WEEK 3 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

The opening ties of this season’s Fenton Cup competition took place this weekend with six clubs vying for a place in the next round of the competition. The biggest winners of the day were Division Two’s Eastside who put twelve goals past their Division Four opposition, Gatcliffe. Shane Ritchie scored the Gatcliffe goal but four goals from Idris Shittu, three from Michael Odukoya, two from each of Archie Gamman-Gates and Waj Abdul Malik plus a single from Edward Kargbo were sufficient to book their place in the next round.

There was an entertaining game in Dagenham where FC BKT and Upshire Forest combined to produce a six-goal cup thriller. With the sides locked at 2-2 in a close game, it was the hosts, FC BKT, who won through on the day with two late goals in a 4-2 win and overcoming Upshire strikes from Aaron Rich and Callum Godfrey.

There was a battle between two of this season’s Division Four sides in the day’s other Fenton Cup tie where Loughton Lions were the visitors to Chadwell Heath to take on a Brentwood United Reserves side who had made a solid start to the campaign. A Will Osmond brace and a strikes from each of Tony Vincent and Jordan Reynolds were sufficient for the Lions however to complete a 4-2 win and book their slot in the next round.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the Senior Division, it’s as you were with both of the top two sides winning once again to make it three wins from three matches so far. West Essex Reserves remain top on goal difference as they faced the previously unbeaten Singh Sabha Barking at home. Goals from Charles Saunders and Corley Ross were the difference between the sides as West Essex secured a hard fought 2-1 victory to maintain an excellent start to the season.

Just behind the leaders are ACD United who have also made a great start to life after promotion, earning a third win of the season. They were up against a Grove United side who had won their opening game but Michael Wade’s double plus further goals from Liam Porter and Charlie Munns completed a 4-2 win, overcoming Grove goals from Michael Adams and Aaron Scott.

London Cranes have made a perfect start to the season so far as they earned themselves a second win from two matches, beating Docklands Albion 2-1 in Walthamstow. Jack Blackburn netted for Albion but Isma Bukemya and Shafik Walusimbi goals for the visitors edged this tight game in favour for their side who took home the points.

The biggest victors of the day in the top flight were Blue Marlin who recorded their first win of the season on Saturday with a thumping 7-1 win away at London Park City. There were a trio of braces as Sam Bunce, George Bunce and Abyszkin Stanislaw each scored twice and a Tyreece Robinson effort rounding off the scoring to render Terrence De Souza’s goal as just a consolation for London Park.

Also securing a first win of the campaign were East Ham Inter who managed to overcome a tricky away game at Lopes Tavares London Reserves by the odd goal in three. Goals from Amalraj Kakumanu and Sofyan Khalfi handed the visitors an important 2-1 victory that opens their points account for the new season following promotion last year while the hosts remain pointless at the wrong end of the table thus far.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, FC Baresi remain top of the table after three matches but were involved in a tough game at home to Three Colts who took home a share of the points in a 1-1 draw on Saturday. Shane Oakley was on target for the hosts’ goal but a Fabian Donovan effort for Colts earned them a first point of the new season.

Lymore Gardens move up to second place in the table following a second league win as they took on local rivals Forest Green in Leyton at the weekend. After cruising into a five goal lead through braces from Bradley Williams and Courtney White, added to a Terry Williams effort, they took their foot off the gas to let Green back in the game late on. Ugbonna Obeabuchi scored twice in response and Shaun Browne once but wasn’t quite enough as Lymore eventually won through 5-3 to settle the jitters.

There was a first league win of the season for Rapid Chingford who made it four points from three games with a terrific win at home to previously unbeaten Chigwell. Brandon Young-Chambers got on the scoresheet for the visitors but Rapid goals from Constantin Banu and Florin Ivancia proved sufficient to record a 2-1 victory, closing the gap on their opponents in the process.

Chingford Athletic Reserves bounced back well from their opening league defeat to earn a big 5-1 away win at Melbourne Sports at the weekend. Scott Lincoln was the man on target for the Mels but a Michael Hay hat-trick helped his side to victory, accompanying efforts from Luke Primett and Daniel Gardre onto the scoresheet.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, CSM London have made a stunning start to the season with three wins on the bounce and were soaring once again on Saturday with a 5-2 win at home to Flyers. Micail Koulibaly scored twice for CSM with Rodrique Beya, Mark Makeri and Omar Wilson on target to render Flyers goals from Daniel Ezeorji and Sean Watson as just consolation.

