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

FENTON CUP

The third round action in this season’s Fenton Cup continued on Saturday and served up two massive giant-killings with lower division sides seeing off their higher division opponents. The biggest of those cup shocks came in Hainault where Division Three’s Haver Town Reserves sent Division One’s Melbourne Sports spiralling out of the competition in a stunning 5-1 result. Reece Simpson scored a hat-trick with Courtney Waller and Ryan Kelland getting the others to book their fourth round berth.

The other huge shock of the day came in Ilford where high-flying Division Three side Frenford A were dumped out of the competition by the cup specialists this season from Division Four, Soul Youth. Having already dismissed two higher division sides on route to this stage, Soul continued a tremendous run in the competition with an exhilarating 5-4 win. Nasim Regragui scored a hat-trick with Raihan Ahmed and Saddik Azizur goals completing the victory.

Division Four was also represented by Newham Royals as they took on Rainham Working Mens Club on Saturday from Division Two. A shock of their own didn’t transpire however as the higher placed side ran out eventual 7-2 victors with Liam Tormey scoring his customary hat-trick and further goals arriving from Calli Barnard, Connor Kain, Dillon Anderson and Ricardo Teixeira.

Top flight side, Blue Marlin, overcame a potential banana skin tie as they hosted Sporting Hackney Under 23s down in Newbury Park. Ricardo Balogun got on the scoresheet for Hackney but his efforts were in vain as Marlin ran in five goals of their own to secure a 5-1 win and a place in round four of the competition away at London Park City. George Bunce scored twice with Harry Walder, Nathan Desnoes and Tyreece Robinson also netting for Marlin.

In the battle between the two sides in Division One, FC Baresi were looking for another good run in the competition after being semi finalists last season and they faced up to Chingford United in a local derby. FC Baresi returned to winning ways, securing a terrific 8-3 win with Mark Matthews and Delano Lloyd both scoring twice and one apiece from Sikander Khan, Tyler Kirby, Adnan Miah and Andre Whyte completing the victory.

And completing the day’s Fenton Cup action, there was an all top flight battle as league leaders and finalists in this competition last year, ACD United, looked to take their league form in the cup competitions with an away tie against last year’s Premier Division Cup winners, West Essex Reserves. In a closely fought contest, it was finally settled by the odd goal in three very late on as ACD won 2-1 to book a mouth-watering clash away at FC Baresi in the fourth round.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

The opening Senior Division Cup action took place this weekend with Docklands Albion and London Park City opening the competition with a quarter-final tie up in Walthamstow. Despite the difference in league positions, London Park put up a spirited battle against Albion but goals from Jack Blackburn and Samuel Daminabo for the latter ensured a 2-1 win and safe passage through to the semi finals for Docklands.

DIVISION 1 CUP

In the Division One Cup, Forest Green were looking to build upon some positive recent form as they took on the high-flying Chingford Athletic Reserves in a first round clash, Athletic returning to the familiar surrounds of Leyton Sixth Form College. Chingford’s own form however has been excellent in recent weeks and they were able to secure passage into the quarter finals in a 3-0 scoreline. Archie Stojic continued his run of form in front of goal with Ralph McBaiden and Jack Knowles completing the scoring.

DIVISION 4 CUP

There was a big upset in the day’s Division Four Cup first round as the tables were turned upside down with bottom side Chigwell Mens Club defeating second placed Avondale Rangers in a penalty shootout. With the sides having finished level at ninety minutes in a 2-2 scoreline, Chigwell held their nerve in the shootout to win 5-4 and put them through to possibly an even tougher assignment against Sungate in the quarter finals. Billy Barr and James Collier were the Chigwell scorers during normal time.

Not far away over in Hainault, there was a big win for Loughton Lions who were up against Old Barkabbeyans Reserves, a side they are only separated from in the league by a mere two goals at the foot of the table. But on the day, the Lions had too much for their opponents as they cruised to a 4-0 win that sees them through to a clash with Soul Youth in the last eight. Jamie Wood netted two of those four goals with Ashley Somers and Tommy Edwards netting the other efforts.

SENIOR DIVISION

Back in domestic action, there was a hugely important contest at the very top of the Senior Division standings as second placed East Ham Inter made the trip to face Jolof Sports with both sides eager to close the gap on ACD United at the very top. Jolof led 2-0 at the break but Inter responded with two goals to level it up, only for Jolof to snatch a winner in a 3-2 scoreline, leaving them just a point behind their opponents in the standings.

