 2-1 courtesy of strikes from Emmanuel Manu-Gyamfi and Curtis Pollard-Griffiths.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

There was just the one surviving game in the West division and that came from Custom House where  Newham Wanderers were the hosts to a Stratford East side keen to increase their points total. And it was the lower ranked Stratford side who left this one happier, winning 3-2 on the day with goals from Uesli Bilaj, Elia Zikos and Kolade Aileru, rendering Emmanual Chukwumah's goal as consolation.

DIVISION ONE

The sole action from Division One saw FC Alpha produce a scinterlating first half performance against Old Barkabbeyans to set them up for a big 8-3 win, their fifth victory in the league this term. Michael Ryder scored two and Robbie Marlow one for Barks but a Liviu Nistreanu hat-trick, Denis Musteata brace and others from Vasile Rosca, David Agbon and Igor Mamulat meant it was an Alpha win.

DIVISION TWO

All three fixtures in Division Two managed to survive including the only game on grass which saw CSM London Under 23s net late on to take all three points in 4-3 contest against Haringey United. Komar Mohamadpor struck two with Achina Ezekiel and Paramvir Convery also on target for CSM while Leon Bodkin scored two for Haringey and Dwayne Smith one in reply. 

At Grange Paddocks, there was an entertaining game between Parsonage Leys and Saint City Reserves which saw the sides combine for six goals. Leon Arif was on fire for the hosts, scoring a hat-trick for Leys while Richard Seixas, Denison St Louis and Alberto Jalo struck for City in response to share the spoils at 3-3.

Over in Dagenham, at Robert Clack, Dagenham United were up against another of the division's front-runners as Royal Forest made the trip in search of more points for their promotion quest. Tajay Smith scored for Dagenham but his effort proved not quite enough in the end as Royal Forest netted three of their own in a 3-1 success.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the focus was on the game from Lakeside Sports Ground, the only storm surviving fixture, which saw Jays up against a Romford Town Flyers Reserves side. Goals were the order of the day in this contest too with Dylan Thorn and Kane Ledeatte both netting for Flyers to help their side take the points in a 4-3 success.

COUNTY CUP

In the Essex Junior Cup, Condor have secured their place in the fourth round of the competition, taking out higher ranked opposition on Saturday with a 2-1 home win against Mid Essex League Premier Division outfit Fleet. Their reward is a home tie early next month against Pitsea Athletic Reserves.

The day's other tie from that competition saw an exit from Lymore Gardens Under 23s, the Division One side seeing their run reach an end after a 7-0 home defeat at Parsloes Park against Leigh Town who progress on themselves.

The Essex Junior Trophy third round action saw the progress of Old Barkabbeyans Reserves who came through their all-EAL clash against Division Three's Changing Lives, the hosts winning 4-2 to book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.