WEEK 19 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

FC Baresi are into the hat for the fourth round of the Fenton Cup after they came through a potentially tricky looking tie against Three Colts in Walthamstow. Callam Kennedy scored for the Colts but his efforts proved in vain as Stanley Green, Tyler Kirby, Billy Happe and Mamoon Khan efforts handed Baresi a 4-1, securing a place against Unitey in the next round.

SENIOR DIVISION

The race for the title in the top flight continues to intrigue with Chigwell still leading the way having opened up a ten-point lead on Saturday as they scored a winner late on in their fixture at home to CSM London. Keifer Cole and Michael Mupata both scored for the visitors but the hosts responded with three goals of their own to edge it 3-2.

West Essex Reserves spurt of form recently has helped carry them into the top half of the table helped by their victory at the weekend away at Blue Marlin in Newbury Park. West were 3-0 winners on the day, a result which saw them confirm a sixth league win and now lie just one win off second spot in the table.

It was a big day at the bottom of the table where Rapid Chingford started their quest to avoid the dreaded drop, earning themselves a crucial first league win of the season, beating local rivals, Lymore Gardens, in the Parmiters derby. Cristian Burzo scored twice with Florin Ivancia and Alexandru Mot netting the other Rapid efforts, overcoming Garden goals from Carl Prince and Mark Offord.

The remaining game in the Senior Division came from Noak Hill where East Ham Inter were in action with a home clash against Chingford Athletic Reserves. Just three points separated these sides prior to kick off and the game proved very close with a single goal providing the difference. Daniel Muamba scored that all important goal to see Inter to the 1-0 win.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the top of the table couldn’t be much tighter with Chingford United remaining just a point off the pace with a game in hand, aided by their most recent victory, a 2-1 win away at London Park City. Mihail Vlad and Marian Hrehorciuc efforts proved sufficient for their United side to edge the contest.

Moving up into third position in the standings, All Prospects improved their own prospects of promotion on Saturday as they faced Eastside in Hackney with both sides eager to chase down the top two clubs. But it was All Prospects who ended the happier of the sides, winning 2-0 to secure a seventh win of the season.

Tower Hamlets Reserves were another club on the move as they ran out victors from their home clash over the weekend against relegation threatened Forest Green. A goal apiece from Joaquim Costa, Fredirico Bassangue and Michel Panda were the difference between the sides as Hamlets earned a 3-1 win.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Sungate Reserves saw their lead at the top drop to four points as they were held to a draw at home against Old Esthameians, ending their perfect start to the season in the league. Gate goals from Peter Truman and Mujib Ayoola were levelled up by E’s strikes from Chris Brooker and Matt Pemberton in an eventual 2-2 draw.

The other match-up from the third tier saw two local rivals meet in Hainault as Melbourne Sports hopped over the hedge to the Rec to take on Royal Forest. After four successive defeats, Forest got their season back on track with a sixth league win as they ran out 3-1 winners, a result which sees them move within a point of the promotion places.

DIVISION THREE

Goals were the order of the day in Division Three where leaders Chadwell Heath Spartans had to come through a tough test away at Frenford in order to secure maximum points from their trip to Ilford. Kyran Chiedozie scored for the hosts but Spartan efforts from Janel Alexander and an Aaron Hunwicks free-kick won it 2-1 for their side.

Over in Hainault, there was an incredible game between Avondale Rangers and Ilford Development where the Rangers raced into a 4-0 lead through a Graham Learner brace and singles from Chris Harper and Matthew Englezou. But nine-man Ilford bounced back in the second half to rescue a point in a 4-4 draw.

The drama extended to the next pitch where Flyers Development built up a 3-1 lead over Glendale with time running out as Jason Collins, Michael Barek and Jack Swaby all struck. But another late, late comeback saw Glendale strike twice in added time to take a 4-3 victory with Kieran Roland, Valter Correia, Maryis Shamku and Paul Oriakhi all netting.

The theme of goals was also in action over at Wanstead Flats as two promotion chasing sides, St Francis and FC Galaxy met with the sides level on points going into the clash. And they couldn’t be separated by full time as they combined for an eight goal thriller, 4-4 the final scoreline.

At the other end of the table, it was a massive day for two winless sides battling to avoid the drop as Custom House United made the trip to Debden Park. Bobby Devlin and Jamie Wooster each got on the scoresheet but Park responded with three goals of their own to take a 3-2 victory, moving them off the bottom and to within two points of safety.

DIVISION FOUR

Woodford East remain three points clear at the summit of Division Four and unbeaten following a comprehensive win on Saturday against Brentwood United Reserves. Billy Barr scored four of the goals with two coming from James Collier and others from Jay Stavri, Jake Tibbitts and James Watts in a 9-0 scoreline.

Lymore Gardens Reserves are the side just behind the leaders although they have played more games. They kept up the pressure however, returning home from their visit to Dagenham United Reserves with a 3-1 victory under their belts. Tom Whelan netted for United but Lymore goals from Dushane Powell, Emmanuel Nwaohai and Rodrigo Fagundes paved the way for Garden victory.

Another side remaining in the promotion picture are Fairlop Rovers who are handily place in third at present with games in hand and they maintained the pressure on those above with a 4-1 home win at the weekend against Flyers B. That saw Rovers earn a sixth league win of the campaign.

Completing the league action this weekend, Newham Royals have found their shooting boots in recent weeks and followed up a big win last weekend with another on Saturday as they won 5-1 at home against Chingford Harriers. Jake Kemp grabbed the Harriers’ goal but this proved just a consolation in the end.

ESSEX JUNIOR TROPHY

It was quarter final day on Saturday in the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy with two of our sides in action and looking to move into a county cup semi final next month. Cowley Community were up against undefeated Writtle Reserves showing a two division deficit but pulled off a terrific win, running out 2-0 victors to go through to the last four.

There was another close game in Waltham Abbey where Upshire Forest’s excellent run in the competition saw them meet unbeaten Brentwood Athletic Reserves in the quarter final, going into a 2-0 lead. But Athletic forced their way back into it to level at 2-2 by full time before scoring twice more in extra-time to break Upshire hearts.

Photo: FC Baresi