Non-League and Academy football writer

This local derby match in the Middlesex County Football League Division One (East & Central), was between north London clubs Alexandra Knights, and FC Wood Green. This step 8 fixture took place at Edmonton County School, on Saturday afternoon, with the home side, Alexandra Knights, starting this game in seventh place in the league standings, after six league matches played. FC Wood Green started this match in tenth place in the league, after seven league matches played. This match was won 5-0 by FC Wood Green, who incredibly scored five goals early on in the second half, during an excellent ten to 15 minute spell in the game. Played on a very rainy and windy afternoon in north London, the pace that this game was played at right from the very start, was very good. 

The first effort of the game came from Alexandra Knights defender David Samuel Rojas, who after travelling forward with the ball for a bit, he would hit an effort over the FC Wood Green goal, from distance. A good move from the visiting side would follow, a couple of minutes later. As Aidan Bowstead passed the ball to Jason Marfan, on the right-hand side of the Alexandra Knights’ penalty area, but defender Johan Ahipeaud would manage to block behind his effort on goal, just wide of the goalkeeper’s near post. Kristian Tanackovic would then glance a header wide of the Alexandra Knights goal (inside of their penalty area), after having met Zak Bowstead’s free-kick delivery from the right flank, before the home side went close to taking the lead. Filippo Gin would turn on the ball, before passing it to Triratana Sanguanbun, right on the edge of the FC Wood Green penalty area. And Sanguanbun’s resulting low effort went just wide of goalkeeper Emerson Butcher’s right-hand post.

After going close to taking the lead through Triratana Sanguanbun, Alexandra Knights player Dayshawn Watson-Obi would go forward with the ball down the left flank, as he showed good pace and skill with the ball at his feet, before then cutting inside with the ball and whipping a fine effort on goal. However, the FC Wood Green goalkeeper (Emerson Butcher) did well just to push behind Watson-Obi’s effort at his left-hand post. Romario Samuel Yamker Asenso would then see his deflected effort go just over Emerson Butcher’s goal, from the edge of the FC Wood Green box, before (at the opposite end of the pitch) FC Wood Green player-manager Nabeel Hashim would hit a powerful effort wide of the Alexandra Knights goal, from the edge of their penalty area.

Soon after an FC Wood Green player had headed an effort wide from a corner-kick delivery into the home team’s box, the Alexandra Knights players were appealing for a red card to be shown to FC Wood Green defender Sean Lindo. After the FC Wood Green defender had been shown a yellow card for a strong challenge on an Alexandra Knights player, but what Alexandra Knights were claiming, was that he had been the last man when he had made the challenge. Late on in the first half, Romario Samuel Yamker Asenso would have a volleyed effort (following a free-kick into the FC Wood Green box) saved and gathered by Emerson Butcher, before Aidan Bowstead would then hit an effort on the Alexandra Knights goal, after reaching the ball some 25 yards out. However, his powerful effort on goal was saved by Marko Cancar.

FC Wood Green would start the second half of this match at a quite incredible pace/intensity. And after Alexandra Knights defender Matteo Sbarrella’s attempted clearance following a good low cross into the penalty area, which had to be well kept out of the goal by Marko Cancar, Sbarrella would then make a superb block, with Jason Marfan then hitting an effort into the side-netting. However, the first goal of the game would arrive from an FC Wood Green counter, up the pitch. With Aidan Bowstead going forward with the ball through the middle of the pitch, in Alexandra Knight’s half. Bowstead would then shift the ball out to FC Wood Green substitute Ryan Fellowes, on the left flank. Fellowes would then take the ball across, slightly, onto his right foot and from the edge of the Alexandra Knights penalty area Ryan Fellowes would slide a fine effort into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 0-1.

Soon after having taken the lead from that well worked opening goal of the game, FC Wood Green would be awarded a penalty by the referee, following a foul on the right-hand side of the Alexandra Knights penalty area. Aidan Bowstead would confidently step up to find the right-hand corner of the goal, with the goalkeeper diving the other way, 0-2. Things got even better for the visiting side, whose very impressive intensity, fast passing game, and some superb football, would make it 3-0 very soon after having made it 2-0. As Kristian Tanackovic received the ball right on the edge of the home side’s penalty area, before curling an excellent (quickly taken) effort high into the goal, leaving the goalkeeper wirh no chance of saving it, 0-3.

The increased pace/tempo of the visitors’ play during the opening stages of the second half was really making it difficult for the home side. After Filippo Gin had an effort from the edge of the FC Wood Green box, which was gathered by Emerson Butcher, a brilliant, fast paced passing move would follow from the away side. As Ryan Fellowes’ well delivered cross from the left flank, was met by the impressive Jason Marfan, towards the back post, inside of the Alexandra Knights penalty area. Jason Marfan’s clever volleyed effort would go beyond Marko Cancar and low into the goal (Naqeeb Hashim did follow through on the goal-line, but I don’t believe that he tapped the ball into the goal), 0-4. This excellent spell (all five goals were scored in around a 15 minute spell in the game) in the game from FC Wood Green would see them score a fifth and final goal, and what a brilliant goal that it was from Aidan Bowstead. Aidan Bowstead would receive the ball on the bounce, around 20 yards out from Marko Cancar’s goal, before hitting a stunning and simply unstoppable effort into the top right-hand corner of the goal, 0-5.

As the second half of this game progressed, the chances continued to arrive, for both sides. After Naqeeb Hashim’s powerful effort from the edge of the Alexandra Knights box went narrowly wide of Marko Cancar’s left-hand post, two efforts in quick succession on the edge of the FC Wood Green box (from Uchenna Valentine Ezeoke and then Romario Samuel Yamker Asenso) went wide of Emerson Butcher’s goal. A great forward run through the middle of the pitch from Aidan Bowstead would follow, with the FC Wood Green CAM continuing towards the edge of the home team’s penalty area, before hitting an effort over the goal. And then Kristian Tanackovic would hit a low effort from the edge of the Alexandra Knights penalty area, which was gathered by Marko Cancar. Three very late efforts on the FC Wood Green goal would be well kept out by the impressive Emerson Butcher (including a one versus one inside of his penalty area), as Alexandra Knights showed real determination right until the very end of the game.

Both sides played good football during this match on Saturday, and at a good intensity. I thought that the first half of the match was an even affair, although FC Wood Green were absolutely outstanding during the second half. Nabeel Hashim’s side started the second half superbly, with those five quick goals winning them the game in real style (this was their first first league win of the season), against an Alexandra Knights side who didn’t even play badly, it was just that FC Wood Green were outstanding in their all-round play during the second half. FC Wood Green’s number ten, Aidan Bowstead, was my player of the match on Saturday afternoon. The midfielder was impressive in all that he did in the forward areas of the pitch, and with the ball at his feet. He also scored two well taken goals (his second goal of the game was fantastic) and so he was deservedly my player of the match. However, highly skilful and unpredictable young winger Jason Marfan had a very good game, and he was excellent in the forward areas of the pitch, impressing also with his movement off the ball.

Finally, special mentions for FC Wood Green goalkeeper Emerson Butcher, who made some very good and important saves, player-manager Nabeel Hashim, who did a good job in midfield, and also second half substitute Ryan Fellowes, who made a good impression on the game in the forward areas of the pitch.