Non-League and Academy football writer

Haringey Borough Under 23’s faced Chadwell Heath Spartans on Friday night at Coles Park, in an Essex Alliance League Senior Division fixture. Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side started this match in fourth place in the league, with Chadwell Heath Spartans sitting one place above them in the league, in third place. The match finished 7-1 to Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side. Early on in the first half Chadwell Heath Spartans managed to create the first chance of the game. After Billy Gipp had laid the ball off to Enoch Salami on the edge of the Haringey Borough penalty area, the Chadwell Heath Spartans player hit a first time effort on goal, which was saved by Haringey goalkeeper Dren Hoti. Shortly after that chance, Haringey Borough took the lead from their first real chance of the game. Alexander Nicolaides managed to get onto the ball on the left side of the pitch, before taking the ball into the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area, and then powerfully finishing low into the goal, 1-0. A couple of minutes later, Haringey Borough almost made it 2-0, after Flori Hoti’s good effort from the edge of the away team’s box, hit the bar on its way over.

Haringey Borough had started the game well, and following a good run from the impressive Alexander Nicolaides to the byline, down the right side of the pitch, Haringey made it 2-0. The Haringey Borough centre-forward would cross the ball low into the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area, with Jamal Obeng there at the back post, to tap the ball into the goal, 2-0. After Billy Gipp had an effort on the half-volley saved by Dren Hoti, a couple of minutes later, Billy Gipp hit a low free-kick (it was deflected off the Haringey wall) from the edge of the Haringey box which was saved well by Dren Hoti. Then, shortly after that chance for the away side, Alexander Nicolaides had a low effort saved from inside the Chadwell Heath Spartans box, by goalkeeper Daniel Wheeler. The game continued to see a number of chances for both sides. Enoch Salami had a low effort from the edge of the Haringey box, saved by Dren Hoti, before Sertan Kirman had a free-kick effort saved by Wheeler, at the opposite end of the pitch.

Following some good work from the Chadwell Heath Spartans centre-forward Ryan O’Connell, he passed the ball to George Mariner inside the Haringey penalty area. The midfielder then passed the ball to Enoch Salami, whose low effort was saved well by the feet of Dren Hoti. Enoch Salami would then have a good effort pushed behind by the Haringey Borough goalkeeper at his near post, shortly after. Despite the away side continuing to do well at this stage of the game, after Diego Panessar had a low effort saved by Dren Hoti, Haringey Borough extended their lead in the game. A cross into the Chadwell Heath Spartans box from the left flank, was dropped by their goalkeeper, with the ball finding its way to Louis Nathaniel, whose low effort found its way into the goal, via a deflection, 3-0. Just before half-time Ryan O’Connell had a headed effort which was saved by Dren Hoti, inside the Haringey box.

Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side started the second half of the match brilliantly. With Alexander Nicolaides going forward with the ball down the right side of the pitch, before crossing low to Andrew Yiasoumi at the back post, who was able to tap the ball into the goal, 4-0. Despite Chadwell Heath Spartans managing to get a goal back in the game, almost instantly, after George Mariner had tapped the ball home following a low cross into the centre of the Haringey box, Haringey restored their four goal cushion again, 4-1. Aala Ezzedine went forward with the ball at pace into the Chadwell Heath Spartans box, before hitting a low effort on goal from a tight angle. With the ball not being gathered properly by the Chadwell Heath Spartans goalkeeper, as it went into the bottom left corner of the goal, 5-1. Things got even better for the home side a couple of minutes later, after they got their sixth goal of the game. With Aala Ezzedine crossing the ball from the right flank, into the centre of the Chadwell Heath Spartans box, as Alexander Nicolaides controlled the ball well first, before excellently lifting it over the outrushing Daniel Wheeler, and into the goal, 6-1.

There continued to be a number of good chances for both sides during the latter stages of the game. Chadwell Heath Spartans substitute Peter Adeleye had an effort saved by Dren Hoti, before Alexander Nicolaides missed a good chance for Haringey Borough, following a free-kick into the away team’s box. Aala Ezzedine then had a low effort from the right side of the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area, well saved by Daniel Wheeler. After Peter Adeleye would have two efforts saved in quick succession by Dren Hoti, Haringey Borough got their seventh goal of the game in the final moments of the game. After Louis Nathaniel had passed the ball to Aala Ezzedine on the edge of the Chadwell Heath Spartans penalty area, the talented Haringey Borough player curled a fine effort into the top right hand corner of the goal, 7-1. This was an excellent performance from Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side against a Chadwell Heath Spartans side, who just didn’t have a good night. The excellent Alexander Nicolaides, who with two goals and two assists, was my player of the match. This was a brilliant all-round performance from the centre-forward, whose running and movement off the ball, was just as good as his quality on it.