WEEK 35 REVIEW: Round-up of all the league and cup action from the weekend

COUNTY CUP FINALS

On Wednesday evening, the Essex Junior Cup Final saw Fairlop Rovers take on Essex & Suffolk Border League side Thorpe Athletic at Scraley Road. Leading twice through Jayden Francis and Dylan Scutt, Rovers looked to have won the game but for a late penalty which took the game to extra time. Thorpe then scored very late on in the extra period to win the game 3-2.

Moving onto Friday evening, this time it was the turn of Collier Row Wheels to represent the league in the final of the Essex Junior Trophy, facing a Haver Town side who were former winners of this competition. Leading early through a Harry Gilham goal, Haver turned the game around to lead before Tom Ribbons headed in to level at 2-2. But Haver scored twice after the break and held on to lift the trophy once again. 

FENTON CUP

In the Fenton Cup, the last semi-final place was confirmed over the weekend as the West division triumphed over East as London Cranes produced a 5-2 win in east London to defeat Ongar Town at Flanders. Mofi Tunde-Ojolowo and Scout Bown both found the back of the net for Town but those efforts proved in vain as Cranes progressed through.

SENIOR DIVISION

There were a couple of goal-filled contests including a vital game at Wadham Lodge for Sporting Hackney, the relegation threatened hosts taking on CSM London. Needing a win to keep hopes alive, the Parrots slipped with a 5-2 defeat with Lewis Grantham scoring a hat-trick, Jaydon Charles and Luke Sinnott-Thomas scoring the others. That result means Sporting will finish in the bottom three.

Over at The Drive, there was a seven-goal thriller between Frenford Development and Lymore Gardens as those sides jostled for a higher placed finish. It was the hosts who walked away 4-3 winners, leapfrogging their opponents with a Anass Majdouli brace and efforts from Tyler Shillingford and Keenan Gravillis, overcoming Lymore goals from Artem Lukash, Munnir Saad and Marcel Destouche.

On Friday evening, it was the final game of a promising first season in the league for Haringey Borough Under 23s facing their counterparts from Aveley at Coles Park. It was the hosts who left the happier of the teams, winning 5-1 to ensure themselves of a third place finish, netting win number sixteen of the season.

PREMIER DIVISION CUP

The full line-up for the Premier Division Cup final is now confirmed as Soul were joined in the showpiece occasion by Waltham Abbey A who earned their place with a 4-0 win over Something From Nothing at Town Mead. Alfie Bruno scored two goals with Charlie Kerswell and Louie Pegg netting the others to book their place at Dagenham & Redbridge.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

In Premier Division East, there were two big results affecting the top end of the table as Dagenham United moved up to third place, defeating the league leaders, Fairlop Rovers, in a 2-1 result. Shaquille Mathurin and George Martin were the two scorers on the day for the hosts, rendering Jayden Francis’ effort as just consolation.

Unitey are up into fourth place and just three points off the promotion places after a comprehensive win away at Redbridge Community, winning 6-0 to put the hosts on the brink of the drop. Muamar Osman and Muhammed Camara both struck twice with Ayman Mohammed and Junior Milla scoring the others for the visitors.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, the league leaders racked up yet another win for their account, Philip United winning 13-1 against bottom of the table Wanstead to remain five points clear at the summit with four games to go. Olivier Nguindo struck with the Stags’ goal but the visitors put thirteen away to take the points.

Second placed Snaresbrook remain the closest side to pose a challenge on the leaders, the east London side making it a double over Wapping this season following a 2-1 win on Saturday at Old Parkonians. John Blount and Ali Rajim both found the back of the net to take all three points, their thirteenth win of the campaign.

Not much further behind the top two are another side with realistic hopes of a promotion push, Renegade, the east London side travelling to London Park City on Saturday and returning home with all three points after a 5-1 victory. Wellington Ismael scored two, Vincent Follea, Toluwa Junaid and Gideon Neto netting in the win.

DIVISION ONE CUP

In the Division One Cup, it was semi-finals day for four sides, beginning in east London where Woodford East Reserves were hoping to end the season on a high against Lymore Gardens Under 23s. There was just a single goal in the game and that was scored by Lymore as the lower ranked side booked their place in the final.

Over in Hainault, it was the meeting of Royal Lions and Saint City once again with a place in the final at stake this time around for the two sides. After a close game, this time it was the Saints who took the tie and a place in the final, winning 2-1 following a goal each from Noah Chesmain and Richard Seixas.

DIVISION TWO CUP

There were two close games in the weekend’s Division Two Cup semi-finals with the first game ending in a 2-2 draw between Rainham & Barking Phoenix and Old Barkabbeyans with Sean Tormey and Tyrell Phillips scoring the Rainham goals. It was Rainham who then held their nerve in the shootout to win that 8-7, taking their place in a second final of the season.

A similarly close game was witnessed in Loughton where title challengers Royal Forest were up against a relegation threatened Chingford Harriers side. With defences on top, the game ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning a shootout was needed to decide the winners. And it was Harriers who take their place in the final with a 5-4 shootout win.

DIVISION TWO

Back in the league, there was just the one league fixture in Division Two where Redbridge Community Reserves and Dagenham United Reserves met at Parsloes Park with the former needing a victory to keep them in with a chance of avoiding the drop. The game ended in a 2-2 draw with Cain Dash and Diogo Manessim netting.

DIVISION THREE

It’s congratulations to Woodford Town Under 23s who secured their maiden league title on Saturday, taking the points they needed from a double header against Changing Lives to crown themselves champions. Their 4-1 win in one part of the double header, courtesy of strikes from Aaron Campbell, Cameron O’Sullivan, Arman Uzzaman and Umar Mohammed was enough with Ismail Aziz responding for Lives. The other result saw the visitors take a 1-0 win.

Second place remains well up for grabs and Old Parkonians are making a real push to be the side who do, taking home all three points from Newbury Park with a 5-0 win against Broadway Athletic. Aaron Leggett scored a hat-trick, Burt Cardy and Rilwan Kuku netting the other to move them five points clear in that race.

Over in Hainault, Newham & Havering Borough took on a Glendale side with the former looking to move off the bottom, the Dales still pushing for a top three finish. The Dales were 6-0 winners in the game with Wasiu Lawal scoring two, to go with strikes from Awaal Jibo Idris, Maryis Shamku, Abdullai Ahmed and Carlton Oso-Obelde.

Photo Credit: Lois Rose Media