Making in a winning double for Chingford Athletic in the league on Saturday were the Development side who were at home to South Marsh United looking to close the gap on the leaders. Chingford will certainly have gone home the happier of the sides as Omani Green scored twice and one each from Lashian Zavier-Johnson, Luke Dimond, William Woods and Adam Priest earned a 7-1 win.

Continuing a winning start to the season, Cowley Community extended their perfect record as they travelled down to Rainham Working Mens Club with both sides having won their opening match. Charlie Perry was on target for Rainham but his goal wasn’t enough as Cowley scored three of their own to run out 3-2 winners on the day and move third in the table.

There was a first win of the season on Saturday for Old Esthameians who made it four points from three matches with a 4-2 win at home to Inter Plaistow in Newbury Park. Samuel Garrett extended his goal account for Plaistow with two efforts but Old E’s scored four to make a move up the table to fifth place.

DIVISION THREE

The top end of the table is looking really tight so far with five sides separate by just a point. Royal Forest head the pack seven points from their opening three matches, aided by a solid 4-0 win on Saturday away at Forest Green Reserves. Tom Osmond scored twice with Martin Cannon and Terence Elliott-Cooper goals completing a victory to see their side go top.

Sitting just behind the leaders on goal difference are Haver Town Reserves who had to overcome a sterling test from Flyers Reserves at the weekend, culminating in a seven goal thriller. Lee Harris’ hat-trick proved the difference which, added to a Ben McAllister effort, earned Haver the points in a 4-3 win.

Sitting in third but with a game in hand are Tower Hamlets Reserves who could well be the side to beat this season having netted the not insignificant sum of twenty goals already this year from just two matches. The latest victims were Glendale who were defeated 7-0 as Hamlets made it two wins from two games this season.

Sitting fifth in the table after a solid start to the season are Frenford A who made it two wins from three games with a home victory on Saturday against Chingford Harriers. Edwin Jabbari opened his account for the season with Chingford’s goal but George Andrews-Court scored twice and one each from Jovan Shand-Aldridge and Abdul Niazi completed a 4-1 win for the hosts.

DIVISION FOUR

Debden Park continue to set the standard in Division Four after recording a third win on the bounce to top the table. A side who always guarantee you a glut of goals, they were winners by the odd goal in three at the weekend as they travelled away to face an unbeaten Old Barkabbeyans Reserves side. A Ross Densham brace however proved important for his side to run out 2-1 winners and continue their winning streak.

Holding second place in the table after three weeks are Sungate Reserves who made it two wins from two with a come-from-behind victory against Dagenham United Reserves. Daggers goals from David Roberts and Nana Agyekum had twice given their side the lead but Sungate goals from Bradley Johnson, Jordon Duncan and Chris Ross ultimately were enough for the visitors to take a 3-2 win.

Newham Royals have moved third in the table after they took part in a ten-goal thriller away at Soul Youth on Saturday. Defeated in their opening match of the season, Royals bounced back in style put were pushed all the way by a Soul side who have made a solid start themselves. Newham Royals eventually pulled away to win 6-4 and open their points account in the process.

Following a similar path were Avondale Rangers as last season’s cup finalists opened their points tally for the new season with a 2-1 victory against local rivals, Chigwell Mens Club. Billy Barr once again found the back of the net for Chigwell but Rangers goals for Adam Friend and Thomas Jackson-Lyall were enough to earn the win and make the middle section of the table very congested.

LONDON JUNIOR CUP

There were plenty of goals in the opening round of the London Junior Cup over the weekend with five of our sides involved. It wasn’t such a great day however on a results level as all five saw their campaigns ended. Puma Kings had a trip south of the river to contend with but put up a sterling fight, eventually slipping to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Long Lane.

A similar fate saw an end to Wapping’s run in the competition as they hosted south London opposition in the shape of Eltham Town Reserves at Hackney Marshes. In a game settled by the odd goal in five, Eltham were the side to book their place in round two as they won 3-2 on the day.

Another north London vs south London contest was taking place at Hackney Marshes as Sporting Hackney Under 23s were up against Erith-based Danson Sports in the opening round encounter. A 2-0 defeat was dished out upon the hosts as Danson progressed on to the next round.

The remaining matches saw a couple of heavy defeats for Division Three sides as Custom House United were up against it with a clash against Wimbledon League Premier Division outfit, AFC Battersea. Their opponents showed their obvious class with a 10-2 victory at the Terence McMillan Stadium.

Also on the wrong end of a heavy result were St Francis who had the longest trip of the day with a journey to Worcester Park in Surrey to take on Rygas. It was the hosts who will have ended the day as the happier of the sides as they won 6-0 to end Saints’ participation in the competition.

Thank you to Lamo the Lion for providing this weekend's cover photo