WEEK 18 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

The Fenton Cup threw up plenty of thrills and spills on Saturday with three sides throwing overcoming sides from higher divisions. Unitey were perhaps the biggest winners of the day as the Division Two side made the difficult looking trip to face Senior side CSM London. Omar Wilson’s goal put the top flight side ahead but the game turned on its head in the second half as Unitey goals David Otley and Eyman Muhidin handed them a shock 2-1 win.

Another side overcoming a two division difference were Division Three’s Newham Wanderers as the high-flying side overcame an in-form Tower Hamlets Reserves outfit from Division One. A goal from each of Hamido Jalo and Otto Bolton done the damage for Wanderers who also won 2-1 to go through to the fourth round.

In the battle of two local rivals in Hainault, Division Three’s Glendale were the visitors to face Melbourne Sports on Saturday, making a trip of just a few yards to face the Division Two strugglers. And it was the Dales who will have been happiest with their afternoon’s work with Paul Oriakhi scoring twice in the second half to confirm a third 2-1 win of this report.

The remaining games in the competition saw some big scorelines with FC Petrocub taking the headlines with a 14-0 victory, overcoming London Park City in stunning fashion. The Senior side secured safe passage with four goals from Valentin Siciov, a hat-trick from Constantin Tronciu, braces from Vasilica-Cristinel Ilie, Ghenadie Moisei, Dorin Pascaru and singles from Ion Bojii and Pavel Stirbu.

Division Four’s Prospect Protégé had the most testing of ties on Saturday as they were up against West Essex Reserves showing a four division deficit. And West demonstrated their Senior credentials, putting eleven goals past the visitors. Thomas Davie scored a hat-trick, Hassan Sufie and Corley Ross grabbed two with Jakk Carver, Emmanuel Odunaike, David Livie and Adam Norris netting the others to win 11-0.

Chingford United completed the winning action in the competition as they overcame Sporting Hackney Development, beating their fellow Division One opposition in an 8-0 victory. Mihail Vlad and Octavian Toana both scored hat-tricks with Valentin Bucur netting twice to round off a comprehensive win for the promotion chasing side.

SENIOR DIVISION

Back in league action, there were some big results in the Senior Division where Chigwell extended their lead by a further point after being held to a 1-1 draw at home against FC Baresi in Hainault. The two sides shared the spoils which saw Chigwell’s lead move up to seven points at the top of the table while Baresi move closer to the top four.

Blue Marlin’s stunning recent form shows no end and they moved to within striking distance of the top half, overcoming third placed London Cranes in West Ham. Shadrack Sibasa scored for the hosts but Marlin goals from George Bunce, Charlie Georgiou and Stanislaw Abyszkin handed a 3-1 win to the visitors.

Lymore Gardens’ opening game of the new year saw them return to winning ways too as they headed up the Sewardstone Road to Waltham Abbey to take on Chingford Athletic Reserves. Omani Green scored for Athletic but his efforts proved in vain as Lymore scored three goals of their own to win 3-1, moving them up a place to eighth in the standings.

DIVISION ONE

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DIVISION TWO

Two county cup quarter-finalists came face to face on Saturday where Cowley Community and Upshire Forest warmed up for their respective fixtures next week with a five-goal thriller. Leighton Hughes-Franklin and Luke Robinson both scored for Forest but Cowley responded with three goals to edge the contest 3-2, opening up a six point lead on their opponents in the process.

The other Division Two clash came from Newbury Park where Rainham Working Mens Club were the visitors to take on Old Esthameians, just a point separating the teams prior to the game. And that gap was maintained by full-time with the sides sharing the points in a 1-1 draw, Ben Perry scoring the Rainham goal.

DIVISION THREE

There was a cracker of a game in Division Three where bottom of the table Debden Park looked to have taken a point against top of the table Chadwell Heath Spartans with a late equalising goal. But an even later Aaron Hunwicks goal for Spartans secured a 4-3 win for his side with Jeffrey Nketia’s brace and a Ricky Reid accounting for the other efforts.

Staying third on goal difference, FC Galaxy are keeping up the pace at the top end of the table and came through a potentially tricky home game against Frenford A. The hosts were comfortable 4-0 winners, recording an eighth league win of the campaign, just three points off the promotion places.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, two of the top three sides met over the weekend as Woodford East’s perfect record was put to test by third placed Loughton Lions. The game was incredibly close and the sides had to settle for a point apiece with a 1-1 scoreline the final outcome. Despite that result, East remain three points clear of the rest with games in hand still while Lions remain one of the main contenders for promotion.

Moving up to second place are Lymore Gardens Reserves who are unbeaten since November, a sequence which included four consecutive 2-2 draws. Their latest opponents were Brentwood United Reserves with the sides sharing five goals on the day. But Lymore edged the encounter with a 3-2 win to take home all of the points.

Newham Royals are making inroads up the league standings and now sit fifth on the back of a terrific 6-3 home win against Dagenham United Reserves. Scott Gormer scored twice and Jamie Powers once for United but Royals put in a solid performance in front of goal to take the win and keep in contention for honours.

Photo: A Bridge to Sparta / Chadwell Heath Spartans FC