Non-League and Academy football writer

NW London faced FC Baresi on Tuesday night, at Coles Park. NW London started this Thurlow Nunn First Division South fixture in 14th place in the league table, after 25 matches, one place below FC Baresi, who also went into this game on the same number of points, having also played 25 league matches, so far this season. This step 6 match would end in a 3-3 draw. FC Baresi would start this match really well, and with great energy and positivity. After Kishawn James had won the ball for Baresi, down the left-hand side of the pitch, he would continue forward with the ball, to the byline, before crossing to Junior Appiah, at the back post. However, Appiah’s resulting effort went over the goal. A couple of minutes after that chance, Baresi were awarded a free-kick, some 25 yards out from the NW London goal. Marvin Hamilton’s low effort beneath the wall was gathered by the NW London goalkeeper, Charles Casey. 

And then a couple of minutes after that initial free-kick had been awarded, Hamilton would deliver a free-kick (on the edge of the NW London box) from the right-hand side of the pitch, into the home team’s box. Teyon Weston would get to a flick on, but from close range his quickly taken volley was held by Casey. FC Baresi’s early dominance in this game would pay off, with them taking the lead not long after that chance for Teyon Weston. As Murat Karagul flicked on a cross into the NW London box, to Stephen Ellery, on the left-hand side of the penalty area. Ellery would powerfully hit the ball across the face of the goal, finding Edson Lami, whose guided header found the back of the goal, 0-1. NW London would respond quite well to going 1-0 down. Taylan Gul’s excellent low pass, in behind the away team’s defence, would find the run of Arianit Krasniqi, who continued down the right-hand side of the penalty area, before seeing his resulting effort hit Harvey Simson’s right-hand post.

Shortly after Maksym Fostyk had curled an effort, from the edge of the Baresi box, over the Baresi goal, Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi side would double their lead in the game. Marvin Hamilton’s corner-kick delivery found Edson Lami, at the back post of the NW London goal. Lami’s headed effort would eventually fall for Murat Karagul, who controlled the ball, before finishing powerfully into the goal from close range, 0-2. There was a quiet spell in the game towards the end of the first half, with both sides battling for possession of the ball. However, NW London would get a goal back in the game, on the stroke of half-time. With it arriving following a quick passing move, as Lamine Gomes received a short pass on the left-hand side of the FC Baresi penalty area, before finding the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, courtesy of an accurate finish, 1-2.

NW London would start the second half of this entertaining match, with an even more improved energy. Following a good forward passing move, in numbers, NW London player Taylan Gul went forward with the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch, before passing the ball to Arianit Krasniqi, on the edge of the Baresi penalty area. The forward took the ball into the penalty area in his stride, and in space, he powerfully finished into the goal off Simson’s right-hand post, 2-2. Play had not long resumed, when NW London had been awarded a penalty. The penalty was awarded to the home side after Stephen Ellery had brought down Arianit Krasniqi, down the right-hand side of the away team’s penalty area. And Krasniqi would step up to take the resulting penalty, managing to find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, despite the very best efforts of Harvey Simson, who had dived the right way, 3-2.

The pace of this game was very impressive, with both sides continuing to create good goalscoring chances. Following Teyon Weston’s good pass in behind the NW London defence, to find the run of Kishawn James, the Baresi forward would find himself through on goal inside of the box. But, James’ effort was kept out by the outrushing Charles Casey. Two efforts in quick succession from NW London player Bernardino Andeme (both efforts were from around 20 yards out) were saved by Harvey Simson, before Hugo Javaloyes had a powerful effort from the right-hand side of the Baresi penalty area, which was well pushed away by Simson. 

After Bernardino Andeme had been sent off for NW London, towards the latter stages of the match, Baresi would return to becoming the more dominant side, in terms of chances created. Following some good skill in midfield from Baresi substitute Qusay Mohammed, the Baresi player would play a well weighted forward pass, to Teyon Weston, down the right-hand side of the NW London penalty area. However, Weston was closed down by the outrushing Casey, who was able to stop the Baresi forward from taking the ball around him. And then, a couple of minutes later, as Baresi continued to push for an equaliser, Weston would do well to shield the ball from a defender inside of the NW London box, before allowing James to get on the ball, but his powerful and quickly taken effort would go wide of the goal.

Baresi would manage to score a very late equalising goal, as the game continued to be played at such a good pace. Jerrell Cato’s good free-kick delivery, from the left-hand-side of the pitch, would go over the NW London goalkeeper, inside of the box. After the lofted ball was contested by a number of Baresi players, it would fall for substitute Glody Kalunda, inside of the box. And he would finish powerfully into the goal, 3-3. Baresi tried to push for a very late winner, with NW London trying to counter them, but the final chance of the game, came for the visitors. As Weston passed the ball to Cato, who continued into the NW London box, from the left flank. His powerful resulting effort on goal was well pushed away by Casey, however. 

This was an absolutely fantastic game of football, between two very good footballing sides, in this particular league. Baresi started this game incredibly well, and they would deservedly lead 2-0 (they were unlucky not to have led by more goals during the first half). But, NW London got that very important goal, just before half-time. And they started the second half at a pace which the away side were just unable to match, leading 3-2 until late on. However, Baresi would get back into the game, and following the sending off of an NW London player late on, Baresi (in my opinion) would get a deserved equalising goal, in a game which I thought that both teams didn’t deserve to lose.

For FC Baresi, I was impressed with their captain, Edson Lami, who got a goal and an assist, and Kishawn James, but I thought that at left wing-back, that Jerrell Cato was their player of the match, with both Glody Kalunda and Qusay Mohammed making good impressions on the match, off the bench. For NW London, Lamine Gomes, Taylan Gul, and Oleh Malyna, were just some of their impressive performers. However, with two goals, and some really clever movement off the ball and link play, Arianit Krasniqi was my player of the match. His two goals on Tuesday, means that he is now on 11 league goals for this season.