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

SENIOR DIVISION

The Week 7 action began once again on Friday as two fixtures took place, beginning up at Coles Park where CSM London got into the lead through Lewis Grantham before hosts Haringey Borough Under 23s netted twice to turn things around. But a Ramiz Mahmood penalty in the dying moments of the game rescued an important point for the visitors, the match ending 2-2.

Over at Mayesbrook Park, Woodford East remain in second spot in the standings after they completed a solid victory at home against Bakers693 to keep within touching distance of the leaders. Two Timothy Monsheju goals led the way with Luke Dimond extending his goal record this term as the Peacocks wrapped up the win.

One of the biggest games of the weekend came on Saturday afternoon as the division’s only remaining unbeaten side going into the game, FC Petrocub, faced the league leaders, FC Baresi, in front of a big crowd at Noak Hill. Petrocub led the game at half time but Murat Karagul’s brace and an Edson Lami effort turned things around to win 3-1, opening up a three points gap at the top.

That result enabled Chadwell Heath Spartans to move up further in the standings as they took on a Walthamstow Reserves side at Lakeside Sports Ground, a good contest heading in favour of the hosts as Billy Gipp and Peter Adeleye goals made it five wins in seven so far this term, along with still having the best defensive record in the division to boot.

With just a single defeat to their name so far this season, sixth placed Lymore Gardens will certainly be expecting to join the title picture and they kept their good start going with a 5-0 home victory against Chingford Athletic on Saturday. A goal each from Joshua Morris, Tyrique Peters, Dylan Roberts, Malik Donaldson and Gaston Mendy were the difference between the sides.

Also hitting five on the day were a Priory Park Rangers side who, after a difficult start to the campaign, now have two wins on the board as they creep closer to safety. They were 5-1 winners at the Marshes against Kit Out London for whom Akeem Matthews was on target, Rangers moving thirteenth as a result.

Completing the top flight action, Sporting Hackney also put on an impressive showing as they took on a solid Aveley Under 23s side, just three points between the sides going into the fixture. But a couple of Sandro Pereira goals plus singles from Eric Thogo and Richard Balogun enabled the Parrots to win the game 4-0 and take the honours.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

Fairlop Rovers remain top of the table in the East division as they ended Belfry’s unbeaten start to the season with a solid 5-2 away win in Dagenham. Jordan Elliott grabbed a couple of goals on his first start for Belfry but Harry Rouse netted two in reply for Rovers with Jack Kibblewhite, Dylan Scutt and Jayden Francis also bagging for the visitors to take all three points.

Second placed Ongar Town kept up their early race for promotion as they moved to nine points with a hard fought away victory, beating Waltham Abbey A at Town Mead to jump above their opponents. Mason White, Willliam Lockett and Max Galati were all on the Town scoresheet to come away winners by the odd goal in a 3-2 success.

Sitting in third place are Soul who have made a decent start, sitting on seven points from their opening games. But they had to settle for a share of the points at the weekend with Redbridge Community getting off the mark with their first points, the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Frankie Francis added another couple of goals for the hosts with Igor Furtado and Zane Essel efforts for Soul.

Over at Fairlop Oak, Southend City looked to be heading to their first win of the season as they got themselves into a 2-0 lead against hosts Something From Nothing. But the game was turned on it’s head in the last quarter of the contest with Micah Innocent scoring twice and Monday Adjetey netting the other to finish this 3-2 in SFN’s favour.

Dagenham United followed up last week’s success with another win this time around, coming away from Newbury Park with all three points as they netted the game’s only goal against Leyton City. Max Micklewright will be the man celebrating this week as his header proved to be the difference in a 1-0 success, taking Dagenham’s points tally to six.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

Over in the West division, there was a glut of goals beginning with the league leaders, Philip United, who maintained what has been a terrific start to their maiden campaign as a club, earning a fourth win in succession as they defeated FC Baresi Reserves 6-2. Hashim Hussain and Joshua Adu struck with the hosts’ goals but they weren’t quite enough in the end.

Sitting three points off the pace are second placed Snaresbrook who were on the road this weekend with a trip to Hackney to face Renegade, but returned home far the happier of the teams, confirming win number three in a 5-2 scoreline. Harry Prince scored two with one each from Alex Gordon, Will Gleeson and Ali Rajim to secure the points in ‘Brook’s favour.

Also with three wins on the board now are Newham Wanderers who had to navigate yet another thriller, this time edging their game against Barkingside Under 21s at Nutter Lane. Oli Ahmed, Bradley Harris, Joao Mendes and Manuel Sanuo were the Wanderers on the scoresheet and those goals were just enough to earn a 4-3 victory by full-time.

It was a first win of the new season for now ninth placed Wanstead who got their points tally on the move with a home success against sixth placed London Park City. Sina Taghipour scored twice for the hosts with Liam Mullings and Akram Mujuzi goals completing the scoring to move Wanstead up a couple of places and into safety.

