Non-League and Academy football writer

In a big Division One (East & Central) fixture of the Middlesex County Football League, on Saturday afternoon, the leaders of the division, LBS Lions, faced Westminster & Kensington (they started this game in seventh place in the table, after six matches played), at Ark Burlington Danes Academy. This step 8 match was won 4-1 by the so far undefeated league leaders, LBS Lions. Started at quite a good pace, the first goal attempt of the game came from LBS Lions player Matteo Toti, who hit a low effort from the edge of the away team’s box, which went wide of their goal. Soon after that early effort from the Lions, a long goal-kick from the home team’s goalkeeper, Eduardo Ciriaco, would fall for Emmanuel Jeffrey, who from inside of the Westminster & Kensington box, would cushion the ball down for Andrei Pogan, whose effort on the bounce was kept out by the goalkeeper, Dimitri Habib.

LBS Lions would continue to create some decent chances, during the early stages of the first half. Izaak Sajovic-Crosland’s lofted ball from the edge of the away team’s box, would find Andrei Pogan, down the right-hand side of the penalty area. Pogan spotted the goalkeeper slightly off his goal-line, with his early effort going narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, across the goal. And then a couple of minutes later, Andrei Pogan would get to Fabio Amann’s long throw-in, into the Westminster & Kensington penalty area, with Pogan’s resulting header on goal hitting the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. Andrei Pogan was really getting involved in the play in the final third, and soon after hitting the woodwork, he would hit a low effort (on the turn) from the edge of the visitor’s box, which was gathered by Habib.

Soon after those chances for LBS Lions centre-forward Andrei Pogan, Westminster & Kensington would create a good goalscoring chance, around the midway stage of the first half. As Benyousef Cherif had dropped deep to get on the ball, and he would then make a great low whipped pass in behind the Lions’ defence, to Walid Nsouli, on the left-hand side of the penalty area. However, Walid Nsouli was met by the outrushing goalkeeper, who saved and then managed to gather his effort on goal. Around two minutes later, Benyousef Cherif would control a throw-in to the left-hand side of the Lions’ box, well. However, the forward’s powerful resulting effort, after he had turned quickly on the ball, would hit the side-netting of the goal.  Towards the end of the first half Andrei Pogan would get to the ball down the right-hand side of the Westminster & Kensington box, before seeing his effort on goal be well kept out by Dimitri Habib.

The final effort of this good first half of football, saw Ali Masoudi have a low effort from 20 yards out, which was gathered by Eduardo Ciriaco. Omar Zaki’s Westminster & Kensington side would make a really good start to the second half of this match, playing some good, quick passing football. And shortly after Ali Masoudi had hit an effort wide of the Lions’ goal from the edge of their penalty area, the away side would take the lead in the match. The goal came from a good passing move, as Zakaria Rahali received a pass on the right-hand side of the Lions’ box, as he turned well with the ball, before squaring it for Benyousef Cherif to finish clinically in front of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Despite the visiting team having started the second half well, LBS Lions would soon draw level, courtesy of a fine goal from the experienced Matteo Toti. After having received Izaak Sajovic-Crosland’s short pass, Toti would hit a powerful effort on goal (from over 20 yards out), which nestled into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

Once the game had resumed, Westminster & Kensington would come close to regaining the lead. Their impressive substitute, Joseph Daaboul’s effort from the edge of the Lions’ box, was parried by Eduardo Ciriaco, with Lorenzo Vicari then getting to the ball inside of the box. However, his effort on goal was really well closed down and saved, by the goalkeeper. The pace of the game had picked up further, and it was proving impossible to predict how it would end, as the chances continued to arrive, for both sides. After Arthur Lutyens had hit a powerful effort into the side-netting of Dimitri Habib’s goal, from the left-hand side of the box, Westminster & Kensington would then go forward with the ball, winning a corner-kick in the process. And from the resulting corner-kick delivery, Lorenzo Vicari’s impressive diving header, went narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post.

This good contest would produce another goal, soon after LBS Lions player Stefano Valeri had hit an effort over Dimitri Habib’s goal, from distance. And it was the home side who would take the lead for the first time in the match. Arthur Lutyens would get to the ball right on the edge of the Westminster & Kensington penalty area, before surging forward down the left-hand side of the box, and then slotting the ball past the outrushing goalkeeper, and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-1. Not long at all after that well taken goal, LBS Lions would make it 3-1. The impressive Matteo Toti had received a short pass to the left-hand side of the visitor’s box, in a bit of space. Instead of going for goal however, Toti would cleverly flick the ball behind him, for Sajovic-Crosland, who excellently found the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, with a superb whipped finish with his right foot, 3-1.

LBS Lions were now looking to make it 4-1, with Arthur Lutyens receiving Guido  Fridland’s pass to the left-hand side of the Westminster & Kensington box, as Lutyens’ effort across goal was well parried by Habib. An excellent passing move from Westminster & Kensington would follow, as a low cross from the right flank, was left for Walid Nsouli, on the left-hand side of the Lions’ box. Nsouli’s effort was however, well saved and closed down by the impressive Eduardo Ciriaco, who would then keep out Alican Calim’s powerful effort on the follow-up. Alican Calim would then take a free-kick which had been awarded right on the edge of the Lions’ penalty area, but Eduardo Ciriaco was able to gather his low effort on goal. Very late on in the game, with LBS Lions pushing for a fourth goal, Sajovic-Crosland would show some outstanding skill, to skilfully go beyond two defender inside of the away team’s box, before Habib managed to keep out his resulting effort from close range.

The final chance of the match would result in LBS Lions getting their fourth goal of the game. As Fabio Amann’s corner-kick delivery into the Westminster & Kensington box, was flicked on by a teammate to Andrei Pogan (this was his 34th goal of the season) at the back post, who managed to score into the goal from close range, 4-1. This was a good game to cover, between two fine sides. The 4-1 scoreline for LBS Lions was somewhat flattering, in the sense that it was a closer game (particularly during the second half) than the scoreline suggests. However, the impressive and professional home side were so clinical in front of goal during the second half, courtesy of some quality finishes. They also responded really well to going 1-0 down in the game, showing good game management during the second half.

For Westminster & Kensington, I thought that their goalscorer, Benyousef Cherif, was their player of the match. The number nine linked the play well, and he was clever with the ball at his feet. However, my overall player of the match award, was between LBS Lions players Matteo Toti, impressive midfielder, Gabriel Le Gloahec, and highly skilful youngster Izaak Sajovic-Crosland, who got better and better as the game went on. However, for his finely taken goal and really clever assist, as well as some fine work on the ball both in midfield, and later as a number nine, former AS Roma and Frosinone youth player Matteo Toti, was my player of the match on Saturday.