WEEK 19 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

DIVISION ONE CUP

The heavy lunchtime rain over the weekend put paid to a number of fixtures but many did survive as the first divisional cup action of the season took place, Renegade the visitors to Newham Wanderers seeking a place in the quarter finals. A five goal thriller was won by Newham as Otto Bolton, Admir Cassama and Manuel Sanuo scored the goals to win the tie 3-2.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, DTFC retain their slender lead at the top of the table as they earned another hard fought win against one of their rivals for the title, beating Jolof Sports 2-1 at the Harlow Arena. Cory Ugbomah and Kieran Hipgrave goals proved enough for the unbeaten hosts to make it ten wins from twelve so far this campaign.

Lymore Gardens sit just behind the leaders by two points with the Leyton based side picking up maximum points from their home game against Leyton Royal. Andre Rashford scored twice in the game with Ryo Brown and Tyrique Peters also netting to help their side move into the top two ahead of a crucial period of the season.

FC Petrocub also had a great afternoon as they came through a seven goal thriller to beat Tower United 4-3 at Mabley Green, earning themselves a move up to fifth in the standings as a result. Abdi Jama, Mustafa Ali and Kayis Mohamed scored the Tower goals but they proved just consolation with their side remaining in the bottom three, eight points adrift of safety.

Another side on the move were Rapid Chingford who took their points tally to seventeen for the season with a solid home win against Chigwell Town over at Lakeside. Constantin Banu scored twice off the bench with Darwin Romero netting the other to secure the points in a 3-0 victory, lifting them a couple of places to ninth.

PREMIER DIVISION

Game of the day in the second tier surely has to have been the nine goal thriller in East Ham which saw Dagenham United snatch top spot in the table with a late winner against Athletic Newham Under 23s. Two Shaquille Mathurin efforts plus one each from Jay Fenton, Dante Vincent and Charlie Fiander proved just enough for the visitors to win an entertaining game 5-4.

Crookz United were also on the move and made their ascent to third place with a strong home win against the side they were replacing, Wapping. Stephane Trah’s brace along with singles from Steven Tshiamala and Abdouaziz Jeng gave the hosts a 4-1 win over in Walthamstow to complete a sixth league win of the season. Jordon Mills-Smith scored the Wapping goal in consolation.

North East Lions profited from results around them to move back into the top half of the standings after they picked up a crucial victory at home against struggling All Prospects at Peter May. Jonas Borges grabbed the solo Prospects effort but Joseph Goodall scored twice off the bench for Lions with Mikael Martin netting the other to see their side win 3-1.

DIVISION ONE

The weather impacted hard in Division One but two games did survive with Forest Green picking up a vital win in a six-pointer against fellow relegation threatened Francis Luke. The sides started the day level at the bottom on six points but Green moved out of the relegation zone by full-time, winning 4-1 despite a Kennerly Cassius goal for Luke.

Promotion chasing Wanstead dropped vital points on their return to action in 2022, the fourth placed side being held to a draw by eighth placed Kwanzas London Sport, the sides combining for an entertaining 3-3 draw. Edson Lami scored two and Zoltan Balogh continued their respective scoring streaks from the last calendar year but their efforts could only secure a point for Wanstead.

DIVISION TWO

Division Two has new leaders following the weekend’s results as Unitey took their place at the head of the standings having come through a six goal contest in the Roding Valley derby match, defeating co-tenants Royal Forest in a 4-2 scoreline. Bubintende Masadi has been in great scoring form this season and he netted a hat-trick, David Otley grabbing the other to render Royal goals from Charlie Palline and Huai-Ginn Oliver as just consolation.

Also up a couple of places are Emerson & Upminster Reserves who continued their good form to go second after they came away from Ryan Under 23s with maximum points in a 4-2 win over at Wadham Lodge. Tobi Onafeko scored a hat-trick which combined with an Alex Pizzey strike to take all three points back to Upminster.

Rainham Working Mens Club secured a seventh league win of the season on Saturday with a home win against St Francis, taking them up into the top five of the standings. Cameron Shakes was on target along with Odo Osei-Tutu to earn a solid 2-1 home win against the Saints, the latter remaining six appoints adrift of safety with four games in hand on the side above.

The division’s remaining game saw promotion chasing Old Esthameians travel to Loughton Lions in search of further points in their respective chases. The game ended in a 2-2 draw with Lions taking a vital point from the clash to move up a place to ninth, steering them clear of imminent danger for the time being.

DIVISION THREE

There are new leaders in Division Three where Old Barkabbeyans Reserves now sit top of the table after picking up their first win of the new calendar year, beating Glendale 4-1 at home. They rode out the early storm to take all three points with Robbie Osborne (2), Klodian Meta and Alex Donkor Junior all netting. Maryis Shamku scored the Dales consolation in the second half.

The division’s other game saw a real belter of a game with Flyers Under 23s and ASA combining for ten goals in their clash at King Georges. Deren Kale scored four for Flyers with Mohammad Miah and Kai Eaton efforts accounting for their other efforts in a critical 6-4 home win. That result moved them level with the side above with just goal difference keeping them in the bottom two.

DIVISION FOUR

Chingford Harriers started the new year in positive fashion, recording a thumping 8-1 win at home against struggling Newham Royals to maintain their eight point gap at the summit. Edwin Jabbari was in fine form scoring a hat-trick with Jemel Richards scoring two and one each from Nick Shawyer, Darnell Lamothe and Jake Kemp completing the scoresheet.

The race for the runners-up spot is really hotting up with five clubs separated by just two points. Flyers Under 21s presently hold that position and continued their run with a 4-1 home win against Emerson & Upminster A at the weekend, earned through a pair of braces from Charlie Portlock and Sam Maydell. Tyler Huggett scored the Emerson goal in reply.

Newham & Havering Borough have pushed themselves up the table with two wins in five days, following up their bank holiday victory with a further win on Saturday as they defeated fellow promotion challengers Dagenham United Reserves. Jack Wood scored twice and Owen Rice once to help Borough win the game 4-0.

Also sitting on seventeen points are Sporting Pillars who had a top of the table battle of their own as they faced up to previously third placed Fairlop Rovers Reserves at Drapers Field. Sporting were in good form however, improving on their performances of late 2021 with a winning one this time. Rayan Allam and Emanuel Jacob both scored twice to secure a 4-2 victory for the hosts.

Photo Credit: Wapping FC