Non-League and Academy football writer

Stonewall FC faced Slough Town (JFC) on Saturday afternoon at The West Ham Memorial Ground, in east London, in a Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture. Stonewall started this league match in seventh match in the league table, with Slough Town Juniors starting this game in 16th place in the league. This competitive match would finish 2-1 to Stonewall. There weren’t a lot of goalscoring chances during the early stages of the game, but the first goal attempt of the game was from the home side. With Coltrane Morley hitting a low effort on the bounce (from the edge of the Slough Town Juniors penalty area) wide of the away team’s goal. However, Slough Town Juniors would then have a good spell in the game. Thomas Attrell had a curling free-kick effort from the edge of the Stonewall penalty area, saved by Stonewall goalkeeper Dennis Aware. Slough Town Juniors player Alan Ombewa would then hit an effort (he was off balance at the time) wide, across the face of the Stonewall goal, after getting on the ball on the left side of their penalty area. And then a couple of minutes later Jacob Hughes would hit an effort wide of Dennis Aware’s goal, from the edge of his penalty area. 

As the first half of the match progressed, there became more clearer chances. However, shortly after Cam McEwan had an effort on goal from 20 yards out, which was saved and held by the away team’s goalkeeper Max Gawronski, Slough Town (JFC) would score the opening goal of the game. It came after they had been awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Stonewall penalty area. Thomas Attrell would take the free-kick, and his powerful effort to the centre of the Stonewall goal, went past Dennis Aware and into the goal, 0-1. Stonewall tried to respond soon after the game had resumed, with Cam McEwan latching onto a loose pass on the edge of visitors’ box, but his good curling effort on goal was saved by Max Gawronski. And not long before half-time, Stonewall managed to get an equalising goal. It came after the home team had a free-kick cleared away from the Slough Town Juniors’ penalty area, with Cam McEwan getting on the ball on the edge of the penalty area. He would give the ball to Dan Whitehouse, who whipped a fine effort into the top right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

Right at the beginning of the second half Slough Town Juniors captain Jayden Lockless would hit an effort over the Stonewall goal, from over 35 yards out. Alex Brown would then have an effort from the Stonewall box, which was saved by Dennis Aware. A good move would follow for Stonewall, as the pace of the game picked up further. After Fernando Martins had received Mike Sholly’s pass on the the right flank, Martins would pass the ball to Charley Hobbs on the edge of the Slough Town Juniors’ box, but his effort on goal was saved by Max Gawronski. Slough Town Juniors would then build forward from defence, with Ollie Allen eventually hitting an effort over Dennis Aware’s goal, from inside his penalty area. However, soon after that chance had came and gone for the away side, Stonewall would take the lead in the game. A good forward run from midfield from Charley Hobbs, would see him carry the ball forward before passing the ball to Shane McCullough on the right side of the penalty area, from where he finished well into the goal, 2-1. Shane McCullough would then have another effort from inside the visitors’ penalty area, which was this time well kept out by Max Gawronski. 

Stonewall were at this stage of the game, the better team in my opinion. However, Slough Town Juniors would finish the game strongly, as they tried to get something from the game. A good run across the Stonewall defence from Ollie Evans, inside the Stonewall penalty area, would result in him having an effort which was importantly deflected behind by Martin Andvik. Ibrahim Ayubi would then have an effort from the edge of the Stonewall box, which was saved and gathered by Dennis Aware, before Slough Town Juniors player John Brennan was shown his second yellow card of the game late on, by the referee. And just before the end of the game Cam McEwan had a low free-kick effort on goal, which was saved by Max Gawronski. This was a very competitive game, with both sides, despite being in contrasting positions in the league table, trying to play their game to effect. I thought that Stonewall players Fernando Martins (he did some fine work on the right flank), the tireless Coltrane Morley, Cam McEwan, goalscorer Shane McCullough and Charley Hobbs, were just some of the impressive performances for the home side. And for Slough Town Juniors, I thought that their top goalscorer Ollie Allen had a fine game, as did their goalkeeper, Max Gawronski.

In a couple of weeks time Stonewall will be playing Kodak (Harrow) in the final of this season’s Alec Smith Premier Division Cup, and I will be reporting on that cup final match from Uxbridge’s ground.