Non-League and Academy football writer

Larkspur Rovers welcomed league title hopefuls Pitshanger Dynamo to Lord Halsbury Playing Fields, in this Middlesex County Football League Premier Division, on Wednesday evening. Larkspur Rovers started this game in ninth place in the league table, with the away side, Pitshanger Dynamo, starting this game in third place, but with games in hand over both higher placed clubs, PFC Victoria London and Shepherds Bush. This game finished 5-1 to Pitshanger Dynamo, who played some really good football during stages of the game, and who deserved to win the game. The first chance of the game came the way of the home side, Larkspur Rovers. Following Pitshanger Dynamo goalkeeper Josh Young’s clearance, after he had rushed out of his goal to meet the ball, the ball was picked up by Ryan Durrant on the right flank. His effort from distance didn’t go too far away from the Pitshanger goal, as it went wide.

The first goal of the game came early on, and it was scored by the league’s top scorer – Bilal Butt. After latching onto a loose pass on the edge of the Larkspur Rovers penalty area, the experienced centre-forward would slot the ball into the goal, with the Larkspur Rovers goalkeeper out of position, inside his penalty area, 0-1. However, shortly after a Pitshanger player had hit an effort wide of the Larkspur Rovers goal, from the edge of their penalty area, the home side managed to draw level in the game. The ball came to Deluxe Mwengula inside the Pitshanger penalty area, and he was able to find the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1. It had been a fairly even start to the game, but it was a match which was being played at a real intensity. Some good work from Zico Macauley resulted in him finding Bilal Butt, in the centre of the home team’s penalty area, but Bilal Butt’s low effort on the turn, went just wide of the goal.

Larkspur Rovers would manage two decent goal attempts in quick succession, after that chance for Bilal Butt. Larkspur Rovers’ captain, Anthony Byfield, would loop an effort towards the Pitshanger goal, from the left-hand side of their penalty area, which was pushed onto the crossbar by Josh Young, who was then able to gather the ball. And then a couple of minutes later, Larkspur were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Pitshanger box. However, Miguel Camara would whip a decent effort just wide of the Pitshanger goal. Pitshanger would build forward with the ball, soon after, and they were able to regain their lead in the game. A lofted ball into the Larkspur box, was headed on by Bilal Butt, to George Isaac on the left side of the penalty area. Isaac would finish well into the goal, off the right-hand post of goalkeeper Ryan Gulati’s goal, 1-2. 

Pitshanger goalkeeper Josh Young did well to gather an attempt from Andrew Ingram, at his near post, following a cross into his penalty area, shortly after the game had resumed. Then, a couple of minutes later, some good work from Zico Macauley would result in him finding George Isaac on the edge of the Larkspur penalty area, but Isaac’s first time effort went over the goal. Bilal Butt would then meet a good low cross into the Larkspur box, as Pitshanger improved further, but his effort was deflected behind off of Andrew Ingram. Marco Persano’s Pitshanger side were playing some fantastic football, at this stage of the first half, and they were looking to capitalise, by getting as many goals as possible before half-time. The away side’s third goal of the game would arrive after Hussein Manea had passed the ball to Zico Macauley on the right flank, and he would then deliver a good low ball into the centre of the Larkspur penalty area, from where George Isaac was able to finish into the goal from close range, 1-3.

Not long after getting their third goal of the game, Pitshanger would further extend their lead before half-time. A mesmerising slaloming run from their impressive captain Josh Norris, from the left flank and into the Larkspur box, woulds see Norris evade a number of attempts from defenders to take the ball off him. However, Norris would slide the ball across the goal to George Isaac, who tapped home from close range to get his hat-trick, 1-4. And just before half-time Larkspur Rovers player Omar Sargvon would hit an effort from the edge of the Pitshanger box, wide of their goal. The second half of the match was started strongly by the away side, who continued to impress with the ball. George Isaac’s through-ball pass to Josh Norris, saw the Pitshanger defender meet the ball on the left-hand side of the Larkspur penalty area. However, the ball bobbled up just as Norris hit his effort, which went wide of the goal. Zico Macauley would then turn with the ball on the edge of the Larkspur box, before hitting an effort just over their goal.

Pitshanger were looking to effectively finish the game, by getting a fifth goal of the evening. And soon after Bilal Butt had a good, low effort from inside the Larkspur penalty area, which was well kept out by goalkeeper Ryan Gulati, the club from Ealing would extend their lead. Josh Norris’ corner kick delivery into the Larkspur box, was headed into the goal at the near post, by Luke Wretham, 1-5. Three good chances for the away side would follow, the first of which saw Zico Macauley hit an effort just over from the right-hand side of the Larkspur box. Then, soon after, following some good skill from the same Pitshanger player to get past a defender, Zico Macauley had an effort from the inside of the Larkspur penalty area, which was saved by Ryan Gulati. Bilal Butt would then have an effort saved by Ryan Gulati, following a low cross into the Larkspur box. Pitshanger would make a couple of substitutions soon after, with Bilal Butt being one of the players to leave the pitch.

Larkspur Rovers would improve during the second half. Larkspur had two goal attempts from distance (from different players) which went wide of the goal, in quick succession. The game became quite end to end as the second half went on. The skilful Sergio Carro would hit an effort (on the bounce) on the Larkspur goal from distance, which was saved by Ryan Gulati, before Deluxe Mwengula hit an effort wide from inside the Pitshanger box. The chances came quickly for both sides, as it came towards the end of the game. Greg Miley and Hadi Kachach both had efforts saved by the respective goalkeepers, before Sergio Carro had a free-kick effort on the Larkspur goal, which was saved and gathered by Ryan Gulati. The chances came and went, as shortly after a Larkspur effort from distance went wide of the Pitshanger goal, the away team’s substitute Tom Reid, would go on a good run with the ball, into the Larkspur box, before having a low effort which was deflected behind off a defender.

The final chance of the game came from the impressive and defensively solid Hussein Manea, whose headed effort on the Larkspur goal, after meeting Greg Miley’s cross into the box, was saved by Ryan Gulati. This was a good game of football, with Pitshanger Dynamo being deserved winners on Wednesday, against Larkspur Rovers, and their passing game (at times) was excellent. My player of the match was George Issac. The skilful Pitshanger Dynamo winger scored a hat-trick of goals against Larkspur Rovers, and he was very clinical in front of goal, as well as doing some fine work with the ball out on the left flank. Every time that I have seen George Isaac play this season, he has impressed me. However, the excellent Bilal Butt (he now 36 goals to his name this season) scored a goal and provided an assist, in what was a fine all-round centre-forward’s performance from him. Josh Norris and Zico Macauley were just some of the other players who I thought had really fine games.