Non-League and Academy football writer

Haringey Borough Under 23s faced newly promoted side Fairlop Rovers, in what was both side’s second Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixture of the 2024/25 season, on Friday night at Coles Park. Haringey Borough Under 23s had drawn 2-2 with Frenford Development on Friday night, in their league opener. Fairlop Rovers would win 2-1 against FC Petrocub London, last Saturday. However, this step 7 match was won 3-1 by Haringey Borough. Early on in the match Fairlop Rovers would create a goalscoring chance. As Ellis Morgan’s header found Jean-Pierre Alexander just inside of the Haringey box, but the forward’s low volleyed effort went wide of the goal. A couple of minutes later at the opposite end of the pitch, Stephane Mgbada got to the ball on the left-hand side of the Fairlop penalty area. He would then cut inside with the ball onto his right foot, before curling an effort just over the goal.

Despite the fact that Haringey had seen more of the ball during the early stages, Fairlop would go onto create another chance. This time following a throw-in to Harry Rouse on the left flank would result in the Fairlop player finding Ellis Morgan, inside of the penalty area. However, Morgan’s low effort was saved by the Haringey goalkeeper, Michael Acquah, after he had rushed out of his goal to meet the Fairlop Rovers centre-forward. Haringey would take the lead in the match soon after, however. A good through-ball pass from Haringey forward William Ademiyuli had found the run of Louis Maffia, in behind the Fairlop defence. The central midfielder surged forward into the centre of the Fairlop penalty area, before rounding their goalkeeper Louie Miracco, and then slotting the ball into the goal from close range, 1-0. 

After Ben Harris of Fairlop Rovers had hit a low effort wide of the Haringey goal from distance, a clever header from Haringey player Alexander Nicolaides, would find the forward run of Stephane Mgbada. The Haringey winger would take the ball into the Fairlop box before having an effort on goal which was saved by Miracco, at his near post. Following William Ademiyuli’s headed effort from the centre of the Fairlop penalty area (after he had met a good cross from Caleb Dennis) which had gone over the Fairlop goal, at the opposite end of the pitch Jack Kibblewhite would hit a low effort (from the edge of the home team’s box) wide of the goal. However, Haringey would get their second goal of the match, not long after. With William Ademiyuli finding the clever run of Alexander Nicolaides, in behind the Fairlop defence. The forward would get to the ball inside of the Fairlop box, before then rounding the goalkeeper with the ball, and finishing into the goal from close range, 2-0.

Haringey Borough were playing some great football, and they were now looking for that all important third goal of the game. After Alexander Nicolaides had flicked the ball onto William Ademiyuli in behind the Fairlop Rovers defence, the Haringey centre-forward would continue with the ball into the penalty area. However, Fairlop defender Oliver Palmer managed to make up the ground, to block the forward’s effort behind, at the goalkeeper’s near post. And then after Hari McCoy had hit an effort (following a quickly taken corner-kick) wide, across the face of the Fairlop goal, from inside of their penalty area, Haringey would extend their lead in the game a couple of minutes later. A good and skilful forward run from Alexander Nicolaides, would result in him finding the run of Louis Maffia, in behind the Fairlop defence, and he continued into the left side of the penalty area, before finishing low into the goal, 3-0.

Just before half-time an excellent slaloming forward run from Stephane Mgbada, to the edge of the Fairlop penalty area, would result in him winning a good free-kick. However, the same player’s curling resulting effort, went just wide of the Fairlop goal. Early on in the second half Haringey Borough substitute Leo Ruci would get to the ball following a corner-kick, and the midfielder’s resulting low effort on goal was saved and gathered by Louie Miracco. A couple of minutes later Alexander Nicolaides would get to a pass inside of the Fairlop penalty area, as he saw his resulting first time effort go wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. Haringey Borough right-back Caleb Dennis had been excellent so far in the match, and soon after that chance for Haringey, he would make a great sliding challenge just outside of the Haringey penalty area. After Dennis had made that excellent challenge on Ellis Morgan (he was through on goal) on the edge of the Haringey box, Mohammed Keita would hit a low effort wide of the Fairlop goal, from distance.

Fairlop Rovers had improved quite a lot during the second half of Friday’s match. They would get a goal back in the match, after a free-kick had been awarded to them, between 20 and 25 yards out from the Haringey goal. Joseph Cloake’s fine curling effort would excellently find the top left-hand corner of the goal, via the woodwork, and despite the best efforts of the goalkeeper, 3-1. Fairlop were now looking to get a second goal, as substitute Stefanos Ladoukakis hit a powerful effort wide from the edge of the Haringey penalty area, before Ellis Morgan had a low effort from inside of the Haringey box, which was gathered by Michael Acquah. Fairlop would also create the next chance of the game, with Sebastian Gardiner getting to Aodan Downer’s cross into the Haringey box, ahead of their goalkeeper. However, Gardiner’s headed effort went over the goal.

There weren’t many more chances, for either side during the latter stages of the match. However, after Fairlop player Stefanos Ladoukakis’ effort from the Haringey penalty area, had went over their goal, the away side would almost get a very late consolation goal. As Jack Kibblewhite’s free-kick delivery into the Haringey box was met by Sebastian Gardiner, whose header on goal was well pushed away by the impressive Michael Acquah. Haringey Borough Under 23’s definitely deserved their win on Friday. They played some excellent passing football, with the forwards and the midfield really linking up really well together. Fairlop Rovers improved during the second half, and you could tell that they’re a very well organised side who never give up, but Haringey are more than capable of beating any side in this league, on their day.

For Fairlop Rovers, I thought that their best players from the match were captain Ellis Simmonds, and also their goalscorer, Joseph Cloake. My overall player of the match (there were so many Haringey players that I could have chosen) was forward Alexander Nicolaides, who with his fine skill on the ball and movement off it, resulted in him scoring one goal and providing an assist, during his time on the pitch. However, Caleb Dennis, Stephane Mgbada and Louis Maffia, were just some of many superb performers on the night.