Non-League and Academy football writer

FC Baresi faced Haringey Borough Under 23s at Wodson Park on Saturday afternoon, in a very important semi-final cup-tie of the 2023/24 edition of the Essex Alliance League Senior Division Cup. League champions FC Baresi welcomed an impressive Haringey Borough Under 23 side, who are currently in fourth place in the Essex Alliance League Senior Division table. This cup match would end 4-0 to the home side FC Baresi, thanks to a tremendous second half performance. During the early stages of the game, and shortly after Flori Hoti had hit an effort over the FC Baresi goal from the edge of their penalty area, Haringey player Louis Nathaniel received the ball in a good area. However, the Haringey Borough winger would see his low effort from the right-hand side of the FC Baresi penalty area, saved by Eric Andoh. Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side had started the game well. And following a good through-ball pass from Sertan Kirman, to Louis Maffia inside the FC Baresi box, the Haringey player found himself through on goal, but his low effort was saved by Eric Andoh. An ambitious effort from distance from Murat Karagul (Haringey Borough goalkeeper Dren Hoti was off his goal-line at the time), went wide of the goal. And then, a couple of minutes later, Noyan Tajbakhsh showed some good skill on the edge of the Haringey box, before having a low effort on goal saved by Dren Hoti.

After Haringey Borough player Tyrese Duncan’s cross into the FC Baresi penalty area had been dropped by Eric Andoh, the ball came to Sertan Kirman, whose effort went over the goal. And then at the opposite end of the pitch, around three minutes later, Marvin Hamilton sent a lofted pass from the edge of the Haringey box, to Raymond Poku, whose low effort was comfortably saved by Dren Hoti. Towards the end of the first half Raymond Poku headed a good effort over the Haringey goal, after connecting with Marvin Hamilton’s cross into the box, before the Sri Lanka international hit a free-kick effort some 20 or so yards out, wide of the Haringey Borough goal. Haringey Borough created the first real goalscoring chance of the second half. After Stephane Mgbada had delivered a good low cross to the back post of the FC Baresi box to Louis Nathaniel, in space. However, his first time effort went over the crossbar. A good through-ball pass from Lewis Jones to Raymond Poku, shortly after, would result in the skilful winger taking the ball into the Haringey penalty area. However, the FC Baresi player would lose his footing, and his effort was saved and gathered by Dren Hoti. 

Eric Andoh would importantly get to a low cross from Alex Nicolaides into the FC Baresi box, to push the ball away, a couple of minutes before FC Baresi had managed to create a brilliant goalscoring chance. Marvin Hamilton’s low ball across the face of the Haringey goal, from the left-hand side of their penalty area would result in Murat Karagul having an effort from close range saved well by Dren Hoti, before then missing the goal on the follow-up. However, FC Baresi took the lead in the match soon after, and it was from this moment on in the game that the league champions would capitalise. After Raymond Poku had played a one-two pass with Murat Karagul, he would surge into the Haringey penalty area, before finding the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Haringey looked to respond immediately, after the impressive Stephane Mgbada had taken the ball to the edge of the home team’s box, before having a low effort saved by Eric Andoh.

Erol Hassan would see his good cross into the Haringey box, headed wide across the face of their goal by substitute Junior Appiah. And as the second half progressed, goalscoring chances in the game became more frequent. Lewis Jones would get to the ball on the edge of the Haringey Borough penalty area, before seeing his good, low effort well saved by the diving Dren Hoti. And then, a couple of moments later, FC Baresi were awarded an all important penalty. After Lewis Jones had found Junior Appiah with a good pass down the left-hand side of the pitch, the experienced winger went after the ball, managing to get onto it inside the penalty area, and it was there that he was brought down by the outstretched arm of Dren Hoti. The ever reliable Marvin Hamilton stepped up to calmly lift the ball into the goal, from the penalty spot, 2-0. A great and skilful run across the FC Baresi defence from Haringey Borough forward Alex Nicolaides would result in him taking the ball into the penalty area, but his low effort was saved by Eric Andoh. A cross from Erol Hassan to Junior Appiah inside the centre of the Haringey box would then result in Junior Appiah having a headed effort saved by Dren Hoti, as Haringey tried to stay in the game.

It was not long after an effort from Sertan Kirman, which had went wide of the FC Baresi goal, that the home side had managed to get that decisive third goal of the game. It was from a back pass by a Haringey Borough defender, that Lamine Brandao had managed to get onto, on the right-hand side of the penalty area, it was from inside the box that Lamine Brandao would calmly find the goal, with a good, low effort, 3-0. And soon after that goal, FC Baresi extended their lead further. Player-manager Romuald Boco’s delivery into the Haringey Borough penalty area, was missed by goalkeeper Dren Hoti, with Murat Karagul able to turn the ball home from close range, 4-0. A late free-kick effort from Tyrese Duncan, which had went wide of Eric Andoh’s goal, would bring the game to an end. Haringey Borough deserve credit for their first half performance, and had they have scored from one of those chances, then who knows how the game would’ve gone. However, FC Baresi’s second half performance was very good, and they played really well as a team.

Isioma Richard was outstanding in central defence for FC Baresi, during the game today. There were some really good performances on the pitch, from the likes of FC Baresi captain Edson Lami, Eric Andoh, Erol Hassan and also Raymond Poku, but in my opinion Isioma Richard was so crucial to FC Baresi, getting to the final of this competition (they will face Walthamstow Reserves in the final), for his excellent defensive performance against Haringey Borough’s Under 23 side. He defended so well against the very talented Alex Nicolaides.