WEEK 26 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

The Senior action got underway on Friday evening with Ryan recording an impressive victory on the road at Ongar Town as goals from Harley Cass, Louis Maffia and Bilel Benyoucef all contributed to a 3-0 win for their side.

Over in Dagenham, it was important three point haul for Sporting Bengal United Reserves in the battle to avoid the drop, beating Woodford Town Under 23s 2-0 with Saqib Syed and Steven Bohan scoring the goals.

A big result on Saturday afternoon saw Chadwell Heath Spartans score the only goal of their game with Waltham Forest Borough to put a dent in the latter’s title hopes, Ryan O’Connell netting that effort to make it seven Spartan wins for the campaign.

That result meant that leaders, London Harts United, could further press home their advantage at the summit, duly obliging with both goals in a 2-0 home win over Greengate District at the Harlow Arena.

Goals from the Huggins-Solomons family were the difference for CSM London in their away trip to Dagenham United as Kane and Tyrrell struck with efforts, Charlie Jacks notching for United in reply, the game ending 2-1 in the visitors’ favour.

A thriller of a contest took place at Flanders where Saint City scored the odd goal in nine to take a 5-4 win over Kulture with Richard Seixas striking a hat-trick, Leo Gaspar and Derek Adu adding the others.

It was a five-goal thriller at The Drive where Frenford Development struck twice through James Ikotun and Callum Alexander goals but slipped to a 3-2 reverse with FC Petrocub London winning courtesy of two Ion Spinu efforts and one from Nicolai Gutu.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

Four Premier Cup ties were completed on Saturday with Bakers693 notching a victory in the early game with Motormen, winning 3-1 at Oakside through two David Macauley efforts and one from Bradley Nortey.

The biggest win came from Peter May where Inter Newbury were in fine goal scoring form, producing a 9-2 victory over North East Lions. Halameen Agbaje scored four, Kyran Chiedozie a hat-trick, Richard Kadima and Chaka Barnett the others. Jai Perkins notched both Lions goals in consolation.

It was a close affair in the tie between Sporting Hackney and Kit Out London who couldn’t be separated in a 1-1 draw across ninety minutes, Emmanuel Balogun with the goal for Kit Out. And it was his side who won the shootout 4-3 in the end to head into the last eight.

Completing the action from the competition, it was a big win for West Essex Reserves who overcame a sixteen point deficit on their opponents, Unitey, taking the tie in a 2-1 scoreline to book themselves a quarter-final berth.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

Back in the league, in the East division, it was a strong win for Old Barkabbeyans who overcame Buckhurst Hill Under 23s at Roding Lane with Rasheed Heikal, Michael Ryder, Jaeden John and Keenan Lewis goals winning it 4-1, Billy Humphreys scoring in reply.

That result was all the more important as league leaders, AS Rapid Londra, had to settle for a share of the points in a 3-3 draw with Manford Way Reserves with Cristian Cazacu, Wangel Nvima and Vasile Copilus goals equalled by a Manford brace from Josh Woodcock and one from Louis Agoba.

That scoreline was also reflected in the final game from the division too as Condor bounced back from a big reverse last time out to take a point in a 3-3 draw with Romford Town Flyers, Ali Rajim scoring two and Leonardo Lopes one for the visitors.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, Priory Park Rangers produced themselves an important win on the road as they edged a close game with Old Esthameians at Newbury Park, despite a Henry Gray effort from the hosts, 2-1 the final scoreline.

A small distance away on an adjoining pitch, Vallance responded well to their defeat the previous week to take a 3-2 narrow win over FC Baresi Reserves with Mikie Robinson’s double and a Suhayb Aftab goal the difference, Steven Aguiar and Aidan Waugh striking for Baresi.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the second round of the Division One Cup, it was a comprehensive victory for Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves who netted themselves a 4-1 win over London Park City with goals from Deren Kale, Zakariya Ahmed, Kevin Richards and Owen Rami.

DIVISION ONE EAST

Back in the league, it was a big victory for FC Alpha at Noak Hill where two goals from Serghei Scupoi and one each from Liviu Nistreanu and Caganovschi Victor gave their side a 4-1 win over Old Parkonians A, Ben Allen scoring their consolation.

It was an identical scoreline in the game at Parsloes Park where Lymore Gardens Reserves produced a strong 4-1 winning performance over Redbridge Community with Gaston Mendy, Tyrique Peters, Callum Fisher and Rayshun Codner doing the damage to overcome Jeff Onuh’s effort.

Just the three goals were produced in the final fixture as Loughton Town kept their title hopes alive with a 2-1 hard fought victory over Old Barkabbeyans Reserves with Jake Roberts and Ben Stone scoring the crucial goals, Shola Shonibare scoring in reply.

DIVISION ONE WEST

It was a hugely important game in the West as Hackney Wanderers produced a terrific performance to beat promotion hopefuls, SP United, 7-1 with Patrick Machado’s hat-trick, Enoch Edjei’s brace, Kion Cornelius and Muhammed Omotoso. Richard Arhin netted his customary goal in consolation.

DIVISION TWO CUP

In the Division Two Cup, two heavy-hitters met at The Foundry where CSM London Under 23s were eventually beaten by a very late goal with Huai-Ginn Oliver’s effort proving the winner for Chingford Harriers in a 1-0 scoreline.

Over in Dagenham, it was a big win for Glendale who saw Emmanuel Ejembi net a hat-trick in a 6-2 win against Freetown, Ahmed Abdulai adding two and Wasiu Lawal the other, while David Saffa and Jordan Olasope struck for the hosts.

DIVISION TWO

League leaders, Iona Wheels, moved into a four-point lead, arresting a bit of a difficult spell with a 2-1 win on the road at London East. Joshua Henry scored both of the Wheels goals to make it ten wins for the season.

It was a goal-filled contest at Lakeside between Thurrock Thameside and Lymore Gardens Under 23s where Thurrock took a 6-3 win with a David-Elijah Johnson hat-trick accompanying Mirko Saba, Fayaz and Joshua Michael-Ihunde onto the scoresheet. Nicholas Barbosa, Omar Sulieman and Ahmed Fornah scored for Lymore in reply.

DIVISION THREE

Old Parkonians B remain top of the table in Division Three as they edged a close contest 3-2 away at Buckhurst Way with a Thomas Metcalfe brace and Emeka Ezeleu goal the difference between the teams in the end.

The Dagenham derby went the way of the visitors at Parsloes Park as Jays kept up their own title hopes with a win of their own, beating Cobra 3-1 despite a Todd Bolger goal for the hosts, Jays sitting four points off the leaders.

COUNTY CUP

Ocean Pacific produced another stunning performance in the BBC Essex Premier Cup and will be one of the remaining four sides left in the competition after beating Hutton Reserves in a 5-2 scoreline at Hannakins Farm, the reward being a home tie with Catholic United in the semi-finals.