Non-League and Academy football writer

OIR FC faced Cockfosters Reserves on Wednesday night, in a Herts Senior County League Premier Division fixture, at The Stewart Edwards Stadium. OIR started this game in 12th place in the league table, after 17 matches played. Cockfosters Reserves started this game in eighth place in the table, after 19 matches played. This game would finish 3-1 to Cockfosters Reserves. During the opening minutes of this game, a penalty would be awarded to the away side, Cockfosters, after Umut Taycur had been deemed by the referee to have fouled Junior Moses, following a lofted ball which fell just inside of the OIR penalty area. Cockfosters’ captain, Luke Ward, would take the resulting penalty, and he would powerfully find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal from the penalty spot, 0-1. Soon after having taken the lead in the game, a long throw-in from out on the right flank by Cockfosters player Matt Shaw, would find Moses Carvalho, inside the centre of the OIR box, but Carvalho’s headed effort on goal was gathered by the OIR goalkeeper, Ali Dogan.

Cockfosters were creating more chances than the home side, as the first half of this match progressed. After Thomas Jennings had won the ball close to the edge of the OIR penalty area, he would pass the ball to Joe Ashton, whose powerful first time effort went wide of the goal. And then a couple of minutes later, Jennings would lay the ball off to Junior Moses, right on the edge of the home team’s box, with his first time effort going over the goal. OIR had been defending there penalty area well, but they were looking to create more chances, in and around the away team’s penalty area. Following a forward run down the left flank by Junior Moses, the Cockfosters full-back would shift the ball across to Thomas Jennings, whose low effort on goal from 20 yards out was gathered by Ali Dogan. 

Towards the end of the first half OIR defender Umut Taycur would make an important clearance ahead of Jennings, following a cross towards the back post, inside of OIR’s box. And then just before half-time, OIR would draw level. Some good work with the ball from Said Yusuf on the left flank, would see him the work the ball inside, before playing a fine pass across the ground, to AbdulWahab Mahamud, just inside of the away team’s penalty area. His resulting powerful effort would go past Cockfosters goalkeeper Charlie Mann, at his near post, 1-1. OIR would start the second half well. Following a corner-kick, a short pass would be played through to Abdirhaman Ahmed, down the left-hand side of the Cockfosters penalty area. His powerful resulting effort on goal was well tipped away by Charlie Mann, however.

Following some good last ditch defending inside of the OIR penalty area to stop Cockfosters from regaining the lead, OIR would then go forward with the ball well. With Said Yusuf getting to a pass, on the edge of the Cockfosters penalty area. His low side-footed effort would go narrowly wide of Charlie Mann’s left-hand post. However, a couple of minutes later, the game would change completely, with a penalty being awarded to Cockfosters, as well as a red card being shown to an OIR player. The move would start with Owen Cooper, whose pass across from the right flank, would find Junior Moses in space, on the left-hand side of the OIR penalty area. Moses’ powerful first time effort hit Umut Taycur, with the referee immediately pointing to the penalty spot, deeming the OIR defender to have deliberately handled the ball, and he was shown a straight red card. For the second time in this  game, Luke Ward stepped up to take a penalty. This time his effort found the middle of the goal, with the OIR goalkeeper diving to his left, 1-2.

Cockfosters would really make it difficult for OIR to build out from defence, now. Shortly after Ali Dogan had saved well at his near post from Owen Cooper’s low and powerful effort from the left-hand side of the OIR box, Cockfosters would create a further good chance. The impressive Cory Ugbomah’s low cross from the right flank, would find Owen Cooper, at the goalkeeper’s near post, but Ali Dogan would make a good save. The ball would then come to Joe Ashton, some 20 yards out from goal, and his powerful first time effort went narrowly over the goal. OIR continued to defend well and bravely, but Cockfosters Reserves were relentless now, with the number of chances that they were creating. The visitor’s third goal of the game arrived late on in the game. Junior Moses’ low cross from the left flank wasn’t gathered properly by Ali Dogan, who was just unable to gather the ball. And Owen Cooper was on hand inside of the box to finish into the goal from close range, 1-3.

The final effort of this game was from OIR, with Abdirhaman Ahmed hitting a low effort wide of Charlie Mann’s goal, from distance. This was a competitive game up until the sending off, but OIR continued to defend bravely, although Cockfosters Reserves have real quality, and with 11 versus 10, they went on to create a number of good chances, to deservedly get the win in the second half. OIR were really starting to improve in their all-round play, up until the sending off. Jason Hobbs’ Cockfosters Reserves side played well, and with good variety to their play, as they won this game 3-1. For OIR, I thought that their player of the match was skilful forward Said Yusuf, who provided the assist for AbdulWahab Mahamud’s goal. Also, special mentions must go to their defenders during this game.

For Cockfosters, I was impressed with forward Owen Cooper, Luke Ward, who got a brace of goals, and defender Cory Ugbomah. However, Junior Moses was involved in all three of the away team’s goals, on Wednesday. The youngster, who started at left-back, would really show his quality I thought, during this match.