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

FENTON CUP

The Fenton Cup got underway for the new season and Romford Town Flyers produced the biggest win of the day with a 12-0 victory over fellow second tier Stratford East. Ali Rajim struck six, Leonardo Lopes a hat-trick, George Dawood two and Jared Morton the other.

Premier East high-flyers, AS Rapid Londra, contined a good start to the new season with a cup victory at home against Kit Out London, winning 4-0 through two Costel Nitescu goals, Andi Hotoi and Cristian Cazacu adding the others.

Senior Division leaders, FC Petrocub London, extended their perfect start to the new season with a seventh success, this time in the cup as they beat Haringey Borough Reserves 1-0 at Coles Park, Ghenadie Moisei with the game's only goal.

Saint City were also in action against top flight opposition as they travelled to Beckton to take on a CSM London side for a place in round two. Seun Oyelaja struck for the hosts but City goals from Dawid Potoczek and Sandro Pereira meant it was the visitors through in a 2-1 scoreline.

Over at Whitbreads Sports Ground, a close game saw Woodford Town Under 23s and Dagenham United end the ninety minutes level at 1-1 with Reon Murray-Whyte scoring for Town. It was Dagenham who took the win in the shootout, 4-3 victors to head on through.

FENTON TROPHY

There were two close contests in the Trophy where Thurrock Thameside pulled off a cupset at a higher ranked side, ending 2-2 against Lymore Gardens Reserves. George Smith and Aleem Balogun goals equalling Lymore goals from Jonnifer Melo and Paul Benfield. Thurrock then took the shootout 4-3 to end winners.

In the day's other Trophy tie, it took just a single goal to seperate the sides as SP United faced a Saint City Reserves in Leyton for a place in round two. Israel Bokoko scored that all important goal for United to hand their side the 1-0 win.

SENIOR DIVISION

The top flight action began on Friday evening and it saw Ongar Town continue their sparkling form to stay second, producing a 3-1 home success against Sporting Bengal United Reserves, Yuki Edogiawerie scoring two and George Pugh one. Seth Mutsvanga struck with the Bengal goal in reply.

Also on Friday evening, Waltham Forest Borough were up against Fairlop Rovers at Parsloes Park in a game in which neither side could be seperated until the later stages of the contest. But Jack Barnes' finish at the backpost late on meant Borough took the points in a 1-0 win.

There was a big result for Frenford Development at The Drive where the hosts produced their first win of the season, defeating co-tentants Chadwell Heath Spartans by the odd goal in a 2-1 win. Amal Mujuzi and Keenan Gravillis scored the all important goals with Billy Mucheri notching for Spartans.

London Harts United are up into third spot and remain unbeaten as they took the honours in their clash with Greengate District at Parsloes Park. Lua Silva scored for Greengate but United strikes from David Moyo and Anthony Ralenekov meant it was the visitors winning 2-1.

Over at Wadham Lodge, it was derby day for Kulture and Ryan who started the day just a point apart in the standings. But it was Kulture moving clear of their opponents by the end with a 3-1 success which saw them up into eighth spot as a result.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

With a number of sides in cup action, Athletic Newham Under 23s took advantage of that situation to move up level with leaders on seven points recording a second win. They were 3-1 winners at Something From Nothing with Lawrence Olorunfemi scoring all three goals for them.

Sitting just a point off the top are Old Barkabbeyans who bounced back to winning ways on Saturday after netting themselves a 2-0 away victory over Motormen. Yunus Mussa scored both goals for Barks to make it two wins from three.

Sixth placed Condor also have six points from their opening three games, securing victory in their Dagenham derby match against Bakers693. Two Mihai Bozianu goals plus one from Argest Nela recorded the 3-1 final scoreline.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

In the West division, Sporting Hackney's great start following relegation saw them record a third successive league win ahead of their big London Cup tie against Charlton Athletic next weekend, netting themselves a 4-1 win against Ocean Pacific in Walthamstow.

That result proved all the more important as Onyx ended the unbeaten start of the league leaders, Unitey, a single goal the only thing that seperated the teams as Yasin Hussein's strike off the bench made it a 1-0 win for the league new boys.

One side who did keep their unbeaten run going in the league were third placed Vallance who are up into third spot after a thumping 6-0 away win against London Cranes. Wyclef Kayonjo struck twice, Kaywan Khourshid, Abdul Bakare, Mikie Robinson and Sahaile Allen all netting too. Mujeeb Kaddu added the Cranes goal in reply.

Over at Peter May, North East Lions made it two wins from four so far this season and ended Old Esthameians' unbeaten run in the process,  Lions 4-0 winners with Jai Perkins scoring twice off the bench with Mark Amara and Jason Tang scoring too.

Just across the North Circular, at Wadham Lodge, West Essex Reserves sport a similar record themselves and completed a second win of their own, netting a 5-0 home victory over Priory Park Rangers to move up into fifth spot.

