Non-League and Academy football writer

My first non-League match report of the 2024/25 season came from Haringey Borough’s Coles Park ground, for a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture between NW London FC, and Barkingside FC, on Friday night. NW London will be groundsharing with Haringey Borough at their Coles Park ground, for the 2024/25 season, and this opening match of the season for both sides, was a highly competitive game, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Played at a good pace during the early stages of the match, the first real goalscoring chance came the way of the visiting side, Barkingside. Following a loose pass, the ball came to Michael James-Akerele, but his low effort from the edge of the NW London penalty area was saved by the NW London goalkeeper, Vlad Levchuk. Soon after that chance the same Barkingside player (James-Akerele) would head an effort wide of the NW London goal, following a corner-kick into their box.

The first goal of the match arrived quite early on, and it came the way of Barkingside. A long kick upfield would see the ball bounce over the NW London defence, and both Barkingside’s centre-forward (Luke Caston) and the outrushing NW London goalkeeper Vlad Levchuk, both tried to get to it first. Luke Caston managed to just nod the ball past Levchuk, before continuing from the edge of the penalty area, into the centre of the box, as the composed Barkingside player then finished into the empty goal from close range, 0-1. The first effort of the game for the home side arrived soon after the game had started again, with Hugo Javaloyes latching onto the ball in the centre of midfield, before hitting a looping effort over the Barkingside goal, having spotted the goalkeeper slightly off his goal-line.

The game continued to be played in a very competitive fashion, and also at a good pace. There was a bit of a penalty shout from some of the Barkingside players, after NW London goalkeeper Vlad Levchuk had challenged for the ball with Jack Williams, following a cross into the penalty area. However, the referee saw nothing in it. NW London were pressing the Barkingside players well, when they were in possession of the ball. After NW London had won the ball in midfield, Damian Tryczynski passed the ball to Valentin Burcea, who was inside of the away team’s box, but his low effort was well saved by Barkingside goalkeeper Oliver Johnson. Then a couple of minutes later, NW London defender Nathaniel Binney had a difficult chance from the right side of the Barkingside box, as he hit the ball wide of Oliver Johnson’s left-hand post.

NW London were by this stage in the game looking more likely to score the next goal. For NW London, Methembe Bhebhe would volley an effort (on the turn) over Oliver Johnson’s goal, from inside of the Barkingside penalty area, following a corner-kick. The impressive Hugo Javaloyes would then have an effort from 20 yards out, which was saved and then gathered by Oliver Johnson. A couple of minutes later (in the 32nd minute of the game) NW London got a deserved equalising goal. A well crafted move resulted in Juan Araque giving the ball to Hugo Javaloyes, who would just take the ball inside of the Barkingside box, before shifting the ball out to Bernardo De Quadros on the left-hand side of the penalty area, from where he calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

Shortly after scoring an equalising goal, NW London player Nathaniel Binney managed to get to a lofted ball in behind the Barkingside defence. However, Nathaniel Binney’s effort (from the right-hand side of the penalty area) went into the side-netting of the goal, with the sliding challenge of Malik Shofolahan possibly distracting him. A fortunate ricochet towards the end of the first half, saw the ball come to Luke Caston on the edge of the NW London penalty area. With the goalkeeper outside of his goal, it seemed as though Luke Caston would inevitably score his second goal of the game. However, an outstanding recovery clearance from NW London captain James Allen, saw the defender somehow manage to clear the ball over the goal, on the goal-line! And then from the resulting corner-kick, Michael James-Akerele would head an effort wide of the goal.

The first effort of the second half came from Juan Araque, who hit an effort over the Barkingside goal from distance. Two successive chances would then come the way of Barkingside, a team who had been very compact so far in the match. After Luke Caston had a headed effort on the NW London goal saved by Vlad Levchuk, following Lewis Francis’ free-kick into the NW London box, Barkingside came very close to regaining the lead in the game. As the ball came out to Arminas Gricius (he was some 25 yards or so out from goal), the Barkingside midfielder caught the ball really well on the half-volley, showing some great technique as his effort went just wide of Vlad Levchuk’s left-hand post.

This was a really competitive and well contested season opener for both sides, as they went in search of a winning goal. NW London player Emmanuel Okoko would go very close to catching out Oliver Johnson, with a free-kick effort from distance, and from a difficult angle. However, the ball went just wide of his left-hand post. NW London were seeing more of the ball, but the very well organised Barkingside were looking to catch them out on the counter. Following on from Alex Newton’s low effort from the edge of the NW London box, which went wide of their goal, NW London would go forward with the ball. Emmanuel Okoko and Damian Tryczynski exchanged passes on the edge of the Barkingside box, before Emmanuel Okoko hit a low effort wide of Oliver Johnson’s goal. A couple of minutes later a free-kick chance in a promising position arrived for NW London. However, Valentin Burcea’s effort went wide of the goal.

Both sides were now really pushing for a winning goal, as we entered the latter stages of the match. A lofted free-kick delivery from Emmanuel Okoko came towards James Allen in the centre of the Barkingside box, but he was just unable to make sufficient contact with the ball, as Oliver Johnson gathered it. The two final chances of the game both came for Barkingside. Barkingside player Jaeden Nathaniel would hit an effort just wide of the NW London goal, from the edge of their penalty area, before Leandro Sain’s powerful free-kick effort from distance, was pushed away by Vlad Levchuk. This was a really good first game of the season to report on. It was a very competitive game between two sides with their own style of play. NW London are a very skilful side (I predicted them to improve even further from last season, in my league season preview), who had some really good moments on the ball during the match. Barkingside created some good chances, also, and in the end this really wasn’t a bad point for both sides.

For Barkingside, I thought that their goalscorer Luke Caston, was their player of the match. However, my player of the match award for this game, was a very difficult decision to make. I personally thought that it was between NW London players Juan Araque, Hugo Javaloyes and Valentin Burcea, as to who was the player of the match. All three players made a real impression on the game in midfield for NW London (there were a lot of really fine individual performances from both sides). And for me, although there were some really good performances on Friday, my player of the match was the highly skilful Juan Araque. Roaming all across the pitch, the influential and highly skilful player with great close ball control, was very impressive, and he’s a player who has impressed me whenever I’ve seen him in the past. Taking up good positions in midfield, Juan Araque was very positive with the ball, and he was always looking to play it forward.