WEEK 18 REVIEW: Essex county cup hopes ended despite gallant displays

With an unprecedented three clubs still involved in Essex county cup action going into the new year, we were hopeful to have a name in the quarter final but alas it was not to be. Going closest were Melbourne Sports who had held opponents Sumners in the Essex Junior Cup all the way but hopes were dashed by a late, late winner when extra time looked certain. Also in Junior Cup action were Chingford Athletic who met Mid Essex league leaders Great Baddow and saw their efforts thwarted by the in-form side, going down 6-0. In the Essex Junior Trophy, Northend faced Essex Olympian side, Barkingside Under-21s, and in a close game were also defeated, going down 3-1. Full credit to each of these sides on their runs in these competitions. We hope that St Francis and St Johns Deaf can take up the fight in their respective competitions.

In domestic cup action, the Division Two Cup saw two fixtures, one of which went all the way. Nothing could separate promotions chasing sides, West Essex Res and Leyton Green as the game ended 3-3 with Wyndell Foster netting twice for Green and Samuel Brown, James Bromley and Otis Gatehouse responding for West Essex. In the drama of the shootout that followed, Leyton Green were victors by 3 kicks to 1 to take their place in the quarter final. Not quite so much drama in the tie taking place where high-flying Grove United saw off Newham Royals in a 9-1 win with the remarkable feat of seven goals scored by Harry Chalk. John Hughes was on target with a brace.

In the Premier Division, leaders May & Baker EC A were back in action and resumed normal order with a tight 3-2 win at home to Newham Res. Chingford Town were the biggest winners in the division as they saw off Cranes United in a 5-2 victory. Two goals from Aaron Gonzalez and strikes from Joseph Johnson, Jack Lustig and Bill Johnson were enough to secure the points for Town and keep them in the mix. Two goals from Matthew Allen and another from Ryan Parker were enough to take AAH Romford to victory in their match-up with Rainham Working Mens Club, winning 3-1. In the final game, Nicholas Shawyer and David Fairlie netted for Chingford Harriers but it wasn’t enough to take anything from the game as Eastside Rangers found the net three times in reply courtesy of two goals from Arron Hamilton and a goal from Jermaine Sweeney to win 3-2.

The result of the day came in Division One where London Bari Res travelled to Blue Marlin and ended a long unbeaten run for the hosts through goals from Ben Shoderu and Andrew Elie in a 2-1 victory. That result hands St Johns Deaf with the initiative in the title race but with the sides still to crucially face each other in the return fixture. Vittoriosa Falcons stay third after a 5-0 win against Forest Green with Nathan Scarborough bagging a hat-trick and Daniel Vearer on target with two to secure maximum points. Three Colts continued their excellent recent form with a 5-1 win at home to Glendale despite Dave Richardson’s excellent strike for the visitors.

Custom House made it back-to-back wins in Division Two with a 9-0 win against visitors Canio. Paul Wooster scored a hat-trick to go along with a brace for Ritchie Weeks and strikes from Robert Wooster, Bradley Routledge, Liam Sullivan and Jay Jolly. In the only other game in Division Two, Cowley Community took advantage of the other leading sides not being in action to go top of the table with an 8-1 win against Singh Sabha Barking.