Non-League and Academy football writer

I was at the Jack Carter Centre (The Drive) again on Wednesday night, this time for an Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixture between Chadwell Heath Spartans and AS Rapid Londra. Chadwell Heath Spartans had won one and lost two of their opening three league matches of the 2024/25 season. AS Rapid Londra had also won one and lost two of their opening three league matches of this season. This game was won 5-1 by Chadwell Heath Spartans, in what was a very professional performance from the home side. Chadwell Heath Spartans started this match well, creating a number of early chances. After Thomas Callagher’s lofted forward pass had found Jaiden Buntin, on the edge of the Rapid Londra box, the winger would hit an effort (on the bounce) which was gathered by the Rapid Londra goalkeeper, Danut Fundulea. A couple of minutes later, player-manager Aaron Hunwicks’ Chadwell Heath Spartans side would create another chance. As Joseph Butcher had travelled with the ball to the edge of the away side’s penalty area, before then having a low effort on goal, which was gathered by Danut Fundulea.

Some good, quick feet from Joe Robb (down the right-hand side of the Rapid Londra box) would result in the defender hitting a low effort (via a deflection) just wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. However, completely against the run of play (a couple of minutes later) Rapid Londra took the lead in the match. As following a corner-kick for the away side, a headed clearance came to Ionut Labunt on the edge of the Spartans’ penalty area, and his resulting first time effort on the bounce, would go into the roof of the goal, 0-1. Chadwell Heath Spartans would respond well to going behind in the match, and shortly after Jason Thanni had an effort parried by Fundulea, from inside of the Rapid Londra box, the home side would get an equalising goal. After a free-kick had been awarded to the Spartans on the left flank in the away side’s final third, Aaron Hunwicks would elect to take it. Hunwicks’ well delivered ball into the centre of the penalty area, was headed down towards Thomas Callagher, who was in a bit of space in front of the goal. And Callagher would then finish calmly into the goal from close range, 1-1.

After Bogdan Toana had hit a powerful effort (on the bounce) from the edge of the Spartans’ box, wide of their goal, the home side would go very close to taking the lead in the game, for the first time. Aaron Hunwicks had passed the ball to Jaiden Buntin on the right-hand side of the Rapid Londra box, with the Chadwell Heath Spartans player’s powerful resulting low effort being saved by Fundulea, with the ball then coming to Jamie Pooley. However, Jamie Pooley’s effort on the follow-up from close range, was really well deflected over, off the goalkeeper. It was from that resulting corner-kick that the home side would take the lead. As Joseph Butcher’s well delivered ball into the centre of the Rapid Londra box, was met by James Hanly, who powered a header home, into the goal, 2-1.

The Spartans would finish the first half really well. The impressive Brandon Johnson would hit a powerful effort just wide of the Rapid Londra goal, after receiving a pass on the edge of their box. And then after a really good move had resulted in Jamie Pooley finding Brandon Johnson on the left side of the Rapid Londra penalty area. Johnson would quickly shift the ball across to Jason Thanni, whose low effort would go wide of the goal. Just before half-time Chadwell Heath Spartans would get their third goal of the game. Some nice skill/ball control on the right-hand side of the away team’s box from Jaiden Buntin, would result in him passing the ball to Jason Thanni. His pass/effort found Brandon Johnson in the centre of the box, who would finish emphatically into the goal, 3-1. The Spartans would start the second half in a similar fashion to how they had finished the first half.

Joseph Butcher’s low cross towards Jaiden Buntin on the right-hand side of the Rapid Londra penalty area, would result in him hitting an effort into the side-netting, on the stretch. A great block from Joseph Butcher (inside of the home team’s box) followed, at the other end of the pitch, not long before the Spartans had extended their lead further in the match. Joe Robb’s lofted forward ball had found the run of Brandon Johnson, just inside of the Rapid Londra penalty area. He was however, met by Danut Fundulea. However, the goalkeeper’s clearance would rebound off Johnson, who would then manage to get to the ball again, and just direct it low into the goal, 4-1. A well worked passing move from the away side almost resulted in them getting a goal back in the game. However, James Hanly would superbly clear Federico Ardei’s low effort on goal, off the goal-line.

Chadwell Heath Spartans would score their fifth goal of the game, soon after that good chance for Rapid Londra. A looping pass from the left from substitute Ryan O’Connell, would find Billy Gipp, on the right-hand side of the away side’s penalty area. From there Billy Gipp would finish low into the goal, underneath the goalkeeper, 5-1. Two efforts from Rapid Londra (in quick succession) would go wide of the Chadwell Heath Spartans goal, before Ionut Volovaci had hit a low effort on goal, from the edge of the Spartans’ penalty area, but it was saved by goalkeeper Lorenzo Coppello. Two more efforts (one for either side) would follow, with the most notable effort being from Jason Thanni, who had hit a decent outside of the boot effort over from distance. You really couldn’t fault this really good team performance from Chadwell Heath Spartans, against Rapid Londra. They were very well organised, and everyone performed their respective roles really well throughout the game.

Right-sided Chadwell Heath Spartans central defender James Hanly, was (in my opinion) superb throughout Tuesday’s match. Hanly worked really well alongside Aaron Hunwicks (he was also very good, and he would lead the team really well), and the defender read the game really effectively. The whole of the Spartans defence were excellent, and as well as making a goal saving clearance, and scoring a goal, James Hanley was just really solid defensively alongside Aaron Hunwicks, and he was therefore my player of the match. Also, a special mention for centre-forward Brandon Johnson, who would lead the line really well against Rapid Londra, and he scored two good goals.