The other top flight action on the day came in Newbury Park where Singh Sabha Barking were up against Grove United, the leading urgently needing to pick up some points in their quest to avoid the drop. On the day, it was Singh Sabha who went home the happier of the sides as they picked up a 4-1 victory, a result which saw them climb up to fourth place in the table in the process.

DIVISION ONE

There was just a single game in Division One but was a stunner it was as two of the top sides, Three Colts and Chigwell, went head to head in Highams Park. Chigwell cruised into a 3-0 lead only for Colts to respond in terrific fashion and level it up at 3-3 through a Joseph Furlong brace and a Julian Bryant effort. But they will be cursing their luck as Chigwell netted a crucial fourth to win it 4-3 and move them top of the table.

DIVISION TWO

It’s all change at the top of Division Two where the previous leaders, Eastside, were knocked off the top by third placed Cowley Community in Hackney. Christopher Wright scored twice and one each from Kyle Cargill and Conor Harrington rendered a Jonathan Odutolu goal for ‘Side as just a consolation on the day in a 4-1 scoreline.

That result was then made even more important as Chingford Athletic Development returned to the top of the table following a closely fought battle away at Old Esthameians. Chingford goals from Luke Dimond and Sam Jarvis were the difference on the day, carrying the “Devs” to a 2-1 win and placing them in the driving seat for the title this season.

That challenge could very much depend on the form of fourth placed CSM London who continue to pose a threat with just two defeats in twelve league matches. Their latest win saw them visit Flyers and leave with all three points in a 5-2 win. Jason Collins and Jason Dickson scored for Flyers but Rodrique Beya scored twice in reply for CSM with Lewis McCarthy, Matthew Knights and Connor Beck getting the others.

The remaining game in the division came in Walthamstow and saw FC BKT secure their biggest win of the season so far, overcoming a two position deficit in the table to earn a 7-1 victory against Puma Kings. Ryan Scott scored four of their goals with Matthew Russell netting two and Charlie Williams one in a resounding result.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, the leaders, Custom House United, went sent spiralling to a fifth defeat of the season as they went down 4-3 in an entertaining game away at fellow promotion contenders Royal Forest. Glenn Levy scored twice for the Dockers and Bradley Routledge once but their efforts were in vain as Martin Cannon bagged a brace for Forest with Harry Killick and Tom Osmond goals winning it 4-3.

Brook City stay fifth in the table but have closed the gap on the sides above them after they earned themselves a 5-3 victory at home against Flyers Reserves in Woodford. That win saw City pick up an eighth league victory of the campaign and keep them well in the chase of promotion with still nine games to play.

Moving up to sixth place and into the top half of the table, Tower Hamlets Reserves bounced back well from their Fenton Cup exit last time out by picking up a 7-0 win away at St Francis at Wanstead Flats. That victory, their seventh of the season, continues their quest for a promotion place with still plenty of games in hand to play.

In the battle between the sides placed eighth and ninth in the table, Chingford Harriers closed the gap on New Star Soccer just above them as they edged a close game 3-2 in Seven Kings. Nicholas Shawyer, James Morris and Edwin Jabbari scored the three Harriers goals to render New Star efforts from Lheureux Menga and Edmundo Guevara as just consolation on the day.

And in the division’s remaining game, two of the side towards the foot of the table met in Leyton with Glendale the visitors to take on Forest Green Reserves with both sides trying to take the points and work their way away from danger. A Seyi Agboola goal on the brink of half time gave the Dales a lead but Green battled back and levelled midway through the second half with Delon Laurent’s goal taking home a point for his side in a 1-1 draw.

DIVISION FOUR

In Division Four, Sungate Reserves have opened up a five point gap at the top of the table now as they took on previously third placed Debden Park in a key contest at the business end of the table. Sungate were 4-0 winners through goals from Chris Ross, Darren Reid, Sam Cooper and Mujib Ayoola to keep their chase for the title going.

That defeat for Debden gave Brentwood United Reserves the chance to go third in the table and they duly obliged, taking home maximum points from their contest away at Dagenham United Reserves. Jeffrey Nketia got the Daggers’ goal but it wasn’t quite enough as Brentwood scored two goals of their own to win it 2-1.