WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of all the EAL league and cup action from the weekend

FENTON CUP

The opening October action saw a glut of Fenton Cup action including three cupsets in the process. It was a good day for the Division One clubs where Saint City took on Premier Division Wanstead and came away 6-5 winners as Richard Seixas scored twice, Noah Chesmain, Edilson Cruz, Mohamed Koita and Derek Adu also scoring. Akram Mujuzi and Sina Taghipour both scored braces in reply, Liam Mullings also netting but in consolation.

Also winning by the odd goal in a thrilling contest were Eagles Football who travelled across Dagenham to take on Premier side Belfry and came away victorious, 5-4. Daniel Jacheanu scored two, Mihai-Alexandru Circiumaru, Samuel Pavel and Dmitirii Talgarenco also scoring for the visitors while Belfry’s consolation efforts were scored by Casey Culzac, Sam Paterson, Jake Fenton and Connor Hoffman.

Completing a trio of wins for the third-tier sides were Lymore Gardens Under 23s who, despite their indifferent start in the league, took the honours in their derby game against rivals FC Baresi Reserves at the County Ground. Hashim Hussain and Joshua Adu both struck for the hosts but it was Lymore who walked away 4-2 winners to head on through.

Premier Division high-flyers, Snaresbrook, are into the hat for the second round but not without a tough battle as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Division One’s Ocean Pacific in east London, Harry Prince again on the ‘Brook scoresheet. But it was the higher placed side who held their nerve in the shootout as they won it 5-3.

Ongar Town are also through and will be in the last sixteen of the competition following a more routine success as they defeated Leyton City in a 7-1 scoreline up in Harlow. After defeat last time out, it was a happier day for Town who had substitute Matt Bovill to thank for his hat-trick, along with goals from Mason White, Finlay Cook, Max Galati and Scout Bown. Sterlange Nzeza scored the City goal in reply.

FENTON TROPHY

It was also a busy Fenton Trophy day and that competition also produced a couple of shock results, starting at Collier Row Wheels where the Division Three side were up against a higher-ranked Fairlop Rovers Reserves side but found the net six times to head through comfortably 6-0 into round two. Jack Stockdale scored a hat-trick for Wheels, Kai Geere, Farhann Korimbocus and Joel Cornell also netting.

The weekend also saw the perfect start of Woodford Town Under 23s come to an end as they saw defeat for the first time, going down 4-2 at fellow Division Three side Old Parkonians A. Isaac Bonning, Harry Baptist, Burt Cardy and Mourad Khalfi all struck for Parks, holding off a potential fightback through Gabriel Suciu and Aaron Campbell efforts, the hosts heading through.

There were a couple of near misses for Division Two sides, firstly as Rainham & Barking Phoenix were held to a 1-1 draw away at Glendale, Sean Tormey’s early penalty levelled up through a Dales effort from Amjad Amer. But it was the visitors who held their nerve from the penalty spot as Phoenix won the shootout to head into the second round.

Romford Flyers were another side to put on a good showing for Division Three as they faced a Havering derby with a trip up to Division Two’s Collier Row Reserves. The game proved to be a thriller settled by the odd goal in five, Row eventually making safe progress in a 3-2 success, despite a Rafin Alam effort for the visitors.

Completing the Trophy action was another Division Two versus Three match-up as Old Barkabbeyans headed up to Newbury Park to take on Broadway Athletic. And it was the higher ranked side who made progress into the next round with Jay Elliott scoring two, Tyler Turner, Josh Robinson, Harry Dunne and Hamilton Felix all netting in 6-1 win, overcoming another Sam Matthews goal for the hosts.

SENIOR DIVISION

FC Baresi have moved into a nine-point lead at the top of the Senior Division table which is now taking on the appearance of last season’s early progress, earning themselves a valuable 3-2 win against Chadwell Heath Spartans on Saturday. Peter Adeleye struck twice for the hosts but Noyan Tajbakhsh, Abadilla Kousairi and a late Lewis Jones winner turned things in the leaders’ favour.

Sitting second in the standings are Lymore Gardens who are creeping up the table and have three games in hand, their record extended at the weekend by a sixth league win in seven as they defeated Kit Out London 6-1 in east London. Tyrique Peters scored a hat-trick, Bradley Williams, Dylan Roberts and debutant Stanley Green also netting to overcome Mihail Elenkov’s goal for Kit Out.

Also on eighteen points but trailing on goal difference are third placed FC Petrocub who took advantage of other results to shift up the table, coming from behind at Noak Hill at the weekend to defeat CSM London 3-1. Kiefer Cole’s goal had given the visitors a lead but the hosts fought back to score three of their own to remain in touch with matters around them.

Frenford Reserves are now up to tenth in the table, moving themselves clear of any imminent relegation worries with a big home win against Rapid Chingford at The Drive, defeating them 4-1. Cristian Cazacu struck the Rapid effort but Frenford goals in reply from Louie Handley, Wisley Baltazar, Tyler Shillingford and Romeo Kapica proved too much for the visitors.

