WEEK 25 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

The current holders of the Fenton Cup, Chingford Athletic, have made it safely through to the semi-finals of the competition once again but not without a scare as their Division One opponents, Sporting Hackney Reserves, made them work for it. Michael Mignot notched the only goal of the game as he sent his Chingford side through to play Grove United.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, it wasn’t such a great result for the holders of that cup as Chingford Athletic’s Reserves went down 4-3 in a pulsating encounter with Chigwell Rovers. Jibrial Davies-Reaz notched a brace for the visitors and Josh Trainor also netted but Chigwell goals from James Smith (2), Thomas Darcy and Will Osmond completed a terrific win and confirmed their place in the semi-finals.

PREMIER DIVISION

Old Esthameians have moved to within just two points of the top of the table following a 7-4 win on Saturday at Melbourne Sports in Hainault. In a game not to be remembered for defending, Lewis Frost scored a hat-trick for the E’s with Neil Robinson and Francesco Egbulefu both netting braces to cancel out Mels goals from John Shubert (2), Greg Justham and Wayne Matthews.

There was another goal-filled encounter in Barkingside where Blue Marlin and United London concocted a seven-goal thriller with United running out winners by the odd goal in a 4-3 win.  Billy Texeira was the hero with a hat-trick including a late, late winner while Jermeel Jno-Baptiste also found the back of the net. Charlie Georgiou scored twice in reply for Marlin with Isaac Olaleye also netting.

Another side still in with an outside hope of causing an upset in the title chase are Grove United who continued their fine recent form with a 2-0 victory on Saturday at home to LOASS. Michael Adams and John Hughes were both on target for the hosts who move to within four points of the league leaders as a result.

Lopes Tavares London secured a vital victory in their efforts to avoid relegation with a comfortable 5-1 victory at home against rivals Rainham Working Mens Club.  Conor Kain found the back of the net with Rainham’s consolation goal as Lopes moved two points clear of the relegation places with just three games of their season remaining.

DIVISION ONE

St Francis picked up a vital win of their own away at Ferns Seniors on Saturday as the bottom of the table outfit moved back in touch with the sides above them, winning 4-1. Jerard Cabey, Jack Hall, Steven Porter and Benjamin George each got onto the scoresheet for the Saints to render Kane Greene’s goal as a consolation only.

At the other end of the table, Colebrook Royals moved to within one victory of securing the Division One league title as they edged past second-bottom Singh Sabha Barking in a 3-2 win. Mark Wright made an emphatic return to the side with a hat-trick to lead his side to the win with Leon Sterling scoring both of the Barking goals in reply. A victory at home in a fortnight’s time will be enough to secure Premier Division football for next season at The Grange.

Three Colts are still in the hunt for promotion aided by a closely fought 2-1 victory away at Cowley Community in Leyton on Saturday. Izunna Ogedi-Uzokwe was on target for Cowley but his goal proved not quite enough as Colts stayed second in the table, five points clear of third placed West Essex Reserves.

East Ham International secured a very important win in their own battle to avoid the drop as they beat fifth placed Kitgum Boys in a 2-1 win at home. Mathius Sendawula found the back of the net with the Kitgum goal but his effort proved not quite enough as East Ham went home with the points.

DIVISION TWO

Ryan Reserves have moved five points clear in the race for the Division Two title as they secured a hard fought 2-0 victory away at Glendale on Saturday. With rivals Colebrook not in action, Ryan extended their lead but from one game more than their rivals.

In the other game played in the division, a Waltham derby saw Lymore Gardens share the points with Chingford Harriers with the scores finishing 1-1. Dylan Roberts found the back of the net for Lymore but Edwin Jabbari’s strike for Harriers levelled things up to share the spoils.

DIVISION THREE

A full schedule in Division Three at the weekend saw the top five all secure victories as the season enters the last quarter. Leaders Wapping were made to work hard for their win as they beat Brentwood United Reserves 3-2 in a close encounter in Chadwell Heath. Jason Croney and William Cox were the Brentwood scorers but a brace from Nathaniel Foster and a Billy Tiff effort took the points home to East London.

Keeping up the pressure in the title race are Custom House who won handsomely, beating Newham Royals 6-0 in the Newham derby. The Wooster family were prominent on the scoresheet with father Paul and son Jamie netting a double apiece to accompany goals from Nils Welham and Mabz Rahman onto the scoresheet.

Kitroom are third in the table and well placed to finish that way as things stand after beating Wanstead Warriors 7-0 in their local derby in Hainault. They are level on points with Flyers who won 3-1 away at Royal Forest with goals from Jason Collins, Tony Hirst and Sean Watson. Luke Charge was accredited with the Forest goal.

Old Esthameians Reserves have climbed a number of places to fifth in the table as they took advantage of results around them in winning 6-2 against St Francis Reserves. Thomas Boomsma and Shaun Vickers both scored twice with further goals from Alex Booker and Lee Vickers cancelling out Saints’ strikes from Josh Hunt and Chilumba Ngosa.