WEEK 8 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

Loughton Lions caused one of the shocks of the season on Saturday in the Fenton Cup as the Division Four sides put paid to Division Two’s Cowley Community’s cup run this year. The sides finished level at ninety minutes at 1-1 with Will Osmond netting for the Lions. They then held their nerve from the penalty spot to send Cowley out with a 3-2 shootout victory. They will now go into the hat for the third round, joining sides from the top two divsions.

Also making their way through to the third round of the competition this season are Chingford Athletic Development who put in a stunning performance at home against a visiting Flyers outfit, earning themselves a 7-0 victory in the process. Luke Dimond and Omani Green both scored twice with one apiece from Patrick Clarke, Sebastian Gardiner and Irfan Houssein netting them a place in the next round.

The third side who managed to book a place in the third round were Rainham Working Mens Club who were up against fellow Division Two outfit, FC BKT, in their clash in Rainham. David Hornsby proved to be the hero as he scored a hat-trick for Rainham with Liam Tormey’s goal rounding off a terrific 4-1 win.

There was also some Preliminary Round action as Chingford Harriers made their entry into this season’s competition with a home tie against Tower Hamlets Reserves in Walthamstow. A Harriers goal from Dominic D’Paw proved to be not quite enough on the day as the visitors scored twice in a 2-1 victory to book their place against Dagenham United Reserves in the next round.

The day’s final tie was in round one where an interesting tie saw Division Four leaders, Debden Park, take on the Division Two leaders, CSM London in their clash in Debden. CSM London will gone home the happier of the sides however as they earned a 4-1 win to maintain their great start to the season. Kiefer Cole’s rich vein of form continued in front of goal with a brace and one each from Lewis McCarthy and Mark Makeri rounded off the win.

SENIOR DIVISION

In the top flight, ACD United have returned to the top of the standings but on goal difference alone as they put in a terrific performance to beat Singh Sabha Barking 7-1 win in Chadwell Heath. Michael Wade was in good form again with another hat-trick haul, adding to two goals from George Munns and one each from Paul Mangan and Connor Lambert to move their side top.

The previous leaders, East Ham Inter, were in action against West Essex Reserves who had suffered some indifferent form in the recent weeks after a great start to the year. Inter goals from Mihail Dodow, Sofyan Khalfi and Michael Kemp were sufficient to see their side to a 3-1 win which keeps them level on points at the top and just trailing on goal difference.

With games in hand, you would still expect to see Jolof Sports challenging at the top in a few weeks time as they made it four wins from four this season, beating off the efforts of a Lopes Tavares London Reserves outfit at the weekend in a local derby. The 4-0 victory for Jolof keeps them fourth in the table with four games in hand on the leaders but with just a four point deficit to make up.

London Cranes remain third in the table and still unbeaten so far this season after their fixture over the weekend against an in-form Blue Marlin side. The two sides had to settle for a share of the spoils however, netting a goal each in a 1-1 draw that keeps both sides interested at the right end of the table.

DIVISION ONE

Leading the way in Division One are FC Baresi who remain as one of two unbeaten sides in the division this season, aided by their most recent victory, a 4-1 win away at Chingford United in a local derby. Razvan Anghel netted for United but his effort was in vain as Delano Lloyd scored a hat-trick for the visitors along with a Marvin Smith strike which secured the win.

Rapid Chingford strengthened their second place position in the table with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the weekend as they faced a struggling Forest Green side in Leyton. Danut Mihalache scored twice with Ionut Pumnutiu and Florin Ivancia each scoring one for Rapid to render a Joshua Kibuuka goal for Forest Green as just a consolation.

Moving up to fourth in the table and unbeaten so far are Three Colts as they made it three wins and a draw from four games so far with a hard fought victory away at Chigwell. Nicky Blackwell, Jason Fox and Thomas Jakob each got on the scoresheet for the visitors in a tight contest which saw their side eventually prevail by the odd goal in a 3-2 win.

