WEEK 20 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON TROPHY

The first semi-finalists of the season are confirmed in the Fenton Trophy, beginning with a cupset on Saturday afternoon which saw Division Two’s Royal Forest take down higher league opposition with a 3-2 win against Lymore Gardens Under 23s in their contest at Parsloes Park.

Also through into the last four of the competition are Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves who had a similar tight game as they took on Division Three’s Buckhurst Way in Dagenham. James Stevens scored twice for the visitors but Spartan goals from Joe Robb, Brodie Gingell and Jamie Pooley meant their side were 3-2 winners.

SENIOR DIVISION

On Friday night, the first top flight action of the new year saw bottom of the table Bakers693 in action against Walthamstow Reserves. After showing some improved form at the backend of the year, Mario Embalo struck twice, Kuene Fernandes and Holy Gbode to give Bakers a second win of the season, 4-0 the scoreline.

Just a few yards away, there was another key battle between sides at the bottom end of the table as Waltham Forest Borough went up against a Fairlop Rovers side. Borough were comfortable winners though as Dylan Florence and Samir Bihmoutine both scored two and Christopher Mwaisango added the other in a 5-1 win, Harry Rouse scoring Rovers’ consolation.

On Saturday afternoon, Ongar Town put in a strong performance against one of the sides challenging for honours, CSM London, Town coming away 3-1 winners in Harlow. Luke McElroy struck for CSM but home goals from Max Galati, William Lockett and Samuel Pavel meant it was the hosts leaving the happier.

Over at Lakeside Sports Ground, AS Rapid Londra were the hosts as Chadwell Heath Spartans continued their quest to climb the table towards the promotion positions. Enoch Salami and Ryan O’Connell both scored for the visitors but Rapid struck twice of their own including a late equaliser to make it 2-2.

The final game from the division came from Noak Hill as FC Petrocub London were up against Haringey Borough Under 23s with an eighteen point deficit to make up on their opponents. But that was slashed to just fifteen points by full-time, Petrocub winning 2-0 to go tenth in the table.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

There was just the one Premier Division Cup tie completed in the first round with Vallance having home advantage as Waltham Abbey A took the trip down to Fords. It was victory for the hosts in this one, securing a place in round two after defeating the holders 5-2 on the day.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, it couldn’t be much closer at the top as Dagenham United moved level with two other sides after taking a hard fought point away at Inter Newbury in a 1-1 draw. Halameen Agbaje opened the scoring for Dagenham with Chaka Barnett levelling in the second half to take a point each.

On the next pitch, the other side in the title picture are Barkingside Reserves and they had the opportunity to go top with a win at home against Something From Nothing. However they didn’t get things their own way and slipped to a 2-1 defeat, SFN scoring a second half winner to record a second league win.

Motormen are not too far out of the picture themselves and racked up their biggest win of the season on Saturday with a win in the early kick-off away to FC Baresi Reserves at Lakeside. The visitors knocked in nine goals without reply with Milan Trotman, Roy Stevens and Indeo Davis all scored twice, Adam Lounici, Solomon Sharpe and Zac Haloua adding the others in a 9-0 success.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, there was another high scoring result in the game at Royal Docks where Newham Wanderers put in a sparkling performance at home against London Park City. Wanderers were 8-0 winners in the game, their seventh win of the season and moving to within eight points of the leaders.

There was another big result in the other game from the division where leaders, Saint City saw their lead at the top cut after falling to just a second defeat of the season, a 2-1 home defeat at Flanders against North East Lions. Jemel Richards was in form for the visitors, netting both goals in a win that carries Lions up into fourth spot.

DIVISION ONE

Just the one game survived the elements in Division One, a fixture which saw Loughton Town with a home fixture against Old Barkabbeyans at Langston Road. Despite two Jordan Buck goals for the visitors, those proved just consolation as Tom Osmond struck twice in reply, Will Osmond and Robbie Carter goals wrapping up a 4-2 home win.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Parsonage Leys secured themselves an important three points on Saturday afternoon, scoring the game’s only goal in their contest at home to Ongar Town Reserves to net a 1-0 win. Leon Arif was the scorer of that only goal, extending his recent scoring form.

There was a five-goal thriller in the game at Robert Clack where Dagenham United Reserves were up against a Saint City Reserves side in a mid-table clash. Noah Ogunyomi was the hero for Dagenham, coming off the bench to score twice for the hosts, adding to a Charlie Landers goal in a 3-2 result.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, there was just the one game as current leaders, IONA Wheels, make the trip across to north-east London to take on a Chingford Harriers side at Peter May. And it was Harriers who left the happier, ending the visitors’ unbeaten run in a 3-2 win as Edwin Ohemeng-Manu, Regan Marshall and Huai-Ginn Oliver all scored, overcoming goals from Josh Allen and Tommy Heneghan.