There were ten goals in the game at Flanders on Saturday where local rivals, Athletic Newham A and London Cranes, produced a goal-filled contest. With both sides going into the game with no points as yet, this was an important contest and it will be London Cranes who took the local bragging rights, winning 7-3 to move up to eighth in the table.

Completing the action in the division, Wapping will be relatively pleased with their start to the new season as they made it two wins in three, moving into the top half of the table with a 3-0 away success against North East Lions in Walthamstow. That result was enough for the visitors to move into fifth spot while Lions remain in search of their first points.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, there are now five clubs in the six-point club with Freetown moving second following the weekend’s results as they turned around their fortunes against Lymore Gardens Under 23s, this time taking away the points themselves with a 3-0 away win. Emmanuel Ozioma, Cameron St Rose and Elijah Dapaah were the scorers to double ‘Towns points tally for the season.

League new boys, Ocean Pacific, can be equally pleased with their start as they chalked up a second league victory at the weekend with an away win against Haringey United at the Marshes. Ocean were 3-1 winners to extend their points tally to six, moving fourth in the standings after the opening four weeks of the season.

The final game in the division saw Woodford East Reserves and Old Esthameians go into their fixture with just a point between them. And that gap remained by full-time as they shared the spoils in a six-goal thriller, the match ending 3-3. Tom Osmond, Georgie Smith and William Akins all bagged for the Peacocks but E’s were able to level things up with three of their own.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, it’s Royal Forest still leading at the top on goal difference after they made it three from three in Loughton with a stunning 7-1 win against Redbridge Community Reserves. Williams Yahaya had notched for Redbridge but that proved just consolation as Fifi Banin bagged a hat-trick for the Trees, George Hick a brace and other goals from Jake Tibbitts and Stanley Kweya.

Running close on the leaders’ coattails are Rainham & Barking Phoenix who also have nine points to their name and made it three wins in four on Saturday with victory at home against Dagenham United Reserves. Sam Springall, Temi Famusudo and Josh Perry all notched for the hosts as they won the game 3-0.

It’s been a mixed start for Collier Row Reserves but they now sit third in the standings after four games, completing a second victory of the season with a hard-fought 2-1 home win against Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves at Forest Row.  Danny Gilley was the difference between the sides with a brace of goals, cancelling out Samir Abdoulainaf’s effort for Spartans.

Completing the division’s action is the clash between Fairlop Rovers Reserves and Chingford Harriers who met at Fairlop Oak on Saturday and were well matched, the game ending in a 1-1 score draw at full-time to give Harriers their first point of the season. That result saw Fairlop move up into sixth spot while Harriers sit a couple of points off safety in tenth.

DIVISION THREE

It’s been a perfect start to the season for Woodford Town Under 23s who made it four wins in four on Saturday with another strong win, defeating Buckhurst Way in their local derby match at Bancrofts. Ousman Bangura scored two with Frankie Waker, Tylla Addai and Ronan Reading also on the scoresheet in a 5-0 success.

Sitting in second are Glendale who made it three wins and a draw in their first four this season with a big home win on Saturday against Newham & Havering Borough, the Dales winning 9-0 at Fairlop. Mouhamed Gueye scored a first-half hat-trick, Wasiu Lawal and Awwal Jibo Idris both scored a brace, Akinwale Olamilekan and Lawson Leo notching the others to complete the scoresheet.

Just a point further back sit a Collier Row Wheels side who have a perfect record so far with three wins in three, this week taking home the points from Harlow with a visit to Changing Lives at Ladyshot Sports Ground. Abdulhalim Alhadi and Samuel Afriyie each bagged for the hosts but those efforts proved in vain as the Wheels edged the game 3-2.

Old Parkonians make up the top four and they have earned themselves three wins in their opening four games, adding another win to their record on Saturday after defeating Romford Flyers in Barkingside. Jay Mahmood scored twice, Charlie Fiander and Billy Mason netting the others to give Parks a third success.

COUNTY CUP

There was London Junior Cup action this weekend and it saw three wins out of four for league sides with Rapid Chingford eventually prevailing from their tie away at Islington Midweek League side Athenians, the game needing extra-time to separate the sides in a 5-4 win for Rapid.

Also getting the win were Unitey who entertained an Old Pepys side in Loughton. The Bromley and South London League side led early on but the hosts levelled and then led before a fightback saw the game finish 3-3. In the penalty shootout, it was Unitey who went through, winning that 4-3.

It was a similar story in the game between Eagles Football and their counterparts from south-west London, FC Real London, who were well matched to earn a 1-1 draw at the end of ninety minutes, requiring a shootout to pull the sides apart. And it was Eagles who held their nerve to win it 4-3.

The only reverse in the competition came in south-east London where Sporting Club Thamesmead from the Kent County League put in a sterling performance against Royal Lions, the hosts running out 6-0 to end Lions’ run in the competition for this season.

Photo Credit: FC Baresi