Non-League and Academy football writer

The Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division (weekly roundup) for the week starting on Monday the 26th of August:

The first game of the week was on Friday night, as Waltham Forest Borough faced a Kulture FC side at Parsloes Park Hub, who were looking for their first win of the new season. And Kenneth Boateng’s side would get their first win of the season, and in dramatic fashion, as well. In what was a fantastic, end to end game of football, as Kulture won it 5-4. This was an early contender for game of the season, with the pace and intensity of this game being played so well, with so many chances being created for both sides. For Kulture, Kobi Osei, Mohamed Abubakar, Theo Jones, Tyrese Sibanda and Landry Gogoa, got their goals. A brace from Dylan Florence (his fifth goal from four appearances) and goals from Joshua Fisayo and Samir Bihmoutine, got Waltham Forest Borough’s goals on the night. With that win, Kulture are currently in tenth place in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division, after four games played, with Waltham Forest Borough currently in 14th place in the league.

Frenford Development would continue their impressive start to the season, by winning 7-0 against Bakers693, on Saturday afternoon at Parsloes Park Hub. Keenan Gravillis (he got a brace), Tyler Shillingford (he also got a brace), Shanlon Thomas, Faruk Abdullahi and Odunayo Elifosi got the goals for Wayne Phillips’ side. Frenford Development’s next league fixture is against Philip United, on Tuesday, in what should be a great game of football. Like Frenford Development, Haringey Borough Under 23s also continued their unbeaten start to the season, when they won 3-0 against Chadwell Heath Spartans on Saturday afternoon, in what was a very impressive win for them, at the Jack Carter Centre. Also, FC Petrocub London won 3-0 at home to AS Rapid Londra, with the excellent Gheorghe Cucos (he got two goals on Saturday) and Alexei Ciobanu, getting their goals at Noak Hill Sports Complex.

An entertaining match between Fairlop Rovers and CSM London, took place at the Peter May Sports Centre, on Saturday afternoon. Fairlop Rovers were 2-0 up, and after a CSM London player was sent off during the early stages of the second half, it was looking unlikely that Will Brobby’s side would extend their unbeaten start to the season. However, the league leaders fought back to draw the game 2-2, as they continue to look like real challengers for the league title, despite it still being very early on in the season.

Newly promoted side Philip United, would continue their good start to life in the Senior Division, as they won a thrilling game with Sporting Hackney at Wadham Lodge, 4-3 on Saturday. And on the same pitch (later on in the afternoon), Lymore Gardens would record a big 6-1 win away to Walthamstow Reserves, as they responded in excellent fashion to their 7-1 away defeat to Philip United, on the Friday of last week. Papa Ndiaye, Ryo Brown, Dylan Roberts (he is now the joint top scorer in the league – with six goals so far this season), and a hat-trick of goals from Tyrique Peters, got the goals for the east London club.

Finally, Ongar Town would return to winning ways on Saturday, with a good 2-0 away win against Woodford Town Reserves. Max Galati and Scout Brown got the goals for Tony West’s side.

The Middlesex County Football League Premier Division (weekly roundup) for the week starting on Monday the 26th of August:

The week started with a fixture between SL Benfica and Shepherds Bush, who were involved in a great game of football at Spratleys Meadow, on Tuesday night. With the score from that match ending 6-4 to SL Benfica. Laye Sangare (he scored two goals), Egidio Mahmoud, Bruno Gomes Da Silva, Leonel Dos Santos and Rafael Barbosa Dos Santos, got SL Benfica’s goals. For Shepherds Bush’s goals, player-manager Aaron Morgan scored two goals, and Craige Tompkins got the other two goals. However, on Saturday afternoon, SL Benfica would lose 2-1 to another very good newly promoted side, in Soccer Stars Fennecs, as they got their first win of the league season. Sofian Hammouda and Aymen Messaoudi got the goals for Soccer Stars Fennecs, at Spratleys Meadow.

Indian Gymkhana Club got their first league win of the season, when they beat Larkspur Rovers 2-1 at Lord Halsbury Playing Fields on Saturday afternoon. And also in west London, this time from the Harrow Weald Recreation Ground, Stonewall impressively won 5-0 away to Kodak (Harrow), in what was the match that I covered on Saturday afternoon (you can read my match report on my blog). Kodak had a player sent off during the second half, but it was a very clinical and intelligent performance from Stonewall, as they made it three wins from their first three league matches of this season. The impressive and hardworking Charley Hobbs, Yusuf Isiaq, Coltrane Morley-Williams and a brace of goals from substitute Matt Smith, got the goals for Stonewall.

Danny Brissett’s Jolof Sports side continued their outstanding start to the 2024/25 season, by recording their third win in as many games, as they won 2-0 at home to the defending league champions, Pitshanger Dynamo, in east London. Kaine Flemy and Mamadou Sene, got the goals for Jolof Sports at West Ham Memorial Ground. Eagles Land Cricklewood returned to winning ways, with a hard fought 1-0 away win against Hilltop Reserves. Kristo Beshiku got the only goal of that match, for the away side. And finally, Camden & Islington United drew 2-2 (at home) with the league leaders, Hayes & Hillingdon, on Saturday afternoon, and that brings my weekly roundup to the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division and Middlesex Premier Division, for this week. It was another week of big results, in both divisions. It certainly has been to a fascinating start to both of these step 7 divisions.