Irawo Reds have emerged as genuine contenders for the Hackney & Leyton League title after toppling reigning champions Lapton

Hackney & Leyton League round-up

Irawo Reds have emerged as genuine contenders for the Hackney & Leyton League title after toppling reigning champions Lapton on Sunday.

The Reds' shock 2-1 win represents their second major upset in as many weeks following a victory over runners-up Clapton Rangers seven days earlier and outcome has thrown the Premier Division title race wide open.

Having taken two of the biggest scalps, the Reds could even be regarded as favourites for the championship, while Lapton's bid for a fourth straight title is now in jeopardy after goals from Frederick Ezeuka and Emmanuel Pappoe handed Irawo the points and ensured Daniel Stephenson's reply for Lapton was in vain.

Promoted outfit Real Romania are also in the title race after climbing to the top of the division as Ionut Coropcenau's double inspired a 5-2 win over Albion Manor.

Antoniu Mieiro, Marian Neculia and Costi Lazar were also on target for free-scoring Real, who have netted 14 times in three matches this season, while Ricky Edwards, Alan Mullan and Tony Walker were on target for Manor.

Clapton Rangers recovered from an early deficit and returned to winning ways after last week's loss to Irawo as doubles from Ashley Taylor-Forbes and Joe Seabrook and further strikes by Michael Noble and Bradley Drisdale secured a 6-1 win over Red Devils.

Alastair Buffonge had given the Devils an early lead, while Alex Reid also scored.

Former Clapton star Nathan Scarborough netted twice for new club Three Compasses in a 4-1 win over Eureka. Daniel and Johnny Fitzpatrick also hit the net for Compasses and Michael Samuel replied for Eureka, while Bancroft overcame MSW 2-1 courtesy of Justin Weatherman's double.

Jack Fletcher and Godfrey Kenard both bagged hat-tricks as London Aprilia defeated under-strength FC Highstone 9-0 in Division One. Francis Capman also scored twice, with Richard Shed netting the other.

First-half goals from James Smith and Stephen Prince inspired FC Metwin's 2-1 win over Wounded Knee, for whom Joel Cohen netted the reply, while Mile End defeated Gascoyne 4-1 after two goals from Jack Hicks and further strikes by Jason Burwood and Andrew Jules cancelled out Kieron O'Donoghue's effort.

In Division Two, FC Lockers came from behind three times to snatch a share of the points in a 3-3 draw with FC Big Kahuna.

Dan Lewis opened the scoring and Tom Raffery twice restored Kahuna's lead, but Cass Weaver, Ross Coleman and Sean Hincheon hit back for Lockers.

Two goals by Konstantin Smal and additional strikes from Volodymyr Tyranckiy and Ivan Prodan earned FC Storm a 4-2 win over Hare & Hounds, who hit the net through Phil Bailey and Dwayne Sharron, while Tyronne Gannon secured a point for Delta in a 1-1 draw with Cosmopolitan.

Midfield and Tottenham Phoenix shared an entertaining 2-2 draw as Daniel Pigott and Christian Smith both scored doubles.

John Barfoot also hit a brace, but was unable to save AC Islington from a 5-3 defeat to Alpha Grove in Division Three, while Marlon Marriot-Dixon and Awat Kiflyesus were on target in Hackney Borough's 3-1 win over Hoxton Foxes.

John Hare struck twice and further goals from Andy Thirsk and Dean Scoggins secured AFC Knights a 4-4 draw against Mile End Colts, while Carl O'Flaherty claimed a hat-trick and Lee Southcott and Mohammed Kali both scored twice as Wenlock Arms recorded a 7-0 win over newcomers Mustard.

Wayne Stevenson scored four goals as East London defeated Volker United 10-0 in Division Four. Jag Paul, Richard Austin, Mustafah Calik, Anish Patel, Jer Price and Jerry Ali were also on target for East London.

Comet also collected an emphatic win with a 7-0 defeat of Young Prince that included a double from Steve Deering, while Royal Oak defeated Ravenscroft 5-0 with goals from Mark Christodoulou, Jamie Curtis and a hat-trick by Paul Christodoulou.

John Stansfirld and Duncan Coombs both scored twice while Tom Howard and Matt Webb also hit the net as Shoreditch Fire Penguins overcame Eastway Olympia 6-0.