WEEK 9 REVIEW: Round-up of Saturday's league and cup action

FENTON CUP

There were two high scoring matches in the Fenton Cup over the weekend with Division Two’s Flyers overcoming Division Three’s Custom House United in a nine-goal contest in Beckton. Flyers ran in six goals to the Dockers’ three to earn themselves a place in the draw for round three next month.

In a game of just the seven goal, Upshire Forest made the trip to Hainault to face Three Colts in their own second round clash. Luke Robinson and Joshua Boateng both netted for Forest but their efforts were in vain as Nick Blackwell, Richard Blackwell and Joe Furlong were amongst the scorers in reply for Colts who earned a 5-2 win.

SENIOR DIVISION

There are new leaders at the summit of the Senior Division with Chigwell the latest custodians of that position, bouncing back well from last week’s disappointment to send East Ham Inter down to a 2-0 defeat. That result sees them move a point clear of CSM London with a game in hand to use too.

London Cranes are showing some resurgent form at present, making it two excellent wins in a row as they came away from a tough trip to the previous leaders, CSM London, having secured an emphatic 5-1 win. Pius Lutaaya scored twice for Cranes with one each from Kennedy Wampamba, Dennis Mahadha and Moses Makanga which overcame a Keifer Cole effort for the hosts.

Also taking advantage of that result were FC Baresi who moved to within a point of the second placed side with a big home win against West Essex Reserves. A goal apiece from Alfie Fleet, Stanley Green, Billy Happe and Amais Khan saw the Walthamstow based side over the line in a 4-1 win, their fourth of the campaign.

The biggest win of the day was witnessed over in Noak Hill where FC Petrocub picked up a fourth league win of the season with a 6-1 victory against an in-form Blue Marlin side. There were two goals from Vasilica-Cristine Ilie and one each from Vitalii Chiriac, Gheorge Hadirca, Constantin Tronciu and Nicolai Gutu to help their side to maximum points.

The last game of the day in the division saw a Chingford derby as Chingford Athletic Reserves were the visitors to face a winless Rapid Chingford side at Parmiters. The two teams couldn’t be separated by full-time with neither goal breached in a 0-0 draw, the first point of the season for promoted Rapid.

DIVISION ONE

The gap at the top of Division One is now up to seven points as Tower United picked up another impressive victory, returning home from Leyton with all three points against Forest Green. Abubaka Maxamed scored twice with the others arriving through Abdisemed Giama and Zacariya Derria to win the contest 4-1.

Moving up to second place in the standings, Chingford United made it four wins from their opening six league matches as they took on an in-form Tower Hamlets Reserves side at Mabley Green. Cole Edwards scored for the hosts but United efforts from Marian Hrehorciuc, Octavian Toana and Ruslan Belicescu made it a 3-1 victory for Chingford.

There were eight goals in the division’s other match where Sporting Hackney Development hosted All Prospects, the latter having made a goal-filled yet mixed start to life in the division. All Prospects’ form in front of goal was enough to earn them a 5-3 win here, a result that moves them fifth in the standings.

DIVISION TWO

It’s all change at the top of Division Two where Royal Forest crowned a good weekend by moving top of the pile, securing a win at home against previous leaders, Old Esthameians. Robert Evans, Samuel Gregory and Thomas Osmond done the damage with a goal each to record a 3-0 win, a fourth in seven league matches so far.

Floating not far behind the current leaders, Rainham Working Mens Club are now sitting second after they record a fourth win in five against Unitey, remaining unbeaten in the league at the same time. David Hornsby is a man amongst the goals presently and he scored twice, accompanying Sean Tormey and Grant Obeney onto the scoresheet in a 4-0 result.

DIVISION THREE

Chadwell Heath Spartans got back to winning ways in Division Three as they moved a point clear of the rest with a 3-0 away day win against Debden Park on Saturday. Having faced a tricky spell in recent weeks, they saw off winless Park quite comfortably, securing Spartans a fourth league win.

Making their move up to second place in the table, Newham Wanderers will be there or thereabouts this season as they recorded an impressive 4-1 victory over the weekend from their trip to face Ilford Development in Hainault. Bradley Harris scored twice with Marcelino Rodrigues and Shazib Miah netting the others to cancel out a Felix Laws-Cochrane goal for the Foxes.

St Francis made up ground on the promotion places as they also made a trip to Hainault to take on Glendale. The game was somehow goalless for seventy minutes of the fixture but Saints scored twice in the closing quarter to take a well-earned 2-0 win, completing a third league win in four and up to fourth place.

The remaining game saw sixth face seventh with Frenford A the visitors to take on a recently rejuvenated Avondale Rangers side with very little between the sides in the table. And that was how the game panned out with the two teams sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw, Musbaudeen Akinosho the scorer for Frenford.

DIVISION FOUR

Game of the day in Division Four came in Chingford where first played second with leaders, Woodford East, the visitors to face second placed Lymore Gardens Reserves. East were big 5-0 winners on the day and showed why they will be a side to be feared going forward. James Collier scored twice along with goals from Billy Barr, Frank Glock and William Letchford, opening up a three point lead at the top.

Third placed Dagenham United Reserves closed the gap therefore on the promotion places by a point but missed the chance to extend that as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Newham Royals. Craig Rivers and Tom Whelan goals accounted for United’s efforts but Royals scored twice themselves to level it up.

It was a great day for Brentwood United Reserves who, having started the day winless, picked up an impressive away win with a trip to Barkingside to take on Fairlop Rovers. United were 2-1 victors on the day, seeing them to a first three point haul of the season and shifting up a place to tenth in the table.

After a difficult start, Prospect Protégé are really finding their feet now and recorded a second league win on Saturday with a 7-2 home win against an improving Together United side. A hat-trick each from Richard Akinyebo and Anthony Okidigbo were more than enough on the day with Emmanuel Alo’s effort completing the scoring to push their side fourth in the standings.

PHOTO: Chadwell Heath Spartans FC / Neil Hunwicks