Non-League and Academy football writer

Haringey Borough Under 23s welcomed the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division leaders to Coles Park on Friday night, for this Senior Division fixture. Haringey Borough Under 23s would start this match in third place in the league table after 18 matches played. Philip United started this match in first place in the league standings, recording 16 league wins from their first 19 matches of this season. It was Philip United, who won this league match 3-0. It was however, Haringey, who created the first real chance of this match. Their captain Louis Maffia would go on a good forward run through the middle of the pitch, before holding off a Philip United player, and then playing a forward pass to Mohamed Keita, on the left-hand side of the Philip penalty area. Keita would then hit a powerful effort across the face of the goal. 

Following on from that early chance in the game for Haringey, Philip United would play some good possession based passing football. And from their first real chance of the game, they took the lead. After some good initial build-up play from defence, Joshua Wisdom would receive the ball on the edge of the Haringey box, and his powerful low effort on goal was parried by Haringey goalkeeper Justin Ismail. However, quick to the ball inside of the box was Michael Olatunji, who finished into the goal from close range, 0-1. Soon after Haringey defender David Martins had made a good and important block at the back post of the Haringey goal, from John Quissua’s powerful low cross, Philip would make it 2-0. Tamas Retyi would receive the ball down the right flank. And he would continue forward with the ball, to the byline, before floating a cross towards John Quissua, on the left-hand side of the penalty area. Quissua would quickly control the ball, before powering a low effort off the Haringey goalkeeper, and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 0-2.

Haringey would look to get back into the game, after those two quick goals from the away side. A flick on from Haringey forward Jojo Mampovisa (on the edge of the away team’s box), would come to Mohamed Keita, on the left-hand side of the Philip United penalty area. However, Keita’s low first time effort on goal, was gathered by the goalkeeper, Enrique Kalsi. Then, at the opposite end of the pitch, a long Philip United ball would find Michael Olatunji, whose header found John Quissua on the left-hand side of the Haringey box, but after twisting and turning with the ball beyond a defender, his powerful effort hit the side-netting. 

As the first half came towards its latter stages, good goalscoring chances became less frequent. However, shortly before the end of the first half, two good chances arrived, one for either side. Firstly, after the away side had lost possession of the ball on the edge of their penalty area, Louis Maffia would get to the ball, before playing a well weighted through-ball pass to Mohamed Keita, down the left-hand side of the Philip United box, and one versus one with the goalkeeper, Keita’s effort was well kept out by Kalsi. And then right on the stroke of half-time, Philip United player Alec Mudimu would pass the ball to John Quissua, on the left-hand side of the Haringey penalty area, but his powerful across goal was well parried by Justin Ismail.

Early on in the second half, Tamas Retyi would hit an effort over the Haringey goal from the edge of their penalty area. A couple of minutes later, David Martins did really well, inside of the Haringey box, to get ahead of a Philip United player to importantly clear away John Quissua’s powerful low cross into the penalty area. Some five or so minutes later, a good first time cross from Graeme Trevett, would find Mohamed Keita, at the back post, and inside of the away side’s box, Keita’s good volleyed effort went narrowly wide of the goal. However, this very well organised Philip United side, continued to manage the game superbly well, and they would soon extend their lead in this match. With Tamas Retyi going forward with the ball down the left flank, before playing a one-two pass with John Quissua, on the left-hand side of the Haringey penalty area. Tamas Retyi would then clinically finish into the goal, courtesy of a powerful side-footed finish, 0-3.

A decent goalscoring chance would arrive for Haringey, soon after the game had started again. Louis Maffia’s good free-kick delivery from the left flank and into the Philip United box, was met by Timi Tinubu, whose headed effort on goal at the near post, was well kept out by the alert Enrique Kalsi. In the final moments of the game, Philip United player David Moyo would get to a good through-ball pass in behind the Haringey defence, but from inside of the penalty area his low effort went past Justin Ismail, but it lacked a bit of pace, and it was subsequently cleared away by a defender. The youthful Haringey Borough Under 23s, are a very good side, and they played some good football against Philip United, and there were some fine performances on their team on Friday. However, the league leaders were superb tactically and technically, to really make it difficult for Haringey to enjoy much space with the ball, in the final third. Philip United also managed this game so, so well, throughout the contest.

For Haringey Borough Under 23s, I was really impressed with their captain and midfielder Louis Maffia, as well as their full-backs David Martins (I thought that he was Haringey’s best player), and Jorge Castaneda, who I thought did some great defensive work. Also, Mohamed Keita and substitute Leo Ruci, were just some of the other impressive performers in this game. A great team performance from Philip United, ultimately saw there being a number of contenders for my player of the match award, such as John Quissua, Tamas Retyi, and Alec Mudimu. Starting the game at right-back, experienced Philip United player Tamas Retyi would defend solidly, as well as getting forward well, and providing an assist for John Quissua’s goal. During the second half, Tamas would switch over to the left flank, where he continued to play well, showing good balance to his play. However, with a goal (he now has 18 goals so far this season) and an assist to his name (as well as helping his side to keep a clean-sheet), Tamas was my overall player of the match.