Non-League and Academy football writer

In an occasional piece, I’ll be previewing five grassroots/non-League football matches taking place at the weekend, across the leagues that I cover, starting with this weekend, with games taking place on Friday night, and on Saturday afternoon, in the second weekend of February. 

Lymore Gardens versus Philip United: 

Lymore Gardens and Philip United, are some of the inform sides in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division (step 7). Lymore Gardens are in third place in the Senior Division standings, with Philip United, in their first ever season at this level, sitting at the top of the table. Both sides play their football at The Techsoc Stadium (the home ground of Redbridge FC), and Philip United are one of only two sides to have beaten Lymore Gardens so far this season, in the league. 15 points separate Philip United from Lymore Gardens in the table, but with four games in hand over Philip United, a win for Lymore Gardens tonight, would make the title race very interesting during the remainder of this season. Two superb footballing sides, one thing is for sure, this game will be an entertaining and highly competitive one, with so much at stake, for both sides.

Haringey Borough Under 23s versus Walthamstow Reserves:

This is a game that I’ll be in attendance for (at Coles Park) tonight, as Haringey Borough Under 23s and Walthamstow Reserves face each other, in an Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixture, on Friday night. Two very good development sides at step 7, Haringey Borough Under 23s start this match in fourth place in the Senior Division table, with Walthamstow Reserves starting the game in tenth place in the table. Despite their league positions, both youthful sides are very talented, and this should be a really interesting game of football. Eny Okoro’s Walthamsow Reserves side won the Senior Division Cup last season, and this season, Haringey Borough Under 23s’ young side have shown great maturity and quality in the league, so far. This will be a very competitive game of football.

FC Baresi versus Cannons Wood:

At step 6 of the non-League system (in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South), FC Baresi host Cannons Wood on Saturday afternoon, at Wodson Park. Although FC Baresi are currently in 12th place in the league table, with Cannons Wood currently in fourth place in the league standings, the reverse fixture saw Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi side win 7-0. Another really interesting game taking place this weekend, FC Baresi were involved in a very entertaining 3-3 draw with NW London, on Tuesday, and they’ll be looking to move up the table. And with Cannons Wood currently in the play-off positions, there is plenty to play for in this 3pm kick-off on Saturday afternoon, between two sides who used to play in the Essex Alliance Football League.

Apollo London versus Wood Lane:

This very interesting quarter-final tie (step 8) of The Jim Roger’s Presidents Division One Cup (in the Middlesex County Football League), sees Apollo London, of the Division One East & Central, take on inform Division One North & West side Wood Lane, on Saturday afternoon. Former London FA Saturday Junior Cup winners, Wood Lane are a very good side, as are the home side (this game takes place at Christ College, in Finchley) Apollo London (formerly of the Amateur Football Combination), who are also doing well, in what is their first season in the Middlesex League. This will be another really good game of football.

Milton Keynes Irish versus Cockfosters: 

This step 5 clash between the top two sides in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division table, promises to be a great game. Terry Shrieves’ Milton Keynes Irish side will be the favourites to win the league title this season, as they lead Gavin Kelsey’s side by 13 points in the table, but Cockfosters do still have two games in hand over Milton Keynes Irish. When these sides met earlier on in the season in the league, at Chalk Lane, the game finished in a 2-2 draw. A win for Cockfosters tomorrow would make the league title race very interesting, although Milton Keynes Irish have only lost once in the league all season. Two sides that I really admire, for their football, this very important game of football will be very interesting for those who are at the game, and I’m sure that there’ll be a good crowd at The Irish Centre, for this game.