Non-League and Academy football writer

In this third round tie of the prestigious London Senior Cup, step 3 Southern League Premier Division South side Hanwell Town, faced step 5 Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division side Cockfosters, at The Powerday Stadium on Tuesday night. Hanwell Town are currently in 11th place in the Southern League Premier Division South, after 16 league matches played. Cockfosters FC are in second place in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division, after 16 league matches played. This promised to be a really good cup-tie in this famous old competition, and it was a very competitive game, which Hanwell Town won 2-0, thanks to two late goals. Started at a good pace, with Cockfosters competing really well during the opening stages of the game, it was the away side who created the first real chance of the match. As Antonio Michael got to the ball on the right flank, before taking it just inside of the Hanwell penalty area, before then passing it across to Ryan Hayes, on the edge of the box. Hayes’ low resulting effort on goal was however, well kept out by Trent Carter-Rogers, in the Hanwell goal.

Although there had been a good pace to the game during the opening stages of the first half, owing to two well organised defences, there weren’t many goalscoring opportunities. The next chance however, would arrive for Hanwell. As Nathan Boakye found Joe Wilson with a short pass, on the edge of the Cockfosters penalty area, and Wilson’s powerful effort on the half-volley went narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. Rod Orlando-Young would then hit a decent effort wide of the Cockfosters goal, from 23 yards out, before some fine defending from the impressive Jandir Da Cruz, would first of all see him do well to block an effort from Rod Orlando-Young, inside of the away team’s box, before he then won the ball decisively, in an important position soon after. Just before half-time, Ryan Hayes found Antonio Michael on the right-hand side of the Hanwell penalty area, but his powerful resulting effort was deflected behind off Harry Seabrook, for a corner-kick.

Impressive and hardworking Cockfosters player Yianni Goulandris would start the second half well, and soon after it had started, the winger would do well to slip the ball into the feet of Malik Nosike, who was in a bit of space on the right-hand side of the home side’s penalty area. However, Malik Nosike’s well taken low effort on goal was superbly tipped behind by Trent Carter-Rogers, for a corner-kick. Soon after Hanwell defender Harry Seabrook had done well really well to block an effort from inside of the Hanwell penalty area, at the opposite end of the pitch Rod Orlando-Young had a curling effort on the away team’s goal, which was held by goalkeeper Charlie Patmore. The game had opened up a bit now, even though both sides were still defending solidly. 

Influential Cockfosters player Malik Nosike would hit an effort over, after taking the ball to the edge of the home side’s penalty area, towards the latter stages of the game. But with not long to go in the match (in the 82nd minute) Hanwell would take the lead. With the impressive Joe Wilson turning on the ball on the edge of the Cockfosters penalty area, before curling a perfect effort on his left foot, into Charlie Patmore’s top right-hand corner of his goal, 1-0. Gavin Kelsey’s Cockfosters side would try their best to get back into the game, with Josh Grantham whipping a free-kick effort (it was taken close to the edge of the home side’s penalty area) over the Hanwell goal. However, the hosts would confirm their place in the next round of this competition, by scoring a second goal of the match, in second half stoppage time. The penalty was awarded after Ezekiel Coker had been fouled by Jandir Da Cruz, inside of away team’s penalty area. Ezekiel Coker stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 2-0.

The final effort of the game came from Cockfosters substitute Luca Gordon, who after meeting Adam Hastings’ short pass on the edge of the Hanwell penalty area, Gordon would hit a low effort wide, across the goal. Gavin Kelsey’s Cockfosters side went toe to toe with Hanwell Town, tonight, and they matched them throughout this contest. Hanwell Town defended very well against Cockfosters, and in the end their quality in the final third won them the game. However, I thought that the visitors were superb from start to finish, and they showed just why they are where they are in their respective league table. Gavin Kelsey, his coaching staff, and the players have been in magnificent form so far this season (I’ve always admired their style of football), and their performance against step 3 Hanwell Town, shows just what a great job that the club is doing so far this season.

Both sides defended so well in this cup-tie, and there were many contenders for my player of the match. However, in central midfield for Cockfosters, Malik Nosike had a fantastic game during his time on the pitch. He had a really good balance to his game, and he was elegant on the ball, but he also did some great work off the ball. Malik Nosike also came very close to giving the away side the lead during the second half.