Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance for what was a massive step 7 non-League match between AFC Welwyn and Old Bradwell United, at Herns Way on Thursday night. Top of the Spartan South Midlands Football League Division Two – AFC Welwyn, had played 24 games going into this league fixture. The away side (Old Bradwell United) started this match in fourth place in the league, ten points behind the league leaders, but with three games in hand over them. This match would finish 1-1, after Old Bradwell United scored a late equalising goal. The home side, AFC Welwyn, would start the match well, during the opening stages of the first half. And Liam Errington’s side would create the first goalscoring chance of the game. After Kendall Ata Gyamfi’s lofted pass eventually found Kade Bagge on the edge of the Old Bradwell penalty area, the AFC Welwyn forward would do well to get his over-head effort on target, with goalkeeper Liam Jahn making the save. Shortly after that chance, Old Bradwell United player Ben Green managed to get to a lofted pass just inside the home team’s box, but he was unable to connect properly with the ball on the stretch, and his low effort was saved by Kyle Forster.

After Kade Bagge had managed to latch onto AFC Welwyn captain Jack Bradshaw’s lofted pass towards the edge of the Old Bradwell penalty area, the forward would cut inside with the ball, before hitting an effort over the goal. Kade Bagge has started the game well, and a couple of minutes later he would turn with the ball on edge of the away team’s penalty area, before having a low effort on goal saved by the goalkeeper. Kendall Ata Gyamfi would then hit a low effort wide of the Old Bradwell goal, from approximately 20 yards out, before Carter Hudson-Doncaster hit an effort over, from inside the Old Bradwell box, after receiving a pass. AFC Welwyn had been seeing a lot of the ball, at this stage of the game. Carter Hudson-Doncaster’s corner-kick, which had been put right across the face of the Old Bradwell goal, was only just missed by the head of Kendall Ata Gyamfi, who had made a good run. And just before the half-time whistle was sounded, Jack Bradshaw hit a low effort wide of Liam Jahn’s goal, from the edge of the Old Bradwell penalty area.

AFC Welwyn started the second half really well. They would take the lead early on in the second half, after Joshua Pykerman had passed the ball across to Kendall Ata Gyamfi on the edge of the Old Bradwell United penalty area, and the impressive AFC Welwyn forward struck a powerful, low first time effort on the goal. Liam Jahn tried to gather the ball, but it ended up getting away from him, and it eventually crossed the goal-line, 1-0. Jack Bradshaw would then hit a low effort from distance, which was saved by Liam Jahn, before the same AFC Welwyn player hit a free-kick effort (from around 20 yards out from goal), wide of Liam Jahn’s goal. AFC Welwyn were trying to get that all important second goal. Jack Bradshaw would hit a good, low effort from distance on the Old Bradwell goal, which was kept out by the outstretched Liam Jahn, before being cleared behind. Kade Bagge then did well to create a chance after meeting Devonte Simms’ lofted pass. However, Kade Bagge’s effort went over Liam Jahn’s goal.

The game would change for the home side after their captain Jack Bradshaw was sent off following a sliding challenge on an Old Bradwell United player. The away team would then start to see more of the ball. AFC Welwyn were defending a lot deeper on the pitch, but a long forward pass towards Kendall Ata Gyamfi on the left flank, would result in the forward lifting the ball over the head of the outrushing Old Bradwell United goalkeeper Liam Jahn, before assessing his options, and then having an effort on goal which was saved by Liam Jahn, after he had returned to his penalty area. And Kendall Ata Gyamfi would, a couple of minutes later, have a powerful effort from the edge of the Old Bradwell United penalty area, pushed behind by Liam Jahn. There had been a lot of added time that had been added by the referee, and deep into second half additional time, Old Bradwell United would score an equalising goal. I believe that it was Scott Valentine who assisted the equalising goal, after delivering a great ball into the AFC Welwyn penalty area, from the left-hand side of the pitch. At the back post was captain Shaun Ennis, who powerfully headed the ball home, past Kyle Forster, 1-1.

It was an unfortunate ending to the game for AFC Welwyn, who had on the balance of play created a lot more chances than the visiting team. However, after the dismissal of Jack Bradshaw, Old Bradwell United really threw players forward, up the pitch, and in the end they got that all important equalising goal. I thought that AFC Welwyn central-defender David Diedhiou was very good and assured in central defence for the home side on Thursday. He was my player of the match, as his reading of the game was very good, and David Diedhiou also made some important defensive interventions during the game.