WEEK 2 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's football action from the EAL

SENIOR DIVISION

Goal difference separates the top two sides in the Senior Division after two weeks as DTFC followed up their opening day success with another win, this time seeing off the efforts of Tower United in a 3-0 victory. Craig Wood and Jake Kissiedu were both on target with goals to see their side to maximum points in Hackney.

Second placed FC Petrocub have also started their campaign with a pair of wins and are another side looking well placed for a title tilt. They were 4-2 winners at home in Noak Hill where CSM London were the visitors. Martin Ibitola and Ramone Senior both scored for CSM but two Vitalii Chiriac strikes plus goals from Ghenadie Moisei and Valentin Siciov gave the points to the home side.

Lymore Gardens are up to third and also unbeaten this term, adding a victory to their opening day draw as they secured all three points in a 4-1 “away” win at Chigwell Town in Loughton. Dylan Roberts bagged a brace for the Lymore with Dushane Powell and Michael Romeo efforts completing the win.

Completing the top flight action from week 2 of the season, FC Baresi maintained their unbeaten start as they secured a first victory of the campaign to go with their draw last week. They were 3-0 winners on Saturday, returning from their local derby trip to Rapid Chingford with all of the points as Mark Matthews, Abdulwahid Zerrouki and Denzel Conteh goals made the difference.

DIVISION ONE

The early pace setters in Division One are Woodford East who made it two wins from two at their start of their season with a well earned 5-0 away win at league debutants Kwanzas London Sport. Billy Barr and Ben Smith both netted braces, adding to a Sonny Feltwell goal to carry them to maximum points.

Second placed Wapping drop a place as they were defeated in Hackney by league debutants Leyton Royal in a game between two of the sides expected to challenge. Royal’s experience in the division saw them edge a close game 3-2 to open their points account for the new season.

There was another close game in Seven Kings as London Park City’s opening match of the new season saw them involved in a real humdinger against new boys, North East Lions.  Louis Blake scored all three of the Lions goals but City done enough in the end, running out 4-3 victors to take the points.

DIVISION TWO

The leaders in Division Two so far are Chingford Athletic A as they made it two wins from two in the opening weeks but were made to work for the points once again as they edged past promoted St Francis, in a 3-2 scoreline. Eric Kelly scored a hat-trick for Chingford, rendering Saints’ efforts from Silverio Indunga and Leon Young as just consolation.

There was a terrific opening win of the campaign for promoted Newham Wanderers who made the move up a division and appear well at home in the third tier, beating Old Esthameians 5-0, ending their unbeaten start in the process. Fabio Jau scored twice and Bradley Harris, Lukas Ziausys and Shazib Miah got one each to complete the victory for Wanderers.

The day’s local derby game in Division Two came from Leyton as Cowley Community took on local rivals Forest Green with the latter looking to start their season on a positive note. And Green will have been the happier of the two sides at full time, winning 4-3 despite a Chris Wright hat-trick.

Dagenham United bounced back from their opening day reverse to earn a first win at this level, beating Unitey 2-1 in Loughton to take all three points. Brandon Johnson and Agbir Sobeh both got on the scoresheet for Dagenham to help their side over the line to a first victory.

Also picking up their first points of the season, Rainham Working Mens Club got back to winning ways after their opening day defeat at Old E’s, bouncing back with a 3-1 win over the weekend against Royal Forest. That result sees the Workies move fourth in the table while Royal Forest remain without a point from their opening two games.

DIVISION THREE

Old Barkabbeyans Reserves have made a successful return to the league so far and lead Division Three after two weeks on the back of winning both of their opening games. They had to work hard to earn their win, winning 3-2 over Epping United through a Simeon Dennis brace and a Sam Thompson strike.

Promoted Lymore Gardens Reserves made a successful debut in the division on Saturday, returning home with all three points from their trip to Barkingside to face Fairlop Rovers. In another five goal thriller, Lymore edged the contest 3-2 to end the day as the happier of the sides.

DIVISION FOUR

There were goals galore in Division Four with two of the games consisting of twelve goals each. Starting off this theme, there was an incredible 6-6 dray in Newbury Park as Custom House United and Newham Royals went on the attack. Carl Day and Jack Field both scored twice with Christopher Batley and Kelvin Bartlett efforts accounting for the Dockers’ goals.

Over in Collier Row, there were another twelve goals but this was a little less even at Together United got their new season underway with a big 10-2 victory at league new boys, Collier Row A. That result sees them go top of the table after one game while Row will look to improve their game in the coming weeks.

The final game was a rather more sedate five goal contest in Loughton as another of the league’s new sides, Royal Forest Reserves, met one of the league’s stalwarts, Avondale Rangers. Forest will be pleased with their efforts as they edged past Rangers in a 3-2 victory with Tom Alexander, Jack Warren and Will Asenso scoring the goals.

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