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

SENIOR DIVISION

Just three points now separate the sides from first to fourth in the Senior Division as Sporting Hackney produced an important winning performance on Saturday to send leaders FC Baresi to a first league defeat of the season. Parrots goals from Jordan Brown and Percival Winter were enough to earn their side a 2-0 win and the luxury of a game in hand to affect things further.

That made Friday night’s game for Jolof Sports massively important as they saw the visit of Blue Marlin to Mayesbrook Park knowing a win would point them just a point behind. And that was how things panned out as Sandro Pereira and Mouhamed Sall both struck twice, Abraham Gassama and Alexander Sow netting the others in a 7-0 victory for the hosts.

Brimsdown were the other side to really take advantage of those results around them as they stayed third with a successful home win against Rapid Chingford at Wormley Playing Fields. The hosts were 5-0 winners on the day as they continued their excellent form to secure win number nine of the season, just two points off the pace now.

Over at The Drive, it was a good afternoon for hosts Frenford Development who saw their good form continue with a comfortable 5-0 home success against Lymore Gardens, cutting the gap to their opponents to just a single point. Joel Opara scored twice with Jhon Castillo, Isima Iguisi and Kyron Chiedozie efforts completing the scoring.

There were two huge results affecting matters at the bottom end of the table where Crookz United moved themselves to within four points of safety with a massively important win at home against Walthamstow Reserves in the local derby. Crookz were 2-1 winners at Peter May to complete just a second league win of the season as they look to avoid the drop.

Over in Hainault, Oakside took advantage of other results around them to skip up into eleventh position as they hosted an out of form Dagenham United side at Fairlop Oak, the sides level on points going into the contest. But ‘Side have moved three clear by full-time, 4-0 winners in the game to make it four league wins for the season.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

The big game in the Premier Division East on Saturday saw first versus second where Underscore United moved five points clear as they secured all three points in a hard fought game against RCXI. Underscore were 3-1 winners in Newbury Park to make it eight wins from eight this season, increasing their lead over the chasing pack.

Moving into third place are Waltham Abbey A who put their sixth win on the board with a solid away win against ninth placed Wapping over in Dagenham. Alfie Bruno and Dom Farmer got the key punches in with a goal apiece to see their side to a 2-0 success, moving them to within a point of the promotion places.

Aveley Under 23s also had a good afternoon in front of goal as they put six past Freetown without reply to ensure they stay in touch with a number of games in hand on the other clubs around them. Finlay Shipp, Kyle Brand, Bobby Reeman, Sola Adebo, Samuel Omoniyi and Jack Sach all netted for the Millers to confirm a 6-0 home success.

It’s been a good last few weeks for an improved London Park City who continue to open up a gap on the sides below them having picked up a fourth league win on Saturday, defeating Cowley Community in a 2-1 scoreline ion Newbury Park. George Montgomey and Mamadou Aw scored the City goals with Manasseh Tackie netting the Cowley consolation.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

An eleven goal thriller kicks off the West action with Priory Park Rangers eventually coming out on top of their contest away at Leyton City by the odd goal to move themselves two points clear at the top of the table. Jahvarn Steward netted a City hat-trick with Liam Kennedy and Adam Rowe both also scoring but their efforts proved in vain ultimately as Rangers won 6-5.

Second placed AEK London saw themselves stay well placed but drop a couple of points back off the pace as they were held to a 2-2 draw by sixth placed Soul at Mabley Green. Duke Aidoo scored both of the Soul goals as they secured an important point to continue their good run of form in recent weeks.

It will have been an afternoon of relief for Athletic Newham Under 23s who finally picked up a first win of their season and doubled their goal tally as they took all three points against North East Lions at Flanders. Mehdadul Kazi scored the Lions effort but that proved in vain as Newham scored three of their own in a 3-1 success.

The division’s final game saw one of those rare things in grassroots football, a goalless draw, as G7 and London Cranes drew a blank in their clash at Victoria Park. Despite the hosts going into the game trailing their lofty opponents by thirteen points, they were able to take a valuable point against the promotion chasers as the game finished 0-0 to share the spoils.

DIVISION ONE

The biggest winners of the day in Division One were Eagles Football who were in rampant form in front of goal with a strong 8-1 winning performance against Forest Green down at Castle Green. That was Eagles’ third win of the season as they moved seven points clear of their opponents, sitting seventh in the standings.

Leaders Newham Wanderers overturned the disappointment of their previous outing against Old Esthameians to pick up three points in the return fixture, coming out narrow 1-0 winners against the fourth placed side. Addae Paponette extended his scoring record, netting the only goal of a close game to ensure his side opened up a six point gap at the top.

