Non-League and Academy football writer

PFC Victoria London welcomed Camden & Islington United to the Robert Parker Stadium, on Saturday afternoon, in this Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture. PFC Victoria London started this match in first place in the league, and Camden & Islington United would start this game in fifth place in the league. With a number of games in hand over the teams above them in the league, Camden & Islington United still have a chance of winning the league. This game was won 3-0 by PFC Victoria London. PFC Victoria London would start the game stronger than Camden & Islington, with them showing good early energy, when out of possession of the ball. After Rafal Al-Swaiti was unable to connect properly with the ball inside of the Camden & Islington box, following some good work from Oskar Dari, the ball came to Roman Virstiuk, around five yards out from goal, but he missed the ball, in what was a let off for the visiting team.

Shortly after their first real goalscoring chance of the game, PFC Victoria took the lead in the match, with their captain (Jakub Malczuk) getting to the ball on the edge of the Camden & Islington penalty area, and his powerful low effort went past the outstretched goalkeeper (Ross Thursby) and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Camden & Islington’s first real chance of the game would arrive shortly after it had resumed. A free-kick from out on the right flank, was delivered into the PFC Victoria penalty area. It was headed back by Nas Adams, to Jonny Ding, in the centre of the box, but his effort on the turn went wide of the goal. Following on from that chance, a good run forward run by Arkadiusz Wilk would result in the PFC Victoria forward finding a teammate (Kamil Zielinski) in front of the goal, from his low ball across goal, but Zielinski’s effort went over the goal.

After Rafal Al-Swaiti had hit a low effort, some 20 yards out from Ross Thursby’s goal, wide of the target, Oskar Dari would acrobatically volley an effort wide of the away team’s goal, from a corner kick. Camden & Islington improved during the latter stages of the first half, and following some good work from Josh Gruby to get to the ball on the left-hand side of the PFC Victoria penalty area, the skilful Camden & Islington player would hit an effort on goal, which was held by goalkeeper Milan Czerwonka. However, PFC Victoria would create two further chances, before the end of the first half. Arkadiusz Wilk would find the impressive Rafal Al-Swaiti on the left side of the Camden & Islington box, but his resulting effort was closed down and saved by Ross Thursby. And then just before half-time, Kamil Zielinski headed the ball wide at the back post of the Camden & Islington goal, after connecting with a good cross. 

The second half of the game started at a similar pace to how the first half had been played at. Following Roman Virstiuk’s powerful effort from distance, which went over the Camden & Islington goal, Rafal Al-Swaiti would have an effort blocked behind off a defender, inside the penalty area. Camden & Islington were playing their football well, building out from defence, but PFC Victoria were managing the game well, and they were also defending well. Following a cross into the Camden & Islington penalty area, which hadn’t been gathered, the ball came to Kamil Zielinski, just inside of the Camden & Islington penalty area. Zielinski looked up, before looping an effort into the right-hand side of the goal, with the goalkeeper unable to get to the ball, 2-0. PFC Victoria would finish the game strongly, and they would continue to create goalscoring chances.

After Arkadiusz Wilk had managed to meet a long, lofted pass on the edge of the Camden & Islington box, he would hit a powerful effort wide of their goal. And then a couple of minutes later, Camden & Islington player Jerry Roque Visi, would do well, to head the ball off the goal-line, following a looping headed effort from substitute Maciej Tajs, on the Camden & Islington goal. PFC Victoria would make sure of the win, towards the end of the game, by getting their third goal of the game. Some clever skill from Rafal Al-Swaiti on the right side of the Camden & Islington penalty area, to evade one of their players, would result in Al-Swaiti squaring the ball for Oskar Dari, in the centre of the penalty area, from where he was able to clinically finish, low into the goal, 3-0. The last goal attempt of the game was from Camden & Islington player Karl Usher-Williams, whose effort from the right side of the PFC Victoria penalty area, was saved by Milan Czerwonka.

I didn’t think that Camden & Islington played badly against PFC Victoria London, at all. They played their passing game, and they never gave up with their energetic approach, with some good work of the ball. However, PFC Victoria London were very clinical in front of goal, and they played their game to really good effect, passing well and creating a number of good chances. For Camden & Islington, I thought that Josh Gruby was their most influential player on the day, going forward, but he worked tirelessly off the ball, as well. PFC Victoria played really well as a team, with players such as Rafal Al-Swaiti, Oskar Dari, Roman Virstiuk and Kamil Zielinski, all having fine games. Goalkeeper Milan Czerwonka claimed everything inside of his penalty area, and he would once again impress. However, in my opinion Rafal Al-Swaiti was the player of the match. He provided a good assist for the third goal, got forward well on the ball and impressed with his all-round performance. This was a big game and win for PFC Victoria London.