Non-League and Academy football writer

On Saturday afternoon at Ware’s Wodson Park ground, I watched the current Essex Alliance League leaders FC Baresi face a team who started this game in third place in the league standings – Chadwell Heath Spartans. This step seven fixture was a good and competitive game, which ended with FC Baresi winning the match 3-0. Early on in the game, FC Baresi player Murat Karagul had an effort saved from the left side of the away team’s penalty area, by Chadwell Heath Spartans goalkeeper John Berwick. However, not long afterwards, FC Baresi took an early lead. Marvin Hamilton had won a free-kick on the edge of the left side of the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area. Hamilton delivered a good ball into the box from the resulting free-kick, to pick out Junior Appiah, who jumped up to head the ball into the goal from the centre of the penalty area, 1-0. Shortly after the game had been started again, Noyan Tajbakhsh hit an ambitious effort from long distance wide, after spotting the Chadwell Heath Spartans goalkeeper off his line. FC Baresi were passing the ball around the pitch at a good pace, and they were seeing a lot more of the ball during the opening stages of the game. 

FC Baresi would deservedly make it 2-0 before half-time. Erol Hassan found Marvin Hamilton on the left of the pitch with a good, long pass. Hamilton then picked out Murat Karagul inside the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area with a clever pass. Karagul was quick to the ball, and he was able to finish well past Joe Berwick and into the goal. Lewis Jones sent a lofted effort narrowly wide of the Chadwell Heath Spartans goal, from the edge of their penalty area, before Chadwell Heath Spartans created a good chance at the opposite end of the pitch. Joe Butcher received the ball on the left side of the FC Baresi box, following a cross. However, his powerful effort hit the side-netting of the goal. Shortly before half-time, Marvin Hamilton hit a low effort just wide of the Chadwell Heath Spartans goal, from the edge of the penalty area. And then, a couple of minutes later, Kousairi Abadilla had an effort on the half-volley inside the away side’s box, saved by John Berwick (Chadwell Heath Spartans had a player sent to the sin bin, around this time in the game). During the early stages of the second half, Chadwell Heath Spartans player Billy Gipp hit a free-kick effort just over FC Baresi goalkeeper Eric Andoh’s goal.

Eric Andoh did well to rush out of his goal to get to the ball and clear it, before Peter Adeleye, after trying to get on a good long, forward pass. Murat Karagul then headed over a corner-kick from Marvin Hamilton, before then having an effort from inside the penalty area pushed away by John Berwick. Elie Fanga hit an effort wide from distance for the away side, with Chadwell Heath Spartans starting to come back into the game, during this stage of the second half. Aaron Hunwicks curled a free-kick effort just over Eric Andoh’s goal, but as the game progressed, FC Baresi managed to secure the points, with a late third goal of the game. Marvin Hamilton got his third assist of the game, and after he had shown some great skill on the left side of the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area, he passed the ball to Nicola Rapacchiani, who found the right hand corner of the goal with a curling effort, 3-0. Marvin Hamilton almost got the goal that he so deserved, shortly afterwards, when his low effort from the edge of the visitors’ penalty area, was just stopped by the goalkeeper, after he managed to get a hand on the ball, before it went just past his right hand post.

Nicola Rapacchiani’s late effort which went wide of the Chadwell Heath Spartans goal, was the last effort of note of the game. FC Baresi deservedly won the match after a fine performance. Chadwell Heath Spartans did well in the second half as a team, however, and they made it more difficult for FC Baresi to make sure of the win, although they did manage that in the end, which they deserved to do. However,  this game once again showcased the great team quality that FC Baresi have demonstrated throughout the season. With a hat-trick of assists and some real brilliance in midfield, Marvin Hamilton was my player of the match on Saturday. However, it was a great team performance from the home side. From the defensively very solid (player-manager) Romulad Boco and Isioma Richard, to the tireless and important midfield work from captain Edson Lami. Then there was also the fine and important work going forward from players, such were the impressive performances from Junior Appiah, Noyan Tajbakhsh, Erol Hassan and Murat Karagul. And once again, FC Baresi’s goalkeeper Eric Andoh showed that he has excellent distribution, but he also claimed crosses into his penalty area well on the day. This was an enjoyable and competitive game of football. I really do think that FC Baresi will earn promotion to step six of the non-League system, before the end of the 2023/24 season.