WEEK 7 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL football action from the past week

FENTON CUP

It was a big weekend for the start of the Fenton competitions with the Cup first round seeing the Premier sides in action, beginning with a high-scoring contest from Seven Kings on Saturday where Inter Newbury were the visitors to face a London Park City side looking for an upturn in form. A ten-goal thriller ensued between the sides but it was Inter who walked away 6-4 winners in the end to book their spot in round two.

Another side scoring four goals in a first round success were Newham Wanderers as they were up against FC Baresi Reserves at the Marshes to battle for a place in round two. And it was the hosts who prevailed as Emmanuel Chukwumah scored twice more for Wanderers after his summer move, Robertson Morais and Stefan Radu grabbing the others to render Tori Rendall and Filippo Lovascio strikes as just consolation in a 4-2 scoreline.

Over in Hainault, two more Premier Division sides were in action in the opening round as SOUL Tower Hamlets Reserves entertained a Redbridge Community side who have made a good start to the new season. Despite their reverse last weekend, Redbridge bounced back well to take the win here, a 4-2 success seeing the visitors safely through as Kelson Tomas scoring twice, Jair Monteiro and Santiagoi Correa netting the goals.

Down in East Ham, Stratford East's opening home fixture of the new season saw them with a home tie in the Fenton Cup, up against a Priory Park Rangers side who had one one and lost one so far. Rangers will be the side walking away the happier from the game as Tanbir Ahmed struck twice and Dervell Musa once to make it a 3-0 winning afternoon for the visitors.

There was also some second round action on the day and the only Senior division side in cup action were FC Petrocub London who's match-up saw them take on old local rivals, Kit Out London, the old Noak Hill co-tenants battling it out for a place in round three. It was the top flight side who took the honours in the end, former winners, Petrocub, winning the game 2-0 to head into the third round. 

Joining them in the last sixteen will be a Barkingside Reserves side who have started the season in stunning fashion and were looking to convert that into cup success as they faced Something From Nothing once again this weekend. After victory in the previous league encounter, it was 'Side once again who took the honours with Ahmes Ekani's brace plus goals from Sultan Agunbiade, Francis Mampolo and Joshua Iheanacho making it 6-3.

FENTON TROPHY

In the Fenton Trophy, there were some cupsets in the ties that took place, beginning with success for Division Three's Chingford Harriers who bounced back well from their league reverse last week to take a win on the road at Division Two's Parsonage Leys. Darnell Lamothe's brace set them on the way with Connor Bailey and Regan Marshall also netting in a 4-2 win.

There was also a cupset over in Barkingside where Old Parkonians A pulled off a victory against higher ranked opposition, edging a seven goal thriller with Old Barkabbeyans in a 4-3 scoreline. Christopher Plummer and Jay Elliott scored for the visitors but two Parks goals from Charlie Fiander added to further efforts from Burt Cardy and Shane Hovell saw the tie go in their side's favour.

There was a near-miss for FC Alpha who had a two-division advantage in their tie at home against London Academics at Noak Hill but were held to a 2-2 draw in the game at the end of ninety minutes with Denis Musteata and Liviu Nistreanu both finding the back of the net. And it was the higher placed side who held their nerve in the shootout, winning that 5-2 to head through.

Also through into the third round are Division Two's Royal Forest who continued their perfect start to the new season, adding a cup win to their two league successes, coming away winners from Harlow after a 3-1 victory against Changing Lives. Andrews Ohene-Poku scored the Lives' only goal of the game but Royal Forest scored three of their own to take their place in the third round.

At Parsloes Park, there was an all-Division Three clash as hosts Cobra were up against a Romford Town Flyers Reserves side who had made a strong start to the season in the league. Jordan Moore struck for the hosts but Kayden Brissett's brace for the visitors helped send the tie in Flyers favour, Harry Glenister scoring the other in an eventual 3-1 result.

On an adjacent pitch, the Trophy action completed with a second round tie between hosts IONA Wheels and Just Play, just goal difference seperating the sides in the league heading into the tie. The two sides produced an eight-goal thriller with Just Play the side to walk away with the honours in a 5-3 win, despite Jeffrey Nketia scoring twice and Luke Fearne once. 

SENIOR DIVISION

The league action got underway on Friday evening with a game featuring two sides sitting in the upper echelons. CSM London got an early lead at Parsloes Park against Haringey Borough Under 23s with Luke Sinnott-Thomas notching what proved to be the only goal of the game, CSM winning 1-0 to move back to the top of the table.

