Non-League and Academy football writer

Looking to make it three wins from four league matches, FC Baresi faced St Margaretsbury, at Wodson Park on Wednesday night. Fc Baresi started this Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture in 17th place in the league standings, after eight league matches played. St Margaretsbury started this game in 20th place in the league table, after eight matches played, but they had won the reverse fixture with FC Baresi, earlier on in the season. This step 6 match, however, was won 5-1 by FC Baresi. It was a lively first half of football, with plenty of goalscoring chances. Early on in the match, FC Baresi player Isioma Richard went on a surging forward run, inside from the right flank, before passing the ball to Qusay Mohammed, on the edge of the St Margaretsbury penalty area. However, his effort went over Albie Marsden’s goal.

It had been a fairly open start to this game, and after St Margaretsbury player Blesson Asekolenga had hit a powerful effort on goal (from more than 20 yards out) which was held by Harvey Simson, FC Baresi would go forward with the ball and create a great chance. Kishawn James had chased after a long forward ball, and after a bit of miscommunication between Albie Marsden and a defender, he managed to get to the ball. He would continue forward before squaring the ball for Teyon Weston, but he was unable to connect with the ball properly from a couple of yards out from goal, as his first time effort went wide of the goal. The chances continued to be created for both sides. After Joshua Mata had got to a cross inside of the Baresi penalty area, his resulting low effort on goal was pushed behind by Simson. And then from the resulting corner-kick, Jamie Pitt’s powerful effort from inside of the box was well pushed behind, at his near post by Simson.

In the latest chance for St Margaretsbury, Arnold Kanyagia’s header from close range (following a corner-kick into the box) was held relatively comfortably by Simson. Following a ball in behind the away side’s defence, Teyon Weston would get to the ball inside of the penalty area. However, Weston’s resulting lofted error over the outrushing goalkeeper, went narrowly wide of the goal. Harvey Simson was called into action once again, soon after, in the FC Baresi goal, this time doing well to save Roland Dadzie’s effort (he was through on goal, inside of the box). However, FC Baresi would take the lead in the match, just before half-time. After Glody Kalunda had won the ball well in midfield, he took the ball forward towards the edge of the St Margaretsbury box, before passing the ball to Kishawn James on the right-hand side of their penalty area. James would then calmly lift the ball over the outrushing Albie Marsden, and into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0.

The final chance of the first half also came the way of the home side, as Richard went on an outstanding, surging run forward with the ball, at real pace. He would eventually pass the ball to James inside of the away side’s goal, before James passed the ball to Murat Karagul, whose looping effort clipped the crossbar, before being cleared away. Early on in the second half, Jamie Pitt (he was in a bit of space) hit an effort wide of the Baresi goal from distance. Soon after that effort FC Baresi would go on to create their first goalscoring chance of the second half. Isioma Richard again went forward with the ball down the right flank. His low delivery into the St Margaretsbury box was met by the sliding Murat Karagul, whose effort went over the goal. FC Baresi would continue to play positive football, and shortly after Freddie Wilkinson’s free-kick effort (from 25 yards out) had gone over Simson’s goal, the home side would get their second goal of the game.

The impressive Junior Appiah’s lofted ball found Teyon Weston, on the right-hand side of the St Margaretsbury penalty area. Marsden had rushed out of his goal to meet the ball, but the inform Baresi forward would cleverly and calmly finish well into the goal, 2-0. Shortly after Weston had hit an effort (on the bounce) wide of the  away team’s goal, from inside of their penalty area, the same FC Baresi player would go onto extend their lead in the game, soon after. Kishawn James’ first time pass to Teyon Weston inside of the centre of the St Margaretsbury penalty area, was met by the forward, whose quickly and well taken effort on goal found the right-hand corner of the goal in clinical fashion, 3-0. However, this game hadn’t been won just yet by the home side, as a flurry of chances in quick succession for St Margaretsbury followed, inside of the home team’s box, would go to show. With Simson making a couple of top saves from close range, before Jerrell Cato would then do superbly well to clear a low effort off the goal-line.

St Margaretsbury did manage to get a goal back in the game, during the second half. With Elijah Grant heading home from inside the centre of the home team’s penalty area, after meeting Alfie Wood’s free-kick delivery into the box, 3-1. However, the home side would respond swiftly to restore their three goal lead. As Kishawn James’ low cross into the St Margaretsbury box (from the right flank), was unfortunately turned into the goal by a defender, as he had attempted to clear it away, 4-1. Kishawn James was unfortunate not to have been involved in another goal, soon after. As following a bit of miscommunication between the St Margaretsbury goalkeeper and a defender, it allowed James to get to the ball inside of the penalty area. However, Albie Marsden recovered fantastically well, to make a quality save low down, to push the ball away. 

Another well worked move from Baresi would result in them going close to getting their fifth goal of the game. However, Kishawn James’ first time effort after meeting Murat Karagul’s low cross into the penalty area, would go narrowly wide of the goal. Both goalkeeper’s would save one more effort on goal, in their respective penalty areas, before the goal of the night arrived shortly before the end of the match. FC Baresi substitute Mathew Newman would cut inside with the ball from the left flank, before hitting an unstoppable effort (from around 25 yards out), which had the power, pace and movement needed to find the goal, via the underside of the crossbar, 5-1.

FC Baresi deserved to win this game, but at crucial moments in the game their goalkeeper, Harvey Simson, would make some hugely important saves. However, FC Baresi played their football to really good effect once again, as they recorded successive wins for the first time this season. Isioma Richard, Glody Kalunda, Kishawn James and Murat Karagul, were just some of the FC Baresi players who put in tremendous performances on Wednesday, and they really deserve their plaudits. The scorer of two well taken goals, Teyon Weston showed real character in this game. After having missed a really good goalscoring opportunity a 0-0, the FC Baresi forward continued to press really well and work hard, and he was really clinical in front of goal during the second half. Teyon is a very skilful player with great movement off the ball, and he continues to impress for FC Baresi. He was my player of the match against St Margaretsbury.