Non-League and Academy football writer

I was at the Masher Brothers Community Stadium on Monday night, for this SCEFL Division One fixture between Sporting Club Thamesmead and Soul Tower Hamlets. Sporting Club Thamesmead started this league fixture in 13th place in the league standings, after six matches played. Soul Tower Hamlets started this match in eighth place in the table, after five matches played. However, Soul Tower Hamlets are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season. This step 6 match finished 0-0. Sporting Club Thamesmead would start Monday’s match better than the away team, in my opinion. After the home side had thought that a couple of decisions hadn’t gone their way during the early stages of the match, Cameron MacMillan would head an effort wide of the Soul Tower Hamlets goal, following a long throw-in, into their penalty area.

It was a first half of not very many goalscoring chances. However, around the midway point of the first half, Sporting Club Thamesmead centre-forward Steve Karkari would get to a short pass, in behind the away side’s defence. On the right-hand side of the penalty area, Steve Karkari was met by the outrushing Ali Ozcelik (goalkeeper), who saved his low effort well, before the ball was then cleared away. After a free-kick had been awarded right on the edge of the Sporting Club Thamesmead penalty area, Ashaan Siddik would hit a powerful side-footed effort on goal, which was punched clear by the goalkeeper, Ryan McCourt. And towards the end of the first half, after Ryan Penton had hit a low effort (from distance) wide of the Soul Tower Hamlets goal, following a corner-kick (into the centre of the box) soon after, Sporting Club Thamesmead would go close to taking the lead. However, following a good delivery into the box, the ball would come to Bachi Bari, whose low effort was saved by Ali Ozcelik. 

During the early stages of the second half of the match, and after Sporting Club Thamesmead substitute Raphael President had passed the ball to Cameron MacMillan, on the left hand-side of the away team’s box, Macmillan was fouled by Ben Byrne. This resulted in the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Up stepped Steve Karkari, whose effort was met and gathered really well to his left, by goalkeeper Ali Ozcelik, who saved his effort on goal. Following a corner-kick for the home side, the ball would come to Cameron MacMillan, on the right-hand side of the Soul Tower Hamlets penalty area. However, MacMillan’s volleyed effort went into the side-netting of the goal. Raphael President would then hit an effort over from the edge of the away team’s penalty area, before Soul Tower Hamlets came very close to taking the lead. As following a good run down the left flank from Dillon Woods, the ball was worked out to Timothy Monsheju, on the edge of the home team’s penalty area. And Timothy Monsheju’s resulting effort went just over the goal.

After a bit of a pause in the match because of some of the floodlights going out, the game would resume. And following Edward Dyer’s powerful effort from the edge of the Soul Tower Hamlets box, which was well pushed away by Ali Ozcelik, Charlie Dale would then hit an effort wide (on the bounce) some 20 yards out from goal. However, Soul Tower Hamlets would finish the game well. After Timothy Monsheju’s header had looped over at the near post of the Sportng Club Thamesmead goal, following a well delivered corner-kick, Terry Thomas’ side would create another chance. As this time Dillon Woods’ pass down the left flank would find the run of substitute, Shareef Ali, who would continue forward at pace, into the home side’s penalty area. However, Shareef Ali was met by the Sporting Club Thamesmead goalkeeper, Ryan McCourt, who deflected behind his low effort on goal.

During the very late stages of this match, Nick Bell would see his effort (following a clearance to the edge of the home team’s box), be excellently deflected behind, off a defender on the goal-line. And then in what were the final two chances of the game and following some good work from Ashaan Siddik, to win a corner-kick, Soul Tower Hamlets would have two fine efforts on goal, that were excellently blocked by defenders, inside of the box. This was a game between what seemed like two well organised teams. Sporting Club Thamesmead looked for a lot of the game, like the more likely side to score a goal. However, the away team from east London, were well structured and difficult to break down, with captain Ben Byrne and Louie Maxwell, doing very well in central defence.

For Sporting Club Thamesmead, I thought that Cameron MacMillan was their best player in this game. He showed some impressive skill on the ball, worked hard off it and he also won the penalty for the home side. Soul Tower Hamlets goalkeeper Ali Ozcelik, was my player of the match on Monday. He made some good and important saves, including that really fine save from the penalty which was awarded to the home side, but his starting position and reading of the game were admirable.