Non-League and Academy football writer

There was an Eastern Counties League Division One South fixture on Monday night, between Barkingside and NW London, at The Cricklefield Stadium. Barkingside started the match in 14th place in the league, with the visiting side, NW London, starting the game in 16th place in the league, having played four games less than Barkingside, going into this match. The match finished 1-1, with the ten men of NW London scoring a late equalising goal, as the points were shared from the game. Despite Barkingside goalkeeper Lubomir Georgiev making an early save from a header, following an NW London free-kick, there weren’t many early chances during the game. Around ten minutes later, Barkingside player Jack Allen hit a free-kick effort from the edge of the NW London penalty area over their goal, before Barkingside centre-forward Fred Agyemang had an effort from inside the NW London box, deflected behind for a corner-kick. Shortly after that chance for Barkingside’s leading goalscorer this season, a long forward ball found Fred Agyemang, after he had made a run in behind the NW London defence. After taking the ball into their penalty area however, he was met by NW London goalkeeper Volodymyr Levchuk, who was just able to gather the ball from his feet, in time.

Shortly before half-time, NW London had a man sent off, following a sliding challenge on a Barkingside player, to stop a promising move from midfield. During the early stages of the second half, and with Barkingside now seeing even more of the ball, it looked like the home side were going to take the lead, after Fred Agyemang had latched onto a pass from an NW London player, which was meant for their goalkeeper. However, after taking the ball around NW London’s goalkeeper Volodymyr Levchuk inside the penalty area, Fred Agyemang took the ball a bit too far away from the goal in the process, and his following effort went over the goal. Soon after that chance, Fred Agyemang hit an effort wide of the goal, from the edge of the NW London penalty area. NW London centre-forward Christopher Eseka, with the ball bouncing some 30 plus yards out of the Barkingside goal, decided to try and score past Lubomir Georgiev, who was slightly off his line. However, Christopher Eseka’s effort went over the goal. Barkingside substitute Kian Skilbeck then had an effort saved from inside the NW London box by Volodymyr Levchuk, who was also able to keep out Leandro Sain’s effort from inside the box, shortly after.

Some good skill from Barkingside player Yemi Adelani inside the NW London box, resulted in him having a low effort saved by Volodymyr Levchuk. NW London then managed to create a great chance to take the lead, after Christopher Eseka met a lofted forward pass, in behind the Barkingside defence. Through on goal and inside the Barkingside penalty area, the NW London centre-forward sent a lofted effort over the goalkeeper. However, a Barkingside defender was able to clear the ball off the goal-line, just in time! NW London player Nathaniel Binney missed a really good chance on the left side of the Barkingside box, after he hit an effort over the goal. NW London now looked like the more likely side to score a late winning goal, but after Christopher Eseka did well to put the ball across the face of the Barkingside goal, Juan Tobon was unable to score at the back post. Barkingside would take a late lead, following that chance for the away side. Some really good work from  Kian Skilbeck on the left flank, resulted in him entering the left side of the NW London box. However, after he had lost the ball, it ended up rolling to Yemi Adelani in some good space inside the penalty area, and his powerful effort went past the goalkeeper and into the goal, 1-0.

NW London wouldn’t give up, and on the balance of play in the second half, they deserved to get something from the match. And that is exactly what whey managed to achieve, after the impressive Juan Tobon found Valentin Burcea on the left side of the Barkingside penalty area, and the NW London defender was able to find the bottom right hand corner of the goal with a good finish, 1-1. The game would finish 1-1. It was an eventful game of football, despite there not being a lot of very good chances during the course of the match. However, NW London, who played some good football even with ten men for a lot of the game, deserved to get a point. However, the home side will definitely be frustrated not to have seen out the final moments of the game, having taken the lead so late on in the game.