Non-League and Academy football writer

On Saturday afternoon in the Premier Division of the Middlesex League, five matches took place. On the show pitch at Hackney Marshes, SL Benfica beat Camden & Islington United 2-1, in what was a good quality game of football between two very good sides in the Premier Division. Camden United would return to winning ways, with a 4-2 home league win over London Tigers, at New River Stadium. With goals from Arif Bala, Matheus Santana (he got a brace of goals), and Nathaniel Coote, helping the north London club to victory, as they continue their good start to the league season. Jolof Sports and Soccer Stars Fennecs recorded a 2-2 draw at the West Ham Memorial Ground, and over in west London (at Harrow Weald Recreation Ground), Sajad Mohammed’s Kodak (Harrow) side got their second league win of the season, with an emphatic 6-0 win over Pitshanger Dynamo. Kean Graver and Anthony Gomez (both players scored two goals), were among the goals for Kodak.

The final Premier Division fixture on Saturday came from Harefield United’s home ground, as Shepherds Bush and Kensington Dragons shared the point, as that game finished in a 2-2 draw. For Shepherds Bush, Shawnikki Clement-Peter and Zaid Al-Hussaini got the home side’s goals. The game that I was covering on my blog (you can read that match report on here, on my blog) was the Division One (East & Central) fixture between Hackney Wick Reserves and Alexandra Knights. This game was won 2-0 by Rory Adler’s Hackney Wick Reserves side, in what was a good and competitive game, with Hackney Wick Reserves continuing their good league form. At Paddington Recreation Ground (in the same division), Westminster & Kensington returned to winning ways, with a 3-0 league win over FC Wood Green. For the home side, Akindeinde Johnson, Kevin Kaci, and Walid Nsouli got their goals.

In the Division One (South & West), there were three games taking place. AFC Southall beat Feltham FC 6-1, at the Brunel University Sports Complex, with Burnett Basworth (he is now on five league goals for this season) and Hashim Ahmed among the goals for AFC Southall, on Saturday. At Brentham Club (in the same division) Ickenham FC won 3-0 away to Brentham, with the inform Matthew Dent (he got a brace of goals) and Jack Hourican getting the goals for Ickenham, as they recorded their second league win of the season. And finally, from the South & West Division, Sporting Duet Academy continued their perfect start to the league season, winning 4-1 at home to Hayes Town, as goals from William Puvanesan (he scored a hat-trick on Saturday) and Mohammed Hussain, helped them to another win.

In the Division One (North & West) Bessingby Park Rangers won 4-1 away to Celtic (1995) on Saturday. At London Tigers Sports Complex, Hillside AFC won 4-0 at home to Eagles Land Cricklewood XI. With Joshua Okello and Wesley Tobin both scoring a brace of goals for Hillside. And the final game from that division on Saturday, was between Portobello and Harrow Bhoys. Harrow Bhoys continued their excellent start to the season, with a 3-1 away win over Portobello. In the first round of the Anagram Records Trophy, there were three Middlesex League sides involved in that cup competition on Saturday. Premier Division side Hayes & Hillingdon won 3-1 away to step 8 side West London Athletic, and Larkspur Rovers lost 4-2 at home to a good Everett Rovers side.

There was a number of cup-ties taking place in the Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup, on Saturday afternoon. Apollo London continued their impressive start to the season with a 4-2 home win over Camden & Islington United Reserves, in round two of that competition. Also in round two, after 90 minutes Brent United and Stonewall Reserves were level (at 1-1). However, Brent United would advance to the next round, with a 6-5 win on penalties. LBS Lions would progress to the third round with their 100% start to the season still going strong, as they beat Brook House Reserves 6-1, at Ark Burlington Danes Academy. Another side who have started this season well, is Wood Lane. And the west London club would impressively win 4-2 (in round three) against a good FH Whistlers side, to advance to the next round of this competition.

Also in the Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup (round three) Ruislip Town won 5-2 against Soccer Stars Fennecs Ascenders at Brunel University Playing Fields. And finally, CB Hounslow & Abbots A won 6-3 at home to FC Marylebone, in round three of this competition, at Pole Hill Open Spaces. Next Saturday (I’ll be covering a Southern Amateur League match on Saturday) a match involving a side from the Premier Division of the Middlesex League is my game of the week, with that game being Jolof Sports versus former Middlesex League side, NW London (in the second round of the London Senior Trophy). This cup-tie at West Ham Memorial Ground will be a fantastic game of football, between an unbeaten Jolof Sports side, and a very good NW London side.