Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at the Jack Carter Centre (The Drive), for what promised to be a good Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division match, between Frenford Development and newly promoted side Philip United, on Tuesday night. Unbeaten in the league after three matches played, and going into this league fixture with Philip United in second place in the league, Frenford Development faced a Philip United side who had already won two of their first three league games at step 7. This entertaining match was won 4-3 by Frenford Development. The game got off to a brilliant start for Frenford Development, as they took a very lead in the game, after a free-kick was awarded to them on the edge of the Philip United penalty area. Bilal Hussain’s good lofted ball into the box (from the left-hand edge of the penalty area) was met by Reon Murray-Whyte, at the back post. And the Frenford player would volley the ball well, into the goal, 1-0.

Philip United would try to respond to going behind so early on in the first half. Following Dee Okojie’s pass to John Quissua on the left-hand side of the Frenford box, the inform winger would hit a low effort into the side-netting of the goal. And then a couple of minutes later, Phillip United player Raj Palit managed to get to the ball on the edge of the Frenford penalty area, before hitting a low effort on goal which was gathered by the Frenford goalkeeper, Mustapha Ghanem. Then at the other end of the pitch (a couple of minutes later), Frenford player Louie Handley had hit a low effort from the edge of the away team’s box, which was saved by Kayode Oduyemi. The chances continued to be created in this fast paced game, and shortly after John Quissua’s fine Marseille turn allowed him the space to advance forward down the left flank, he would then make a really good through-ball pass to Bryan Mbenza, who had made a run in behind the Frenford defence. However, Bryan Mbenza’s low effort from the edge of the home side’s box, went just wide of the goal.

Philip United were by this stage in the first half, the better team. After Raj Palit had turned well with the ball on the right-hand side of the Frenford box, he would have a low effort on goal which was saved by Mustapha Ghanem. And then, shortly after Tamas Retyi had whipped the ball over from a difficult angle on the edge of the Frenford box, Philip United would get an equalising goal. A good, long ball forward from defence, found the run of John Quissua on the edge of the Frenford box. John Quissua was met by the goalkeeper, however. And his clearance rebounded off the Philip United player and into the penalty area, with Quissua then tapping the ball into the goal from a couple of yards out, 1-1.

After Tamas Retyi’s cross into the Frenford penalty area had been headed away to Dee Okojie on the edge of the box, the Philip United player’s resulting effort on the bounce was saved and held by Mustapha Ghanem. The final chance of the first half was created by Frenford. As the unmarked Jordan McLaughlin headed over from inside of the Philip United box, following a corner-kick delivery to the back post. The first chance of the second half that had been created, was created by Philip United. After the visiting side had won the ball, Dee Okojie would pass the ball across to John Quissua, on the left-hand side of the Frenford penalty area. John Quissua would lift the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, but his lofted effort went over the goal.

Frenford Development would respond really well to Philip United having created that fine chance. And Wayne Phillips’ side would regain their lead, early on in the second half. Following a lofted ball (from the right flank) into the centre of the Philip United box, there was a bit of a scramble, as Frenford tried to get the ball over the goal-line. However, after the ball had been cleared as far away as Bilal Hussain in the centre of the box, the midfielder would clinically find the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-1. Frenford Development were managing the game well, at this stage of the second half. A lofted forward ball from Louie Handley, was met by Bilal Hussain in the centre of the Philip United penalty area. His headed effort came down for Damilola Olaiya, whose resulting effort was well saved from the brave Kayode Oduyemi.

There was to be a further twist in this eventful game, as Philip United equalised once again, not long at all after Frenford had regained their lead in the match, and after Tochukwu Okoko had hit an effort over from distance. Raj Palit’s lofted ball (from the left-hand side of the pitch) was met by the run of David Agboola, who had ghosted in behind the Frenford defence and then nodded the ball past the goalkeeper from close range and into the goal, 2-2. Frenford Development would respond superbly well as a team, to regain their lead for a third time in this match. After substitute Faruk Abdullahi had pressed/chased down the ball on the left-hand side of the away side’s box after having lost control of the ball, the Frenford player would manage to block the goalkeeper’s clearance. With the ball rebounding to another substitute at the right-hand post (Amal Mujuzi), from where Amal Mujuzi had managed to finish into the goal from close range, 3-2.

A couple of minutes after Bryan Mbenza’s low effort which went wide of the Frenford goal, from the edge of the penalty area, Frenford would extend their lead further. Some excellent work from Bilal Hussain, to win the ball on the right flank, would result in him skilfully getting beyond two Phillip United players, before then progressing the ball into the penalty area. He still had a lot of work to do, but Hussain showed good ball control on the byline, before then picking out Tyler Shillingford, in the centre of the penalty area. It was from there that the influential Frenford substitute would finish into the Philip United goal, with a good first time finish. Philip United would score their third goal of the game, very late on. Following a good chance for Frenford at the opposite end of the pitch, Philip United would go forward with the ball. Dee Okojie took the ball to the right-hand side of the Frenford penalty area. His low, resulting effort was parried by Mustapha Ghanem, with Caleb Roberts on hand to finish into the goal from close range, 4-3.

Deep into second half stoppage time, Philip United would create one final chance. As John Quissua hit a low effort wide of the Frenford goal, from the edge of their penalty area. This was another great match in what is a great step 7 league. Philip United are new to this division, but they are a very good side. However, Frenford Development managed this game, particularly in the second half, really well. They now move up to top place in the league table, after four games played. With one goal and two fine assists, influential Frenford Development player Bilal Hussain was my player of the match on Tuesday night. Starting out in the CAM position and later moving out wide, Bilal Hussain was very clever in his play, both on and off the ball. He worked hard off the ball, both going forward and at tracking back, and his assist for that all important fourth Frenford goal, was superb. He really epitomised how determined and also how clever Frenford Development were, during this game. The home side were very clinical in front of goal, but this was a really impressive team performance from them.

For Philip United, I thought that John Quissua, Raj Palit, Kayode Oduyemi and Dee Okojie, were in my opinion some of their most influential/impressive performers on Tuesday.