FC Bartlett’s in-form duo Nze Onyekwelu and Temi Tope were both on target as the Premier Division leaders played out a thrilling 3-3 draw with Shakespeare in the Hackney & Leyton League.

Onyekwelu struck his seventh goal in five games, leaving him joint second in the rankings, while Tope netted for the sixth time in the fledgling campaign – and Azeka Defoe also got on the scoresheet for the pacesetters.

However, Connor Fitzsimons, Tom Clancy and Malik Harden all registered for Shakespeare to give their side a share of the spoils – and that allowed FC Krystal to move within a point of the top.

The third-placed side beat El Valiente 2-1 with goals from Petro Sokil and Andriy Kyurilyuk, while Aaron Marston replied for Valiente, registering for the sixth time this term.

Mustard moved up to fourth, overcoming London United 2-0 thanks to strikes from Goo Falzone and Andrew Gannon – and Tottenham Phoenix claimed fifth place after a 4-1 triumph over Wounded Knee. Mat Egan, Mykel Maynard, Dillon Gordon and Nadir Chenoufi did the damage, while Rikki Jones scored a consolation goal.

Meanwhile, FC Niva secured their second successive victory, overcoming basement boys Riviera 5-2. Constantin Tronciu and Oleh Yurkuych both struck braces and Gheorghe Rotary was also on target. Maksim Dervishaj scored both of the Riviera goals.

In Division One, FC Stepney and The Brazilian Boys repeatedly traded blows in an astonishing 6-6 draw.

Wanderson Santos scored a hat-trick for the Brazilians and Hugo Leaonardo struck twice, while Higor Lima also got in on the act – but Stepney’s Yusuf Olinjide hit a double of his own, while Larry Corral, Niall Cashman, Ryan Stowell and Sam Cashman also added their names to a lengthy scoresheet.

Eagle also scored six times, against Top Red, although their encounter was rather more one-sided as they triumphed by five goals.

Carl Mullins scored all but one of their goals, with Toyin Good getting the other, and Henry Swales replied for Top Red.

There were six goals for Hacquenye too in a 6-3 victory over Kentish Albion. Firat Pirpudak hit the net twice and Cem Aydemar, Huseyin Yilmaz and Mehmet Ali Tasci also registered, while Andy Newly hit a treble for Kentish but was on the losing side.

There was an equally high-scoring game elsewhere in Division One as The Challengers edged past Dynamics 5-4 despite the efforts of Murat Gul (2), Ferhat Bilgili and Ibrahim Sal, who were on target for the losing side.

Birkbeck Orient’s 4-2 victory over Athletico Forest was also an entertaining affair. John Millard (2), Frederick Creevy and Ross Kerwood struck for Orient while Quincy Roberts was on target for Forest, who also got the benefit of an own goal.

Highfield beat Bristow City 2-0 with goals from Yinka Akinlabi and Tosial Blacky.

In Division Two, BG United beat Hackney Wednesday 4-2 with a hat-trick from Georgi Jelev and another goal from Todor Tumbare, while Boroughs United overcame Jack Barry St Germaine 3-0.

In Division Three, Alchemists beat ELE FC 2-1 with goals from Juan Antonio and Like Caesar – and Adam Wood and Ryan Levens scored as Waltham Forest beat Gladstone Wanderers 2-0 and leapt up the table into second place.

In Division Four, Football Club 22 beat East London 4-3, while Quinine moved off the bottom after winning their first game of the season, overcoming Bethune 3-2. Denne FC triumphed 2-0 over Birkbeck B 2-0.