Over at Wadham Lodge, a five-goal contest was produced between hosts Walthamstow Reserves and their visiting Haringey Borough Under 23s counterparts who returned around the A406 with all three points, edging the game 3-2. That result keeps Haringey sixth in the standings and just a couple of points off the sides above while Walthamstow now sit four points and two places further back.

PREMIER DIVISION EAST

It’s now five from five for the East division leaders, Fairlop Rovers moving five points clear of the next best sides in the division on Saturday after coming through their derby with rivals Waltham Abbey A at Town Mead. Rovers were 3-2 winners, helped by a couple of Jean-Pierre Alexander goals to continue their quest for promotion to step seven.

Sitting in second spot after five games are Dagenham United who will want an immediate return to the top flight and continued their own ambitions of doing so with a 5-2 win away at Something From Nothing in Hainault. Shaquille Mathurin’s brace set them on the way with Jordan Townsend-Simpson, Mark Nkundabanyanga and Muhammad Ali all scoring.

Also in Hainault were visitors Unitey who were taking on Soul at London Marathon, the hosts starting the game with a four-point lead over their opponents before the game got underway. But that lead was cut to just a single point by full-time as Ahmed Dousa and Jai Perkins goals saw Unitey walk away 2-0 winners with more games in hand still to come.

PREMIER DIVISION WEST

After a winless start to their first four games in the league, it was finally a victorious afternoon for Athletic Newham A who moved closer to the safety zone following a terrific 2-1 home win against local rivals and a high-flying Newham Wanderers at Flanders, the latter losing ground on the leaders as a consequence.

Leaders Philip United certainly took advantage of other results, extending their lead at the top of the West table to six points following a 4-1 away win against Barkingside Under 21s on Saturday at Nutter Lane. That was the visitors’ sixth league success of the campaign already having made a perfect start to the season.

London Cranes are up into fourth spot in the table, recording a second league win of the campaign from their four games, defeating bottom of the table North East Lions at Peter May in a 3-0 scoreline. Abbey Sebyala, Kinene Michael and Rashid Nsubuga all netted for the visitors who became one of our six clubs to be sitting on six points.

DIVISION ONE

There’s just a point still separating the sides at the top of Division One where leaders Royal Lions maintained their unbeaten start to the season on Saturday, beating promotion hopefuls Woodford East Reserves in a 6-1 scoreline in east London. Will Osmond got himself on the scoresheet for the Peacocks but that proved just consolation in the end.

Just a point further behind Lions are second placed Chingford Athletic Reserves who will have been pleased with their afternoon’s efforts, taking home all three points against Haringey United in an 8-3 scoreline at Parmiters. Darren Hamilton, Damanie Campbell and Raphael Wright all got on the scoresheet for Haringey but eight goals from the hosts ensured it was them leaving the happier.

Sitting level with the promotion places but trailing on goal difference are Old Esthameians who moved up into third place in the standings over the weekend following a 3-0 home win against Freetown. The teams went into the contest level on six points but that win for E’s sees them move up while Freetown sit seventh after five games.

DIVISION TWO

The Division Two leaders, Royal Forest, opened up their gap at the top of the table to six points, taking advantage of those around them being in cup action, recording a fifth league win on the bounce, defeating Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves 2-0 at Roding Valley. Barry Fuschillo and Josh Trainor were both on the scoresheet for Forest to extend their perfect start so far.

Over at The Drive, it was a local derby for hosts and fourth placed Frenford A who were up against Redbridge Community Reserves in their clash, three points separating the sides going into the game. And that gap remained by full-time with the sides well matched and unable to be separated, the game ending in a 2-2 scoreline to share the spoils.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Newham & Havering Borough will be breathing a sigh of relief as they secured their first win of the season after a difficult start, taking maximum points against Beckton Sporting Club in east London. Borough were 6-0 winners to move themselves out of the bottom two while Beckton remain without a victory in their opening five games.

Over at Bancroft Rugby Club, Buckhurst Way earned themselves a valuable point as they held fifth placed Melbourne Sports to an entertaining 3-3 draw to double their points tally for the season. That was Way’s and the Mels’ second draw from their opening games of the season, the latter remaining six points clear of their opponents and five points off the promotion places.

COUNTY CUP

It was BBC Essex Premier Cup first round day on Saturday and last season’s semi-finalists, Woodford East, were back on the cup trail with a trip to the seaside to take on Leigh Ramblers Reserves at Belfairs Park. It was a routine victory for the visitors with the Peacocks winning 5-0 to head into round two.

Also coming away from south east Essex with a victory under their belts were Aveley Under 23s who travelled to John Burrows in Hadleigh to take on Leigh Town. And with the game unable to be separate the sides after normal and extra-time, it was a penalty shootout that eventually handed the win to the Millers.

Completing the action from the first round, Bakers693 were the only casualties from the round as their trip down to Barleylands proved a non-fruitful one as they went sent out of the competition following a 3-1 defeat at Hashtag United Development.