WEEK 3 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's football action from the EAL

SENIOR DIVISION

FC Petrocub have moved top of the standings in the Senior Division as they made it three wins from their opening three games this season. They were on the right end of a seven-goal thriller at home to Lymore Gardens as Valentin Siciov’s hat-trick and a Alexandru Iusco single earned them a 4-3 win, overcoming Lymore goals from Dylan Roberts, Ryo Brown and Devonte Forsythe-Young.

Moving up to second place are FC Baresi as the Walthamstow based side kept their own unbeaten start going with a narrow 3-2 victory on Saturday over All Prospects. Prince Eze and Zivonimur Lopes were both on target for Prospects but Mark Matthews, Hadi Osman and Ali Shikheey strikes completed a win in favour of the hosts.

West Essex Reserves continued their perfect start to the campaign, making it two wins from two so far as they defeated winless Rapid Chingford in Hainault by two goals to nil. The all-important goals arrived through Adam Norris and Josh Flood goals helping last season’s title chasers resume where they left off.

CSM London will be pleased with their afternoon’s efforts over the weekend as they recorded their first win of the season, beating winless London Cranes 1-0 in Beckton to take all three points. The all important goal came from Keifer Cole who netted the only goal of the game to move ninth in the standings.

There was a winning return to the league for Jolof Sports as the East Ham based outfit got underway with three points from their home fixture against Chigwell Town. The former, and technically current, league champions from 2018/19 were narrow 1-0 winners as they started off their season in positive fashion.

Tower United have moved to fifth place in the table with two wins from their first three fixtures in the top flight following promotion. After last week’s reverse, they battled past Blue Marlin in Newbury Park with Guled Abdirahman, Sayid Abdi and Abdi Abdikarim all netting in a solid 3-1 victory.

DIVISION ONE

Woodford East have made a terrific start to life in the second tier as they wrapped up a third league win in three so far and are yet to concede a goal. Their flying start continued with a terrific 7-0 win on Saturday as they beat Wapping, helped by a Billy Barr hat-trick plus further efforts from Ben Smith, Frank Glock, Callum Maltese and William Letchford.

Another side with a perfect start to the campaign so far are Leyton Royal as the new boys made it two wins from two to go second. They were 5-1 home winners this week as they saw off the efforts of North East Lions to continue their positive start. George State scored twice, accompanied onto the scoresheet by Tamer-Andrei Bozgan, Cosmin Capatina and Catalin Gavril.

It’s also been a great start to the new season for London Park City who made it two wins from two with a massive local derby victory over a well rated Frenford A side in Ilford. City made the short trip back to Seven Kings with maximum points, earning a 3-0 win to go third in the table after three weeks.

Another of the league’s new sides, Francis Luke, got their points account underway for the season as they defeat fellow new side, Kwanzas London Sport. An eight-goal thriller ensued between the sides as Joel Malundama, Benjamin Sokomay, Aliu Balde, Saico Djop and Reumel McIntosh all netted for FL to give their side a maiden 5-3 win.

Completing the day’s action in Division One, promoted Chadwell Heath Spartans finally got their season underway as they made the trip to Mabley Green to take on Eastside. The defences reigned supreme in this one with a rare goalless draw the outcome as the sides settled for a share of the spoils, just alphabetical order separating these teams in the table!

DIVISION TWO

Belfry are top of Division Two on goal difference following their opening two matches of the campaign as they completed their first home fixture with a 5-2 win against Rainham Working Mens Club. Jamie Redington scored a hat-trick to help his side towards victory, with Patrick Macdonald and Liam Pickett scoring the others.

Just behind the leaders are Newham Wanderers whose elevation to this level has been quite successful thus far with a second win in two games. The latest victims of said success were Royal Forest who have made a difficult start themselves, succumbing to two Robertson Morais efforts and further Newham goals from Bradley Harris and Macane Caleir in a 4-2 scoreline.

Cowley Community move up to third in the table after securing a second win in three games so far, this week winning a local derby against St Francis at Wanstead Flats. Chris Wright was on target once again with Ryan Thompson-Cobham netting the other to hand Cowley a 2-0 win.

Sitting fourth in the standings, Forest Green couldn’t have wished for a better start to the season as they wrapped up win number two on Saturday, taking all three points from their away trip to Old Esthameians in Newbury Park. In a five-goal thriller, Green came out on the right side of a 3-2 scoreline to return home the happier of the sides.

Just behind Forest Green, Dagenham United are up to fifth in the standings as they were victorious on Saturday in their home clash against Chingford Athletic A. United were 3-1 victors, overcoming a Warren Isoka goal for previously unbeaten Chingford to ensure the points remained at Castle Green with the hosts.

DIVISION THREE

Melbourne Sports opened their account for the new season with a big home win in their opening fixture, defeating Flyers Under 23s 5-0 who themselves were making their league bow. That win sees the Mels move straight up into second place in the table ahead of what they hope will be a successful campaign.

Also taking part in their first fixture of the season, Loughton Lions made a winning start to life at this level as they came through with all three points against FHN Athletic at Mayfield School. In a topsy-turvy game in which Lions had to come from behind, they netted the all important fifth goal which saw them take a 3-2 victory.

The day’s other action came from Walthamstow where Bailey Football Academy led then had to come from behind against Glendale to take a late, late point. Maryis Shamku and Paul Oriakhi goals appeared to have given the Dales the points but Bailey strikes from Ayo Dosunmu and Berdan Yelken made it 2-2 to share the spoils.

DIVISION FOUR

Royal Forest Reserves have made a good start to life in Division Four with a pair of opening wins, their latest coming at the expense of Together United in Walthamstow. Tom Alexander and William Asenso both scored twice for Forest to set their side on the way to a 4-2 win that keeps them clear at the top.

There was a first win of the season for Chingford Harriers over the weekend as they were victorious in their win at home against Collier Row A. Andrew Bowring, Jake Kemp and Stephen Duberry all found the back of the net to earn their team a 3-1 win, taking their side up to second place while Row remain in search of their opening points.

Sitting third on goal difference, Custom House United have kept their unbeaten run going for another week and had to come through a close battle against Emerson United Reserves. Anthony Reeve and Archie Pitfield both netted for Emerson but their efforts proved in vain as Charlie Clarke, Robert Wooster and Tim Mason scored for the Dockers to win 3-2.

Newham Royals are up to fourth in the standings, extending their own unbeaten run to two games with another 3-2 scoreline in the division. They edged past Dagenham United Reserves at Castle Green as Anthony Adade scored twice and Desmond Wilson once to render a Dan Lane brace as just consolation.

Completing the weekend’s action, Avondale Rangers bounced back from their opening reverse last week to take a big 4-0 victory home with them in Loughton. Brentwood United Reserves were the side on the wrong end of this result as Jake Clarke scored twice and further goals arrived from William Coakley and Paul Regan.