Non-League and Academy football writer

In a Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture on Tuesday night, Cricklewood Wanderers faced Pitshanger Dynamo, at Wembley FC’s Vale Farm ground. The home side, Cricklewood Wanderers, started the match in 13th place in the league, with 16 points from 22 league games played. Pitshanger Dynamo started this match in second place in the league, with them being three points off league leaders Shepherd’s Bush, but with three games in hand over them. However, they were missing a number of players through injury, going into this game. This step 7 match was, in the context of the league table, quite a surprising result. With the home side, Cricklewood Wanderers, winning the match 3-0. The home side played good football, and it was an impressive performance all-round from them. There was a good early pace to the game on Tuesday, as the rain started to fall. After Cricklewood Wanderers player Alex Poynter had skilfully worked his way past Pitshanger Dynamo player Luke Wretham, the midfielder hit a low effort on the Pitshanger goal, from the edge of their penalty area, but it was saved by goalkeeper Josh Young.

Having started the match well, Cricklewood Wanderers would take the lead quite early on. After Terryl Harding-Nathan had an effort blocked inside the Pitshanger penalty area, the ball came to Ricards Milasius, on the edge of the box. The centre forward would finish low into the goal, from his powerful effort, 1-0. Cricklewood Wanderers would continue to impress, but Pitshanger Dynamo were starting to test the Cricklewood goalkeeper. Shortly after Greg Miley had a good effort from distance on the Cricklewood goal, which was tipped over by Jayden Smith, Bilal Butt had a low effort on goal from inside the Cricklewood box, which was well kept out by goalkeeper Jayden Smith. And after Keyarn Cope-Chase hit a free-kick effort over the Pitshanger goal, at the opposite end of the pitch, Mourad Jarraz had a good effort from the left-hand side of the Cricklewood box, which was pushed behind well by Smith, just before half-time. Cricklewood Wanderers would start the second half of the match well, and following a good forward run and effort on goal from Alex Poynter, which was well saved by Josh Young, the home side doubled their lead.

Cricklewood Wanderers’ second goal of the game came from a corner-kick. Denis Vesho would deliver the ball into the Pitshanger penalty area, towards the back-post, from where substitute Oliver Costa was able to tap the ball home on the volley from close range, 2-0. The away team from Ealing were trying to create chances for their top scorer Bilal Butt, who was often dropping deep to get on the ball, but the Cricklewood defence were standing strong, in the game. After Bilal Butt had hit a powerful free-kick effort from the edge of the Cricklewood box, towards their wall, the ball was deflected behind by the Cricklewood wall. Tiernan Fitzgerald would then curl an effort wide of the Cricklewood goal, before Cricklewood Wanderers created a good chance, going forward with the ball. With Keyarn Cope-Chase receiving a pass on the right-hand side of the Pitshanger box, as his powerful low effort went just wide, as it went across the face of Josh Young’s goal. A vital defensive block to stop Bilal Butt’s effort from close range, inside the Cricklewood box would follow, as the second half came towards an end.

From a Pitshanger corner-kick, the ball came to Nathan Edwards on the edge of the  Cricklewood box, but his well struck, low first time effort was saved by Jayden Smith. Very late on in the match, Cricklewood Wanderers scored their third goal of the game. After Keyarn Cope-Chase had received Oliver Costa’s pass on the right-hand side of Pitshanger penalty area, Cope-Chase would unselfishly square the ball to Tah’re Agee, who tapped the ball into the empty net, from close range, 3-0. This was a very good performance from Cricklewood Wanderers against one of the very best teams in the league, in Pitshanger Dynamo. Defensively Cricklewood were very good, with central-defenders Aaron Williams and Antwane Sabag forming a good central-defensive partnership. Oliver Costa really impressed during the second half for the hosts, as well, but it was Cricklewood Wanderers’ creative CAM Alex Poynter, who was my player of the match. He was really impressive in how he linked the play in the CAM role, and although didn’t get any goal involvements on Tuesday, he was very important for Cricklewood Wanderers throughout his time on the pitch.