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

FENTON TROPHY

It was semi-final day in the Fenton Trophy for a place the final with Rainham & Barking Phoenix taking on Chingford Harriers at Harris Academy. With Rainham have the advantage in league positions, they made that pay on the day, winning the tie 5-1 with braces from Cameron Shakes and Sean Tormey, along with Billy Broadbridge , confirming their place at Dagenham next month.

SENIOR DIVISION CUP

The final line-up for this year’s Senior Cup has now been confirmed following the weekend’s results as league champions, FC Baresi, entertained a Haringey Borough Under 23s side at Wodson Park. With a place in the final at stake, Baresi were the side to end the day happier, winning 4-0 with goals Marvin Hamilton-Omole, Murat Karagul, Raymond Poku and Lamine Gomes.

SENIOR DIVISION

The race to avoid the drop in the top flight is entering the final couple of weeks and Sporting Hackney kept their hopes alive with a seven-goal thriller win against Aveley Under 23s, winning the game 4-3 at Parsloes Park. That result saw the Parrots move off the bottom and up to thirteenth with four games remaining.

The fate of Kit Out London is now very much in others’ hands, dropping to the bottom of the table following their 1-0 defeat on the road on Saturday against CSM London at Little Heath. Derrich Assibey’s late winner was enough for the hosts to record a tenth league success of the season with Kit Out now needing two wins from two and to overturn a goal difference deficit.

Twelfth placed Bakers693 remain one of the sides hovering above the danger zone but earned another valuable point with a 3-3 home draw against cup finalists, Walthamstow Reserves, at Parsloes Park. That saw Bakers move onto twenty-five points, four points clear of the relegation zone as things stand.

In the day’s mid-table action, it was Rapid Chingford at home at Lakeside Sports Ground for the visit of Frenford Development, both sides looking to cement a top-half finish this season. A close game saw the clash settled by the odd goal in five with Jordan McLaughlin and Tyler Shillingford both netting in consolation for Frenford as Rapid won it 3-2.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

In the Premier Division Cup, quarter-final action came from Hainault where hosts Fairlop Rovers were looking to follow up their county cup success last weekend with a battle against rivals Waltham Abbey A. But it was to be the Abbotts day in the sun as Louie Pegg scored twice, Liam Adams and Alfie Bruno goals adding to complete a 4-1 win, overcoming Dylan Scutt’s strike for Rovers.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

The sole action from the East division at the weekend saw a vital clash for hosts Redbridge Community who sit within the relegation zone, taking on a Dagenham United side looking upwards. Tejean Lewis was in fine form for Dagenham, his hat-trick proving the big difference in a 5-2 win with Shaquille Mathurin and Halameen Agbaje also netting in a seventh league win.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, there was a big result for the league leaders as Philip United moved a step closer to a title success in their first season, seeing off third placed Newham Wanderers in a 3-0 scoreline. That result saw the leaders record a thirteenth win of the season, sitting five points clear with six games to go.

There was a local derby success for Barkingside Under 21s who produced one of their performances of the season to beat second placed Snaresbrook in Dagenham, 6-3 the winning scoreline. Lenny Asamoah netted a hat-trick with Bailey Jones, Rakim Janneh and Wyan Reid all on the scoresheet also.

In matters affecting the other end of the table, Wanstead’s late season form has seen them move up a place into tenth following the weekend’s results, beating a Wapping side 4-2 at Wadham Lodge to retain hopes of beating the drop. Ibrahim Cardona, Haytham Bakhlakh, Lucas Jimack and Arion Svarqa were the Stags’ goalscorers, Joshua Adu netting two in reply on his Wapping debut.

Over at Flanders Playing Fields, it was a key game for North East Lions too who were up against London Cranes knowing how important a win would be in their quest for survival. But it was the hosts who prevailed in the fixture, Cranes 4-2 winners despite a goal apiece from Andrew Hango and Adrian Potaczala for the Lions.

In the last game at the County Ground for this season, FC Baresi Reserves were up against east London rivals Renegade with the sides separated by nine points heading into the contest. A close game saw the sides end level at 1-1 to share the spoils with Malachi Kazley scoring for the hosts and Okwute Izuchukwu on target for Renegade.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, it’s congratulations to Saint City who were confirmed as the league champions following the weekend’s comprehensive victory, defeating Haringey United in an 8-0 scoreline to get over the line. Richard Seixas scored a hat-trick, Marciel Inacio a brace, Edilson Cruz, Ronald Asante and Gasser Hendawi also netting to spark the celebrations. Congratulations to all involved at the club on this achievement.

Third placed Royal Lions missed the chance to keep the promotion race in their own hands, dropping vital points with a 4-4 home draw against Freetown in Hainault. David Saffa scored twice for the visitors, Edward Okagdigbo and Joshua Fisayo also scoring to help their side earn a point from the game.

At Peter May Sports Centre, Ocean Pacific kept alive their slim hopes of promotion for a week longer at least, earning win number seven this season with a 5-0 home success against local rivals, Chingford Athletic Reserves. That result keeps Ocean six points off the promotion places with two games remaining but with their destiny out of their hands.

DIVISION TWO CUP

The full line-up for the Division Two Cup knock-out stages is now complete following Saturday’s final group action, Royal Forest securing the result they needed to ensure top place in the group, defeating Dagenham United Reserves narrowly in a 3-2 scoreline.  Diogo Manessim and Alexander Sodje both scored for Dagenham but those efforts proved in vain in the end.

DIVISION TWO

The high-scoring games theme continued into the league too where Collier Row Reserves and Old Barkabbeyans made it a pair of draws between their sides this season, the weekend’s fixture ending in a 4-4 draw. Shane Redford’s hat-trick and a Paulo Martins goal account for the Row efforts with a Josh Robinson brace plus Robbie Osborne and Dre Ferlisi singles equalling it.

DIVISION THREE CUP

In the Division Three Cup, it was a memorable day for Beckton Sporting Club who put their season’s travails behind them to record a cup semi-final victory against Glendale in east London. Awaal Jibo Idris and Emmanuel Ejembi goals for the Dales made it 2-2 before Beckton held their nerve in the shootout to book their place in the final.

DIVISION THREE

The race for the title and promotion in Division Three could well go to the wire as Collier Row Wheels got back to winning ways to remain in the hunt, earning a hugely important 3-0 home victory against Changing Lives in Dagenham. Luke Fearne scored twice with Kai Geere netted the other in an eleventh Wheels win of the season.

Old Parkonians A sit second in the table but with games running out, the Barkingside based outfit earning a twelfth win of the season of the maiden season with the league, coming from behind to beat Romford Flyers 4-3 at King George’s. Burt Cardy scored twice with Aaron Leggett and Charlie Fiander also netting in a vital win.

The glut of goals continued in Newbury Park where sixth placed Broadway Athletic found the back of the net with some regularity after beating Newham & Havering Borough in a comprehensive 20-0 scoreline. That made it eight wins this term for Broadway, moving them up onto the cusp of the top half.

Photo Credit: Saint City FC