Non-League and Academy football writer

On Wednesday evening I went to Chalk Lane, to watch Cockfosters FC take on Charlton Athletic’s Under 21 side, in a first round tie of the London Senior Cup, with the winners of the tie facing Welling United in the next round. Cockfosters play in the ninth tier of English football (the Spartan South Midland Football League Premier Division), with Charlton Athletic Under 21’s playing their football as a category two academy side, in the Professional Development League. The game on Wednesday night was a great game of football for the neutral, with it ending 3-2 in Charlton’s favour. Following an early mistake from a Charlton Athletic player, the home side won a corner-kick. After the corner-kick was delivered in well to the Charlton penalty area, the ball came to the Cockfosters captain Chris Griffin, who found the back of the goal from close range, to give Cockfosters the lead in the game. Not long after having taken the lead early on in the game, the home team came so close to doubling their advantage. After Ethan Rookard had managed to get on the ball in front of Charlton goalkeeper Prince Adegoke, inside the penalty area, the Cockfosters centre-forward managed to find Antonio Michael, in space inside the box. However, Michael’s effort was superbly blocked on the goal-line, by a Charlton defender.

Following a good block to stop Charlton Athletic’s centre-forward Patrick Casey from getting an effort on goal, inside the Cockfosters box, the ball came to Charlton captain Jacob Roddy, whose resulting effort was well kept out by goalkeeper Charlie Mann. Reece Barrett then hit an effort over the Charlton goal from the edge of their penalty area, for the home side, before a good lofted pass in behind the Charlton defence, was met by Cockfosters’ centre-forward Ethan Rookard, who with little time to react, hit a decent effort over the goal from a difficult angle. Charlie Mann saved an effort from distance from Tolu Ladapo, with Alan Mwanda then having a good effort on goal blocked by a defender, inside the Charlton box. At the opposite end of the pitch, with the game continuing to be played at a good pace, Antonio Michael hit an effort over from the edge of the Charlton penalty area. Charlie Mann then made a fine save to keep out Alan Mwanda’s low effort inside the home team’s penalty area, as half-time got closer.

An ambitious free-kick effort on the Charlton goal, from the halfway line by Cockfosters player Reece Barrett went wide of the Charlton goal. And then in the final moments of the first half, the impressive Ethan Rookard hit an effort over Prince Adegoke’s goal, from the right side of the Charlton penalty area. The second half was started better by the visitors, with a good move by Charlton almost resulting in them getting level in the game. Patrick Casey found Henry Rylah on the right flank, and the Charlton winger went forward with the ball at pace, before finding Tolu Ladapo inside the home team’s penalty area, from which Ladapo was closed down well by Charlie Mann, who saved well from close range. Charlie Mann then tipped over a powerful headed effort on his goal by Alan Mwanda. Charlton were the better side in the game at this point, and just before the hour mark, they managed to find an equalising goal. A fantastic cross into the hosts’ penalty area by captain Jacob Roddy, found Patrick Casey, who clinically headed the ball beyond Charlie Mann in the goal, to make it 1-1. However, the Cockfosters goalkeeper made another good save shortly after the game had started again, this time to deny Henry Rylah’s effort on goal from the right side of his penalty area. 

On 66 minutes, Charlton Athletic’s Under 21 side made it 2-1, thanks to Patrick Casey’s second goal of the night. A good and inviting cross by Henry Rylah into the penalty area, saw the ball bounce up for Patrick Casey to head the ball into the goal from close range. Prince Adegoke made a save in the Charlton goal to stop Kenny Nobrega’s effort from distance. Then, at the opposite end of the pitch, Henry Rylah, a player who had grown into the game for Charlton Athletic, would surge into the home side’s penalty area with the ball, however, the very impressive Charlie Mann was there to make yet another good save, to stop Rylah’s powerful effort on goal. Charlton effectively made sure of the win and of booking a second round tie with Welling United in round two, when Jacob Roddy made it 3-1 to the visitors. After turning his way superbly past a Cockfosters defender on the left flank, before entering their penalty area with the ball, Roddy managed to find the bottom right corner of the goal, with a fine effort from his right foot. After advancing forward with the ball down the right flank, the influential Henry Rylah picked out Tolu Ladapo inside the penalty area, but once again Charlie Mann made another fine stop.

Following a free-kick into the Charlton box on 88 minutes, the ball eventually came to Charne Lemba on the right side of the penalty. The defender then squared the ball for George Lutaaya to get a goal from, from close range to make it 2-3 in the game. Chris Griffin hit a very late effort over the Charlton goal, from the edge of their penalty area, before the referee brought a really fine cup game to an end. This was a very good and competitive match, between two sides with different styles of play. Cockfosters goalkeeper Charlie Mann made countless really fine saves in the game, and he was therefore my player of the match. However, there were many good performances in the match, such as those from Cockfosters player and centre-forward Ethan Rookard, who impressed me. However, for Charlton Athletic, I thought that Henry Rylah was very influential out on the right flank, with Patrick Casey clinical in front of goal and midfielder Keenan Gough doing some really good work in midfield.