Completing the day’s action in Division One saw Lymore Gardens play host to a Chingford Athletic Reserves side with both teams having had a mixed bag of results so far this season. Trey Miller and Lashian Xavier-Johnson each scored for Chingford but Garden goals from Ashley Godwin, Bradley Williams and Courtney White secured a 4-2 victory for the hosts on the day.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Eastside have moved up to second place in the table and trail the leaders on goal difference alone now as they wrapped up a comfortable looking 4-0 win on Saturday against South Marsh United. Archie Gamman-Gates scored twice with Waj Malik and Idris Shittu efforts earning the win.

Making a move up the table were Puma Kings who have made it three wins from five games with a win at home to struggling Inter Plaistow in Walthamstow. Izuchi Ijoma got the Inter goal but one apiece from Jordan Mills-Smith, Josh Morris and Tarcan Yakan for the Kings saw them wrap up a 3-1 win.

Also making it three wins from five this year was Upshire Forest who’s upturn in form continues as they secured a victory against sixth-placed Old Esthameians in Newbury Park. Sam Tulley scored two of their goals and Thomas Lawn got the third in a an eventual 3-2 victory that sees their side move up to fifth place in the standings.

DIVISION THREE

The top end of Division Three couldn’t really be any more intriguing with five sides seemingly heading for a title and promotion showdown this season. Haver Town Reserves lead the rest of the pack by a point aided by their 9-1 thumping of Forest Green Reserves on Saturday. Ryan Kelland scored four of the goals, Courtney Waller two and one apiece from Ben McAllister, Johnson Aju and Sam Higgins to render Tommy Whelan’s goal as just consolation for Green.

Frenford A’s excellent start to the season continues as they move up to second following a 4-1 win over Glendale in Hainault. Paul Iseghohi and Jovan Shand-Aldridge each netted a brace for the visitors but the goal of the match award goes to Dales’ Dave Hennessey for his tremendous consolation strike from long distance.

Moving up to fourth place in the table are a Brook City outfit who made it four wins from their opening five league games of the season, despatching St Francis to a 7-1 defeat in their latest encounter. That victory sees City move to within a point of third placed Royal Forest with a game in hand still.

Custom House United made the long trip to Romford at the weekend to face a Flyers Reserves side with both sides occupying the mid-table area of the standings this season. In a terrific contest, it was finally settled by a pair of Glenn Levy goals and a Mabz Rahman strike in a 3-0 victory for the Dockers.

DIVISION FOUR

There is change at the top of Division Four where Sungate Reserves have moved to the summit on goal difference following their latest victory, a narrow 1-0 win at home to Chigwell Mens Club. Westley Quinn scored the decisive and only goal of the game, overcoming the efforts of their plucky opponents to earn an important victory.

Avondale Rangers’ debut in their new kit brought them an exhilarating victory in a ten-goal thriller at home against Gatcliffe. Abioloa Opemiyan scored twice for Gatcliffe with Shane Ritchie and Michael Desmond notching one each. But Thomas Jackson-Lyall’s four-goal haul in reply for Rangers plus efforts from Liam Gibson and Paul Regan netted their side a 6-4 win.

Moving up to fourth place in the table are Brentwood United Reserves who were up against Old Barkabbeyans Reserves in Chadwell Heath on Saturday, overcoming the visitors in a 6-3 win. Brandon Johnson scored twice for Old Barks and Klodan Meta once but their efforts were not quite enough as Brentwood cruised to the win, their third of the campaign.

Soul Youth are up to fifth in the standings as they continued a mixed season so far with a victory at home against Dagenham United Reserves. Soul’s seven league matches this season have seen a combined total of 49 goals for and against meaning they’re a side offering plenty of value for the spectator. Saddik Azizur scored a hat-trick with Mahfujur Ramman’s goal completing a 4-2 victory.