That result was made all the more important as second placed Frenford Development were up against fellow high-flyers Woodford Town Reserves in their local derby at Ashton Playing Fields. An enthralling game saw Frenford lead 4-1 going into the final stages with Isima Iguisi scoring a hat-trick and Cario Bibbon the other. But Town weren't done and scored three times to level the game dramatically at 4-4.

Taking advantage of that result were Lymore Gardens who made the trip across to familiar territory on Saturday with a visit to Parsloes Park to face Waltham Forest Borough. There were just the two goals in the game but both of those were scored by Lymore Gardens who won 2-0 to make it six wins for the season to move within three points of the leaders.

Also making a move on the sides above them were Ongar Town who have found some strong form in recent weeks after a rocky start and are fourth following a fifth league win of the campaign on Saturday, beating AS Rapid Londra 5-1 over in Dagenham. Max Galati and Ebenezer Fasoranti both scored twice and Mason White once to help them record the victory.

Over in north east London, Kulture's first outing at their new home ground saw them up against a Chadwell Heath Spartans side sitting two points behind them in the standings. The hosts took a two goal lead before Spartans fought back to level the contest with Billy Gipp and Ryan O'Connell both scoring to make it 2-2 and earn a share of the spoils.

At Wadham Lodge, the top flight action continued with a match-up between hosts Walthamstow Reserves and Philip United, the visitors starting the day with a two point gap of their hosts. But that was extended to five points by full-time as Philip won the game 5-2 to make it five wins from eight so far this season, keeping their hat in the ring for matters above them.

Concluding the Senior Division action, at Fairlop Oak, Sporting Hackney were in town to face hosts Fairlop Rovers with both sides sitting in the bottom half of the league standings after inconsistent starts to the season. There was little to be picked between the sides on Saturday with the game ending in a 1-1 draw to see both sides walk away with a point apiece.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

The sole game in the East division saw two of early front-runners in the division meet at Westlands with Romford Town Flyers taking on Dagenham United, both sides unbeaten at the start of the game. But the visitors were on top form and completed a comprehensive 6-0 win helped by a Halameen Agbaje hat-trick, two goals from Danny Doyle and a Mark Nkundabanyanga effot.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, Saint City produced a fine performance in the Flanders derby game, taking on London Cranes with both teams beginning the day on three points after a win apiece. But it was a strong performance from the visitors who won the game 5-1 in the end, aided by braces from Liam Adams and Edilson Cruz, along with a Richard Seixas goal, moving second in the table.

That result placed some importance on the division's other game which saw the league leaders, Vallance, in action with a home clash against one of last year's front-runners, Unitey. There wasn't a lot between the teams in the game as both sides found the back of the net in an eventual 1-1 draw. Mario Mera scored for the hosts with his effort levelled by the visitors own.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, the early pace setters are Ocean Pacific who made it four wins on the bounce at the weekend to extend their advantage at the top, Lymore Gardens Under 23s the beaten side on this occasion. David Banegas, Darwin Orozco and Marlon Ortiz were the players finding the net for the hosts who took their points tally up to twelve for the campaign.

There was a five goal thriller at Langston Road where Loughton Town came out on top to end Leyton City's unbeaten start to the season so far, edging the contest 3-2.  Awal Lawal and Sterlange Nzeza were the City scorers on the day but Town's brace from Tom Osmond and Owen McKelvey netted in reply making it two wins from four for the hosts.

DIVISION TWO

There were some high-scoring games in Division Two, beginning at South Park Drive where Old Barkabbeyans Reserves netted seven in their home game against Glendale including seven different scorers for the hosts. Yunus Mussa, Bruce Akatwijuka, Thomas Abega, Laurynas Arbaciauskas, Justice Akushie, Owen Thompson and Isiaih Farinto all netted to overcome Emmanuel Ejembi's brace from the Dales.

Over at Robert Clack Leisure Centre, there was three more points for table-toppers Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves who recorded a big 6-0 away win against Dagenham United Reserves to make it three wins for the season. Owen Rami's hot streak in front of goal continued with another four goals this week, Jack Chawner, Brodie Gingell and Abraham Ladoja netting the others.

DIVISION THREE

In the sole game from Division Three due to cup commitments, Buckhurst Way were in home action with the visit of Redbridge Community Reserves to Bancrofts on Saturday afternoon, the hosts beginning the day two points ahead of their opponents. The game ended in a closely fought 1-1 draw, that result enough for Buckhurst to climb up into second place. 

COUNTY CUP

It was a successful afternoon for the league's representatives in the AFA Senior Novets Cup first round as Condor secured their place safely in the next round, defeating an Old Parmiterians 8ths side in the opening round clash, 5-0 the final score.

Photo Credit: Chadwell Heath Spartans / A Bridge Too Far