Non-League and Academy football writer

Feltham FC faced Pitshanger Dynamo in a Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture, on Thursday evening at Tudor Park. Feltham started this match in 17th place in the league, with league title hopefuls Pitshanger Dynamo in second place in the league, two points behind league leaders PFC Victoria London, having played two games less than them in the league. Played in very windy and rainy conditions, it was Pitshanger Dynamo who won the match 5-0. During the early stages of the match, Pitshanger Dynamo goalkeeper Josh Young made a fairly routine save, from an effort from inside his penalty area. Then, shortly after that chance Pitshanger Dynamo player George Isaac got on the ball on the left-hand side of the Feltham penalty area, however, his effort from a difficult angle was saved and closed down well by Feltham goalkeeper Jonny Williams. A well worked move from the away side would see them take an early lead, soon after that chance. Hussein Manea passed the ball to Bilal Butt on the edge of the Feltham box, and the top scorer in the league would then find George Isaac on the left-hand side of the box, from where he powerfully found the top right-hand corner of the goal from, 0-1.

The away team had started the game well. After Bilal Butt had hit a low side-footed free-kick effort from the edge of the Feltham penalty area, just wide of their goal, Sam Riddett would, at the opposite end of the pitch, have a free-kick effort on goal, saved by Josh Young. And after some good skill from Pitshanger Dynamo player Oliver Henery, the midfielder would see his resulting effort carried wide of the goal, by the wind. A good chance for Feltham would follow, but an effort from the left-hand side of the Pitshanger box, went wide of Josh Young’s goal. The chances would then continue for Pitshanger Dynamo, to extend their lead from. Bilal Butt took the ball to the edge of the Feltham box, before hitting a low effort just wide of their goal, before George Isaac had an effort from the left-hand side of the Feltham penalty area saved by Jonny Williams, following some good build-up play. The goalscoring chances continued for Pitshanger, who had been dominant on the ball, so far during the first half.

Following an effort from Oliver Henery on the edge of the Feltham box, which went wide of their goal, there was to be a headed effort on the Pitshanger goal, saved by Josh Young, following a free-kick delivery into their box. Pitshanger would double their advantage soon after that chance, thanks to a second goal of the game for George Isaac. After Greg Miley’s free-kick from the right flank had found George Isaac on the left-hand side of the Feltham penalty area, the impressive winger hit a low and powerful effort past Williams, and into the goal, 0-2. There continued to be many chances for the away side during the remainder of the first half. Bilal Butt had hit an effort into the side-netting of the Feltham goal, before then having a headed effort on the goal saved by Williams. Not long after Pitshanger player Tiernan Fitzgerald had a volleyed effort from inside the Feltham box saved by Williams, the Feltham goalkeeper made a fine save to keep out Bilal Butt’s effort from close range, with him through on goal inside the Feltham penalty area.

Bilal Butt had gone close to scoring on a number of occasions during the first half, and he would get his goal not long before half-time. After George Isaac had recovered well from being challenged on the left-hand side of the Feltham penalty area, the Pitshanger player managed to put the ball across the face of the goal to Bilal Butt, who tapped home from close range, 0-3. Jonny Williams would make two fine saves from efforts by Bilal Butt during the final minutes of the first half, before then doing well to push away a powerful effort on the Feltham goal (some 20 yards out) by Oliver Henery. The early stages of the second half saw the game continued to be played at a good pace. Both Feltham substitute Isaac Kwame Alidu and Pitshanger player Bilal Butt had decent efforts saved by the respective goalkeepers, during the opening stages of the second half. A well worked corner kick from the away side would result in George Isaac receiving Bilal Butt’s short pass inside the Feltham penalty area, but George Isaac’s effort was saved by Jonny Williams, who continued to impress. After Pitshanger substitute Tom Reid had an effort from the edge of the Feltham penalty area saved by Williams, the Feltham goalkeeper then managed to keep out another effort from Bilal Butt.

Shortly after Bilal Butt had a good low effort from the edge of the Feltham box which was kept out of the goal yet again by Jonny Williams, Pitshanger Dynamo managed to get their fourth goal of the game. After Tom Reid had received the ball on the edge of the Feltham penalty area, the Pitshanger substitute showed some good skill on the ball to take it into the penalty area, before calmly finding the bottom right-hand corner of the Feltham goal, 0-4. Former futsal player Bilal Butt would show great feet and close control of the ball inside the Feltham box, soon after, as Pitshanger looked to extend their lead further. However, his low effort was saved by Jonny Williams. Following another impressive save from Williams, Pitshanger would get their fifth goal of the game. After some good build-up play, the influential Oliver Henery managed to receive the ball on the right-hand side of the Feltham box, and his powerful resulting effort found the back of the goal, 0-5. After some more good saves from the Feltham goalkeeper, Isaac Kwame Alidu was sent off during the latter stages of the match.

Pitshanger Dynamo really played some great football on Thursday, and their fast passing game made it really difficult for Feltham to get going in the game. Marco Persano’s Pitshanger side really impressed as a team, with some really good performances from players such as Oliver Henery, George Isaac and also Bilal Butt, who easily could have scored seven goals on another day, were it not for some great goalkeeping by Jonny Williams, who was my player of the match on Thursday. It’s going to be a really interesting end to the season in this league.