Those results enabled Ilford Reserves to move closer to the action immediately above them as the young Foxes came out on top of an incredibly close game at home against Unitey in Hainault, winning 1-0 to leapfrog above their opposition on goal difference. That win saw them Ilford go fifth and just a point behind the side above them with games in hand.

Atholl will also be pleased with their efforts as they moved out of the relegation places after taking home all three points from Beckton where they had beaten bottom of the table Kwanzas London Sport to move up a number of places. Atholl were 5-1 winners, their second league success of the campaign thus far.

DIVISION TWO

Woodford East Reserves produced their biggest win of the season on Saturday as they moved into mid-table with a thumping 10-0 away success against Barking Potters. Owen McKelvey and Will Osmond both scored hat-tricks, Tom Osmond netted two and one apiece from Taylor McLaughlin and Jamie Prime gave them all three points, their fourth league success of the season.

Leaders Snaresbrook continued their terrific start in the league this season as they made it nine wins from nine so far with a 5-0 away win against Lymore Gardens Reserves at Leyton County Ground. Alex Gordon set them on their way with a hat-trick, John Blount and Daniel Tesfay efforts rounding off the scoring.

Over in Walthamstow, a seven-goal thriller saw second placed FC Baresi Under 23s slip to just a second defeat of the season as Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves overcame a five-place deficit in the table to earn a 4-3 win. Miguel Martins scored twice with Akachukwu Ezeemo and Ben Ward also netting for the Spartans to cancel out hosts’ goals from Hamza Hafesji (2) and Joshua Adu.

DIVISION THREE

There were goals aplenty in Division Three where Newbury East and Frenford A combined for a seven-goal thriller in their local derby, leaders East eventually prevailing in a 4-3 win to maintain their gap at the top. A goal apiece from Chaka Barnett, Rafai Bentick, Junior Milla and Reda El Ghaibouz proved just enough, Kishawn James scoring twice in reply and Abdulramon Jaji once.

Second placed Jolof Sports Reserves remain just four points behind the leaders, aided by their most recent success which saw them return home from Buckhurst Way with all three points in an 8-2 away win in Buckhurst Hill. That was Jolof’s ninth win of the campaign and takes their points tally to twenty-seven while Way drop into tenth.

It was a bad day at the office for third placed Chingford Harriers who lost ground on the sides above them after falling to a comprehensive 7-1 defeat away at Glendale. Muhammed Camara extended his goal record with two more, Devendra Choudhary also netted two with Valter Correia, Roland Farkas and Attila Szabo also netting for the Dales to cancel out Nick Shawyer’s goal for Harriers.

That result enabled Flyers Under 21s to move within a point of Harriers above them, adding a sixth league win to their name this campaign as they produced a 5-0 winning performance against Melbourne Sports in Romford. That took Flyers’ points record to eighteen for the season, just one off the side immediately above them.

There was an eight goal thriller at Westlands as Romford Under 21s and Dagenham United Reserves, level on points going into the day’s action, faced each other in Chadwell Heath. As the league table might suggest, the two sides were well matched and the game ended in a 4-4 draw as they each took a point to add to their records.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, Collier Row Wheels moved themselves to within three points of the leaders as they produced a winning away performance in east London, beating West Essex Under 23s in a 4-0 scoreline in Walthamstow. That saw Wheels roll to a sixth league success of the season, albeit having now played a game more than the leaders above them.

Mid-table Inter London missed the chance to make progress up the table as they were held to an entertaining draw by an Emerson & Upminster Reserves side in Rainham, the sides finishing level at 3-3 in the game. Nabil Salim and Ace Soyemi scored for Inter but two Tyler Huggett goals and a Gordon Archie effort took their Emerson side level and away with a point.

Fifth placed Flyers Under 23s were able to move up a place on the back of other results around them as they prevailed in a narrow 2-1 away win against Newham & Havering Borough in Rainham to take home all three points to Romford. Despite going into the game twelve points clear of their opponents, it was just the odd goal to separate the sides on the day.

COUNTY CUP

Last season’s BBC Essex Premier Cup finalists, Woodford East, are into the hat for the quarter finals once again this season as they came through the all-EAL tie against May & Baker EC Reserves, winning 4-2 at Mabley Green to place themselves just two performances from another potential final.

Fellow top flight side Chadwell Heath Spartans saw their run in the competition reach an end as they were knocked out on the road away at Wakering Sports Reserves, the Olympian side securing a 3-2 win on the day to book their place in the last eight.

Also out of the competition are Kit Out London who faced a trip to Ramsden on Saturday as they took on Toby in the fourth round clash. But a 3-0 win for the hosts saw Kit Out end their run in the competition for another year.

In the day’s London Junior Cup third round action, Renegade were in home action with a tie against Wood Lane at Hackney Marshes. It was the visitors who ended the day the happier of the sides as Wood Lane won 2-0 on the day to put themselves through.

Photo Credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC