The Essex Alliance League Division One Cup quarter-final produced a thrilling contest as Sporting Hackney Reserves won by the odd goal in nine against Ferns Seniors.

Sporting raced into an early lead, only for a brace from Lee Niven to add to goals from Billy Howe and Sean Howe to swing the game back in Ferns’ favour.

Hackney hit back though before grabbing a late winner to advance to the final four.

In the Division Two Cup, Chingford Athletic Reserves and Old Barkabbeyans Reserves played out a goalless draw and had to rely on a penalty shootout to decide a winner.

Holders Athletic dealt with the pressure of spot kicks and ran out 5-4 winners to keep their hopes of retaining the title alive.

Chingford’s first XI endured a far more difficult weekend as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat in their Premier Division clash with Grove United.

Harry Chalk was the league leaders tormentor in chief, scoring a hat-trick to ensure Gary Murray’s goal was academic.

London Falcons were in rampant form against Lopes Tavares London to secure an 8-3 win and climb to sixth in the table.

Cowley Community kept their Division One title bid on track with a 2-1 win against East Ham International thanks to goals from Matthew Watts and Lekan Bekare.

The victory takes them to within just three points of the league pace setters at the summit of the table.

Ryan Reserves’ hold on top spot in Division Two shows little sign of loosening after they eased to a commanding 4-1 win over Inter Plaistow to remain five points clear.

They are being keenly pursued by Colebrook Royals Reserves, who beat promotion hopefuls Forest Green 5-3.

Goals from Romelle Pile, Curtis Brown and Ricky Stewart were inconsequential after Ashley Sommes scored a hat-trick and Richie Carter notched a brace.

In the Division’s other game, Avondale Rangers saw off Glendale Rovers 2-0 to move up to ninth in the table.

It was a productive weekend for Wapping as they beat Kitroom 1-0 to extend their lead at the top of Division Three.

They are now 10 points clear of their closest challengers and need just two more wins to secure the title.

It was a busy weekend of action in the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League as teams across the divisions battled it out to stay in their respective cup competitions.

Firstly, Ainslie Wood played out a tight clash against Flanders and ran out 3-2 winners in the Premier Division Cup.

Warren United failed to match the achievements of their league counterparts and were dumped out of the Corinthian Cup at the semi-final stage after being hammered 9-0 by Upshire.

Valley Park’s hopes of lifting the Division Two Cup were also ended as they went down to a 3-2 defeat against Aldborough Hatch.

An evenly contested match required extra time to decide a winner as Park and Hatch battled for superiority throughout.

Korona Redbridge and Barking met in a local grudge match, with the latter easing to a 3-1 win to remain in the competition.

The Division Two Cup saw Waltham Athletic advance at the hands of Morfdown Elect with a 9-4 win, while Asianos Reserves beat Alpha 5-1 in the Division Three Cup.

They will be joined in the next round by AC Milano Reserves after they beat Ridgeway Rovers 6-0.

Epping Forest and Oak Royals’ runs in the Division Four Cup came to a halt as they lost 1-0 and 3-2 respectively.

Poor weather conditions led to a number of postponements and ensured no Premier Division matches took place over the weekend.

There were, however, plenty of games in the lower leagues.

Barking & Dagenham Wanderers beat Chingford Celtic 4-3 in their Division One clash.

Fairlop Rangers were no match for a dominant FC United of Hornchurch in Division Three and suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat.

There was a surprise at the summit of the table as league leaders Upshire Reserves lost 2-1 against Partzan CMC.