WEEK 33 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league action from the weekend

SENIOR DIVISION

Midweek action in the Senior Division saw Fairlop Rovers rack up another vital point from their game against Waltham Forest Borough, the sides ending level at 1-1 as Freddie Bose netted for Rovers and Michael Alfred for Borough.

There was action on Good Friday as Greengate District took on cup finalists, FC Petrocub London, the game at Parsloes Park where Vasile Spinu and Ogor Boiciuc goals meant that the visitors left 2-1 victors in the quest for the runners-up spot.

On Saturday afternoon, Woodford Town Under 23s produced a massively important performance in defeating Kulture 3-2 at Whitbreads with Oskars Grandans, Vincent Guest and Joel Oramadike strikes just enough to confirm a seventh league win.

The biggest winners in the division were Saint City who warmed up for Tuesday’s semi-final with a big 5-1 away win over Dagenham United at Robert Clack with Elia Zikos, Harry Carter, Jamie Moore, Prosper Romanus and Peter Addo goals doing the business.

It ended locked all square in another of big result affecting the bottom end of the table as Ryan and Sporting Bengal United Reserves shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, Bilel Benyoucef scoring for the hosts and Ezekiel Ertl equalling that for Sporting.

That same scoreline was reflected in the match from The Drive as where it was Frenford Development seeking important points in their battle to avoid the drop, James Ikotun scoring their goal while Dylan Florence struck for Waltham Forest Borough, the game ending 1-1.

The newly crowned league champions, London Harts United, continued their quest for an unbeaten league season with the visit of Chadwell Heath Spartans to the Harlow Arena. It was a 3-0 win for the hosts however with Harts now just ninety minutes away from a place in the record books.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

In the quarter-finals of the Premier Division Cup, a closely fought match saw Bealonians and Inter Newbury end 2-2 at ninety minutes with Rhys Clements and Louie Morales scoring for Beals before their side edged the shootout 6-5 to head into the last four.

Over at Aylward Academy, it was another quarter-final as FC Baresi Reserves played host to a Motormen side for a place in the semi-finals. But a goal apiece from Ali Shikheey and Filippo Lovascio proved enough for Baresi to take the tie, 2-0.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

There were five goals in the game from Fairlop Oak where hosts, Manford Way Reserves, edged it by the odd goal, 3-2, against Bakers693 to further cement a place in the top half, despite Bakers goals from Ciprian Hogea and Teddy Bowden.

Something From Nothing are edging closer to the dreaded drop after a difficult away trip to Buckhurst Hill Under 23s which saw the visitors go down 3-0 with Hill up to ninth spot following two Billy Humphreys goals and one from Max Handley.

Over at Parsloes Park, it was a victory for promotion challenging Kit Out London who scored both goals in the game without reply from Condor to leave 2-0 winners, Salim Edaghai scoring both for his side in the win.

That scoreline was also witnessed in another of the games from Flanders where Athletic Newham Under 23s struck twice in their contest with Romford Town Flyers, winning 2-0 in a massive result which sees them move outside of the relegation places.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Old Esthameians have moved closer to confirming safety in the division for another season, edging a close game over Onyx, 2-1 winners through a goal each from Harland Taylor and Henry Gray to take their wins tally to four.

Over at Wadham Lodge, Sporting Hackney were the visitors to face a West Essex Reserves side who have taken some big scalps this term. But it was the Parrots on this occasion who left with the points, 3-1 the final scoreline to keep alive their outside hopes of a promotion finish.

The sides couldn’t be separated in the final game from  the division as third faced fourth at Peter May, Ocean Pacific securing a point to dent Unitey’s promotion hopes in a 1-1 draw as Carlos Solis struck for the hosts, a result which confirmed a top two finish at least for Vallance.

DIVISION ONE CUP

There was a cupset in the Division One Cup where Sich London earned a place in the semi-finals of the competition with a hard fought 2-1 victory of East leaders, Royal Forest, Vasyl Paskar scoring both of their goals to put them within ninety minutes of a final appearance.

DIVISION ONE EAST

Loughton Town sit five points clear with a couple of games left to go in Division One East, their 3-1 home victory against Romford Town Flyers Reserves at Parsloes Park earned through a couple of Georgie Smith goals and one from Samuel Yamoah. Peter Brinton-Quinn scored for Romford in reply.

There was a big win for FC Alpha who scored six without reply against Redbridge Community with Serghei Scupoi netting a hat-trick to go alongside strikes from Ogor Mamulat, Alexandru Petcu and Liviu Nistreanu – 6-0 the final scoreline.

Another side who netted six in a win were Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves who had Deren Kale to thank for his four goals, along with two from Tariq Gordon-Saude, as they recorded a 6-1 win over Old Barkabbeyans Reserves, Gabriel Ohuruogo scoring for Barks in response.

It was the battle of the lane in Barkingside where Old Parkonians A hopped over the way to net a closely fought win over Bealonians Reserves on derby day, Charlie Fiander scoring two for Parks and Dale Young with the Beals consolation.

DIVISION ONE WEST

Saint City Reserves’ trip up the M11 proved to be a happy one as they edged a seven-goal thriller 4-3 against Parsonage Leys. D’Andre Okorodudu scored two, Daoude Cisse and Shahab Magala the other with Dwayne Smith netting two and Costa Azzopardi one for the hosts. That result also confirmed Hackney Wanderers as league champions in just their first season - congrats to them!

DIVISION TWO CUP

The line-up for the Division Two Cup Final was confirmed on Saturday as league leaders, Iona Wheels, continued their quest for a double with a 3-1 home semi-final victory against Lymore Gardens Under 23s. Alfie Karby, Luke Fearne and Josh Duah goals done the business to see their side through to face Chingford Harriers.

DIVISION TWO

London East are up into the promotion places as they edged a close game against Glendale in the Fairlop derby. East struck midway through the first half before Emmanuel Ejembi levelled it up before the break. But a second half winner from East saw them climb the standings.

On the next pitch, Eastside Foundation put a point in the board in their chase for the runners-up spot, ending level at 1-1 with Thurrock Thameside, the latter’s last game of the season, with Tyler Houston-Taylor scoring the Eastside goal.

DIVISION THREE

An exciting finish to the Division Three title race could be on the cards as Buckhurst Way put themselves within six points of the top two with two games in hand following a 1-0 win over leaders, Old Parkonians B, placing additional importance on the remaining fixtures.

The other game from the division saw Upminster Albion taking on Cobra in the battle between fifth and sixth in the division. It was certainly a case of defences on top in this one, neither side able to break the deadlock in a 0-0 draw.

Photo Credit: FC Baresi