DIVISION ONE EAST

Loughton Town have made a spectacular start to their season and it's now four wins from four, coming through a potentially tricky home clash with Redbridge Community in a 3-1 scoreline. Will Osmond's brace led the way with Joseph Arnold adding the other, Adam Abdelaziz netting the visitors' consolation.

Third placed Old Parkonians A had to do things the hard way, coming from behind to net their third win of the season after a hard fought 2-1 away victory over Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves. Elie Fanga's goal gave Spartans the lead before Jourdane DeCourcy-Nolan and Jordan Cook goals turned the tide.

The biggest victory from the division saw FC Alpha make their first winning outing of the new season at the third attempt, 5-0 winners at Noak Hill over Dagenham United Reserves. Liviu Nistreanu and Serghei Scupoi both netted two and Igor Mamulat one in the win.

DIVISION ONE WEST

The West action saw a couple of thrillers, beginning in Sawbridgeworth where Hackney Wanderers edged a nine-goal thriller over Parsonage Leys 5-4. Ryan Lewis scored a hat-trick, Muhammed Omotoso and Michael Morgan scoring the others, while Dwayne Smith (2), Costa Azzopardi and Byron Opeodu netted for Leys in reply.

In east London, there was a seven-goal thriller which was edged by UK Moldova who picked up a first league of the season following a 4-3 win over Changing Lives. Agoro Fuad scored twice and Oumar Diambo added the other for Lives but those proved just consolation.

Also putting a first win on the board were Sich London who made a successful trip to Hainault, recording a 4-1 win against Newbury Forest Reserves. Ivan Popov scored a hat-trick and Vasyl Paskar added one to take home the points. 

Just down the road at Redbridge Sports Centre, visitors Leyton City moved up to second place in the table with a second win on the bounce, beating London Park City in a 2-0 scoreline. Awal Lawal and Joel Malundama scored the goals for City to extend their winning start.

DIVISION TWO

Iona Wheels continued to lead the way at the summit in Division Two, coming through a tough home battle with Glendale by the odd goal. Josh Allen struck with both goals for Wheels and held off a Dales fightback started by Emmanuel Ejembi's goal to take a 2-1 victory.

Second placed London Academics bounced back well, producing a 5-3 winning home performance against Lymore Gardens Under 23s. Fabian Calin scored twice and Stanley Nwagborogu the other for Lymore with Terill Blake-Alleyne and Olajide Oshufuyi both scoring two and Salum Abdullah adding the other.

Chingford Harriers netted a late goal to continue their unbeaten start to the season, coming away 2-1 winners over a CSM London who have also made a good start. Monsoor Ahmed scored for CSM with Huai-Ginn Oliver and Stephen Duberry striking for Harriers.

There was a high-scoring draw in the division's remaining game where Kulture Reserves were held to a 3-3 draw against Freetown, the latter's first point of the season. Ali Ramazani, Seyed Arfaei and Carlo Ruggiero scored for Kulture with Ifeoluwa Bakreen's brace and a David Saffa goal levelling it up for 'Town.

DIVISION THREE

It's Buckurst Way leading the way at the top of Division Three as they racked up a third league win of the season over the weekend, netting the game's only goal of a close contest with Romford Town Flyers A to win it 1-0.

Second place is held by Bocas Jogabonito who added a second win in three so far this term following a 4-0 home success against Cobra. Daniel Chapman scored a hat-trick and TJ Matthews added the other to secure the win at Passmores.

Jays made it two wins from their opening four games of the season, coming out of their trip to Upminster Albion with all three points in a 2-1 success, aided by a goal apiece from Harrison Happe-Heatley and Mohamad Adam.

COUNTY CUP

In the first round of the Essex Premier Cup, Buckhurst Hill Under 23s almost pulled off a big cupset as they held step seven's ACD United to a 3-3 draw by the end of extra time at Myrak Park. But it was the higher ranked side who held their nerve in the shootout to win that 6-5.

In the London Junior Cup, Eastside Foundation were the only victorious side on the day as they made a successful trip south of the river, returning home with a place in round two of the competition following a 4-1 win against Surbiton Athletic.

Newham Wanderers were also on the road with a trip into south east London as they made their way to Greenwich All Stars for a round one clash. There was little between the sides as the contest ended 1-1 before Greenwich won the shootout 7-6 to end Newham's participation.

There was a glut of goals in Hainault where London East's first outing in the London Cup saw them matched against an Old Ardinians side. It was the visitors who left the happier of the teams, winning 8-3 in an entertaining contest.

The goals were flying in the day's final tie from the competition as Tajik Unity made a difficult start to their life in the London Cup with a 10-1 defeat on the road as they were beaten by Surrey Intermediate Division 1 side Earlsfield United.

In the AFA Intermediate Cup first round, Old Parkonians B opened their county cup campaign with the visit of Rayne to Barkingside on Saturday. They made their way through safely with a 6-0 victory to stay in the hat for next month.