Non-League and Academy football writer

The 2023/24 season’s edition of The Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup final, was contested between two step 8 sides, in Sport London e Benfica FC, and London Cheetahs. Both Sport London e Benfica FC (they won their respective league this season) and London Cheetahs are top of their respective leagues, at step 8 of the non-League system, under the Middlesex League. This promised to be a great cup final, and it was won 4-1 by Sport London e Benfica FC, in front of a crowd of over 300, at Uxbridge’s Honeycroft ground. Started at a great pace, it was SL Benfica who would take a very early lead in the match, following a well worked move. A good looping cross from the left flank, into the London Cheetahs’ penalty area, was met well by Laye Sangare, and despite being surrounded by two defenders, his diving header wasn’t kept out, despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper, 1-0. 

SL Benfica had impressed during the early stages of the match, but London Cheetahs would go close to getting an equalising goal. Following a free-kick delivery into the SL Benfica penalty area, the ball came to the London Cheetahs’ number 4, but his effort would hit the left-hand post of goalkeeper Luis Silva’s goal. The game continued to be played at a really fast pace, and the chances (for both sides) continued to arrive. With the London Cheetahs goalkeeper out of his goal, SL Benfica looked to capitalise. Their captain Egidio Mahmoud, would receive Laye Sangare’s pass on the edge of the London Cheetahs penalty area, but his effort on goal was well kept out by the goalkeeper, who had recovered well, to make the save. Shortly after that chance Mohand Hussein hit an effort over the London Cheetahs’ goal, from distance, before the London Cheetahs number 7 had a headed effort on the SL Benfica goal, which was saved by Luis Silva.

London Cheetahs would enjoy a good spell in the game, despite SL Benfica’s impressive start to the match. After the ball had been laid off to the London Cheetahs number 10 on the edge of the SL Benfica penalty area, he would hit a powerful low effort on goal, which was well pushed behind by Luis Silva. And then a couple of moments later, the number 21 of London Cheetahs would see his effort from the edge of the penalty area, saved by Silva. Perhaps four minutes later London Cheetahs created another chance, with their number four hitting an effort over on the turn from inside of the SL Benfica box, following a cross. SL Benfica looked to try and extend their lead. Rafael Santos’ clever outside of the boot technique free-kick effort on the London Cheetahs goal (from distance), would almost catch out the goalkeeper, but he recovered well to get down to the ball, to make a good save.

In the final minutes of the first half, there were two big chances (one for either side). The first of these chances came to the London Cheetahs number 8, who had managed to get to the ball following a free-kick delivery into the centre of the SL Benfica penalty area. His effort, which wasn’t far out from the goal, was brilliantly kept out by the alert Luis Silva. From coming so close to drawing level in the game, to then conceding their second goal of the game, an eventful first half of cup final football would end on a positive note for SL Benfica. A great passing move would end with Thiago Brito delivering a good low cross into the centre of the London Cheetahs’ penalty area, where he found Rafael Santos (he was facing away from the goal), who passed it back to Egidio Mahmoud, inside the penalty area. His powerful and well taken effort went past the goalkeeper at pace, and into the goal, 2-0.

Shortly after the second half of the game had started, London Cheetahs’ number 7 would see his low effort on the SL Benfica goal (from distance) saved by Luis Silva. And then a couple of minutes later, SL Benfica managed to score their third goal of the final. With the ball coming to Egidio Mahmoud, on the edge of the London Cheetahs box, following a challenge. And Egidio Mahmoud’s low and well taken effort found the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 3-0. SL Benfica were well in control of the match, by this stage. Rafael Santos’ through-ball pass to Egidio Mahmoud inside of the London Cheetahs box, saw Egidio Mahmoud’s resulting effort on goal, well saved and closed down by the goalkeeper. And then, from a free-kick, Egidio Mahmoud would curl an effort over from the edge of the London Cheetahs box, following a short lay-off.

A difficult chance would arrive for London Cheetahs’ number 7 on the right-hand side of the SL Benfica penalty area, and it would result in his effort going wide of the goal. However, SL Benfica would essentially put their name on the cup, when they scored their fourth goal of the night, soon after. After London Cheetahs had lost possession of the ball, it came to the feet of Egidio Mahmoud, on the edge of their penalty area. And he would look up, before clinically finding the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, to get his hat-trick, 4-0. London Cheetahs would finish the game strongly, however, and they would go onto create a number of good chances. Shortly after their number 10 had hit the woodwork, following an effort from inside of the SL Benfica box, the London Cheetahs number 7 would hit a free-kick effort over the goal, from distance. 

The chances towards the end of the game, were continuing to arrive for London Cheetahs. Following on from a great forward run from the London Cheetahs number 14, which resulted in him finding the number 7 inside of the SL Benfica box, he would see his effort well blocked by a defender, before their number 9 also had an effort blocked. Two chances would then follow for the London Cheetahs’ number 21. After seeing his effort from the right-hand side of the SL Benfica box, well saved by Luis Silva, he would then find himself through on goal inside of the penalty area (a couple of minutes later), but this time Luis Silva saved his effort with his feet. Very late on in the final, London Cheetahs managed to get their first goal of the game. After receiving number 99’s pass on the right side of the SL Benfica box, their number 8 delivered a low cross, across the face of the goal, to the impressive number 7, who tapped the ball into the goal at the back post, from close range, 4-1.

This was a really good cup final, between two very good footballing sides. SL Benfica were very good, clinical in front of goal and also good off the ball, and they deserved to win the Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup (2023/24). In what was a very good team performance from SL Benfica, there was no one (in my opinion) more influential on the pitch than their number 10 and captain – Egidio Mahmoud, who was classy on the ball, but who also took all three of his goals so well, and he was therefore my player of the match. Also, for SL Benfica, I thought that central midfielder Mohand Hussein, was very good, and his leadership qualities (even from before the game had started) were excellent. And their goalkeeper (Luis Silva) would make some brilliant saves against London Cheetahs. For London Cheetahs, I thought that their highly skilful number 7 was their player of the match. Congratulations to Sport London e Benfica FC, on winning the cup final.