Non-League and Academy football writer

In the second round of the 2024/25 edition of the Fenton Cup, step 8 side Redbridge Community faced a team one level higher than them in the Essex Alliance Football League, in Walthamstow Reserves. Redbridge Community are currently in ninth place in the Premier Division (East) (step 8), whereas Walthamstow Reserves (step 7) are in 11th place in the Senior Division. This cup-tie was played at Lakeside Sports Ground (where Redbridge Community play their home games), and it was won 4-3 by Walthamstow Reserves, in what was a really competitive cup game. Walthamstow started this game well, in the opening minutes of the game. After Joshua Assouman had volleyed over a good chance from a corner-kick delivery to the front of the Redbridge Community goal, Jason Braune had a low effort from the right-hand side of the home team’s box, which was gathered by the Redbridge Community goalkeeper, Jay Osborne. 

Despite initially starting the game at a good pace, Walthamstow would concede an early goal. It was a good move from Redbridge Community, which resulted in their number 10 threading a good through-ball pass through to the number 19, who powerfully found the back of the Walthamstow goal, from the right-hand side of their penalty area, 1-0. Eny Okoro’s Walthamstow side would respond very soon after, however. With Zidane Bolessa getting to a loose pass out of defence from Redbridge, on the edge of their penalty area. Bolessa would finish emphatically off the underside of Osborne’s crossbar with an unstoppable effort, 1-1. Redbridge Community would start to cause problems for the Walthamstow defence in the resulting minutes after the game had restarted. After the Redbridge Community number 11 had turned with the ball, he would hit an effort on the Walthamstow goal (from 25 yards out), which was gathered by Walthamstow goalkeeper Timi Akande.

A couple of minutes after his first effort of the game, the same Redbridge Community player would hit two efforts wide of the away team’s goal, after receiving the ball on the right-hand side of their penalty area twice, in quick succession. And Redbridge Community then came ever so close to regaining the lead in the game, as their number 9 had a low effort from the centre of the Walthamstow box, be saved really well low down by Akande, with the Redbridge Community number 11 then hitting the ball against the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, from close range. The game was quite open, but after Redbridge Community’s number 10 had hit a free-kick effort (from the edge of the Walthamstow penalty area), against the wall, Walthamstow would take the lead for the first time in the game.

Walthamstow’s second goal of the game saw some good buildup play in the process, with Joshua Assouman passing the ball on the left-hand side of the Redbridge box, to Matteo Milazzo, after he had made a good forward run. And Matteo Milazzo would finish low into the goal, 1-2. However, once again the step 8 side (Redbridge Community) played their football fearlessly. Following their number 8’s good lofted forward pass to number 9, on the right-hand side of the Walthamstow box, his powerful effort on goal was well kept out by Akande. Just before the referee had sounded his whistle for half-time, Walthamstow player Joshua Assouman would volley an effort over the Redbridge goal, following a good corner-kick delivery to the back post.

Walthamstow Reserves started the second half with a lot more energy, and they were more aggressive in their pressing. They were rewarded for the intensity in which they played the game at, as they got two early goals in the second half. Walthamstow’s first goal of the second half saw Kemar Bello get in behind the Redbridge defence, to a bouncing ball inside of their penalty area. Bello would then lob the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper and into the goal with a fine finish, 1-3. And then soon after that goal, Joshua Assouman would win the ball in midfield after stepping to the ball. He would then impressively surge forward with the ball at pace, into the Redbridge Community penalty area before assessing his options and laying the ball off to Jason Braune, who finished into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-4. The home side would respond well however, and following a through-ball pass to a Redbridge Community forward, he would travel forward with the ball into the Walthamstow box, before rounding the goalkeeper and finishing low into the goal, 2-4.

Callum Fisher had been substituted on during the second half for Walthamstow Reserves, and he was impressing. Fisher would make a clever pass across to Ikenna Okoro, on the edge of the Redbridge Community penalty area, whose powerful effort went just wide of Jay Osborne’s goal. Redbridge Community would really push Walthamstow during the final minutes of the game. After their impressive number 11 had hit an effort wide of the Walthamstow goal, following a pass to the edge of their penalty area, the hardworking and determined home side would get a late goal. 15’s good free-kick delivery from the half-way line eventually came to the Redbridge Community number 20, inside the centre of the Walthamstow penalty area, from where he finished low into the goal, 3-4. The referee would bring this excellent and very competitive cup game to an end, a couple of minutes later.

Redbridge Community gave a really good account of themselves on the pitch on Saturday, against a very good side at step 7, in Walthamstow Reserves. However, Eny Okoro’s Walthamstow side got that important win, to progress to the third round of the Fenton Cup, but it was a really good game to report on. With two assists to his name and a fine performance in the midfield area of the pitch, Walthamstow Reserves player Joshua Assouman was my player of the match. Joshua Assouman was good on the ball, and he used the ball well, going forward with it well on occasions. And his assist for Jason Braune’s goal was very good.