Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at Wodson Park on Saturday afternoon, to report on newly promoted side FC Baresi’s first ever league game at step 6 of the non-League system. This Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture between FC Baresi and May & Baker ECFC was one which was won by 2-1 by May & Baker, with FC Baresi having had a player sent off during the first half of the match. Started at a great pace, straight from the very start both sides wanted to go forward with the ball. FC Baresi first team player-coach Marvin Hamilton’s good early pass to Noyan Tajbakhsh on the edge of the May & Baker penalty area resulted in the forward having a looping effort on goal, which was saved by Liam Keeble. 

May & Baker player Denim Nnamudi had started the game really well for the away side, and he was always looking to take defenders on with the ball. The skilful forward had an effort saved from the edge of the FC Baresi penalty area by Harvey Simson, before then going on an excellent forward run with the ball from the right flank, and then having an effort saved by Simson. Once again involved in the final third, Denim Nnamudi would then travel inside with the ball from the right flank before having an effort from 20 yards out, which was saved by Harvey Simson. 

There was a fantastic intensity to the game during its early stages. May & Baker would take an early lead in the match after Jack Ferris went forward with the ball down the left flank, to the byline. He then delivered an accurate cross to the back post of the FC Baresi goal, picking out Billy Titley, who headed the ball into the goal, 0-1. FC Baresi tried to respond. After Noyan Tajbakhsh had received Junior Appiah’s pass inside the centre of the May & Baker penalty area, he would then hit an effort over the goal, not long before Isaac Jacobs had hit an effort over the May & Baker goal, also from inside of their box. However, May & Baker would soon double their lead in the match. Jack Ferris once again went forward with the ball down the left flank, before delivering another fine cross deep into the FC Baresi penalty area, where he picked out Billy Titley at the back post. The May & Baker centre-forward sent a really good looping header past Harvey Simson and into the goal, 0-2.

FC Baresi’s afternoon became even more difficult after they had a player (Ahmed Abdulla) sent to the sin-bin. May & Baker tried to capitalise on having an extra player on the pitch, and Billy Titley came close to scoring a hat-trick, but his effort on the half-volley from the edge of the FC Baresi penalty area, went just over Simson’s goal. May & Baker were pressing really well and aggressively when they were without the ball, and that made it difficult for FC Baresi to get some control of the game. As the first half progressed Noyan Tajbakhsh hit an effort wide of the May & Baker goal from the left-hand side of their penalty area, before Denim Nnamudi found the run of Jack Ferris in behind the FC Baresi defence. However, through on goal his resulting effort was kept out by Simson.

A red card was shown by the referee not long before half-time, as it was shown to FC Baresi defender for this match, Murat Karagul, after he (Murat Karagul was the last man) had fouled Billy Titley on the edge of the home team’s penalty area. The resulting free-kick was taken by Antony Connor, whose effort around the FC Baresi wall was well saved by Simson. During the early stages of the second half FC Baresi had shown signs of improvement. After Noyan Tajbakhsh had received the ball on the right-hand side of the May & Baker penalty area, the FC Baresi forward had a low effort on goal which was saved by Keeble. And then after FC Baresi substitute Kishawn James had latched onto a loose pass out from the May & Baker defence, he brought the ball into the penalty area, before hitting an effort wide of the goal.

May & Baker always looked good on the counter, whenever FC Baresi had been in possession of the ball. Harvey Simson did well to save an effort at his near post after Denim Nnamudi had got on the ball inside of the penalty area. Lewis Jones and Edson Lami were making a good impression on the midfield, after being substituted on by the FC Baresi coaches during the second half. Following a Lewis Jones effort which was deflected behind for an FC Baresi corner-kick, the experienced midfielder would then hit a fine effort on the bounce (from the edge of the away team’s box) on goal, with it being well pushed over by goalkeeper Luke Keeble. A couple of moments later, Lewis Jones hit an effort wide of the May & Baker goal, following a layoff on the edge of the penalty area.

Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi side weren’t playing as if they had a player missing, by this stage of the second half. Jamie Newby-Harris and Lewis Jones would both manage efforts towards goal, with Lewis Jones hitting his effort from the centre of the May & Baker box, wide of their goal. Then came a deflected effort from 20 yards out from Edson Lami, which fell for Benyamin Warren, whose effort from close range was well saved by Luke Keeble. FC Baresi weren’t giving up, and their efforts in the second half really were admirable, with ten men. However, this talented May & Baker side were still creating chances. One such chance towards the latter stages of the game, came for Antony Connor, who after latching onto Jack Ferris’ lofted ball in behind the FC Baresi defence, would hit an effort over, after having been through on goal, although it wasn’t from an easy angle.

A couple of minutes after Edson Lami had headed over from a cross by the impressive Abadilla Kousairi, FC Baresi managed to get a goal back in the game. Following a cross into the May & Baker box, the ball eventually fell for Kishawn James, who from the centre of the penalty area, would show good composure to finish low into the goal. Despite FC Baresi’s best efforts to equalise late on, shortly after FC Baresi player Marvin McCoy had been sent to the sin-bin, the referee sounded his whistle for full-time. This was another really good game to report on, on an historic day for FC Baresi, who I thought did really well during the second half of the match.

My player of the match today, was the provider of both May & Baker’s goals – Jack Ferris. The skilful winger went on some really good and purposeful forward runs, and his wing-play for both of Billy Titley’s goals, was very good. May & Baker centre-forward Billy Titley also had a really good game, and his centre-forward play was impressive. And then to mention another of many good performances from the away team, I thought that Denim Nnamudi had some really good moments during the game. For the home team, I thought that substitutes Lewis Jones, Edson Lami and Abadilla Kousairi made really good impressions on the match, as did Kishawn James, who was in my opinion FC Baresi’s best player on the day. Also, I thought that the home team’s goalkeeper Harvey Simson, made some fine saves during the match.