Non-League and Academy football writer

In midweek action in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Football League, the following matches took place: SL Benfica 4-0 Kensington Dragons, Indian Gymkhana Club 1-4 Hayes & Hillingdon, and Shepherds Bush 3-2 Stonewall. Now to Saturday, and in the Premier Division of the Middlesex League Eagles Land Cricklewood lost 2-1 at home to Jolof Sports. Also, Hilltop Reserves won 1-0 at home to Larkspur Rovers, and Indian Gymkhana Club recorded a hugely important 2-1 win over SL Benfica. Following that loss for Benfica, and Camden & Islington winning 3-0 away (Josh Gruby got a brace of goals, and Samuel Tommy got the other goal), the title race has become very interesting. Soccer Stars Fennecs’ fine recent form continued, as they won 3-1 away to Pitshanger Dynamo, on Saturday. And, goals from Yusuf Isiaq and Cam McEwan (he scored two goals), helped Stonewall to an important 3-1 home win over Hayes & Hillingdon.

Title contenders FC Marylebone, faced Alexandra Knights on Saturday afternoon (I caught most of this game) at Paddington Recreation Ground, in a Division One East & Central fixture, and it was a must win game for the home side. FC Marylebone would take the lead early on in this game, after their number 6 had latched on to the goalkeeper’s pass out from his penalty area. And from around 25 yards out from goal, the FC Marylebone player’s fine lofted effort would go over the goalkeeper, and in to the goal, 1-0. Less than four minutes later however, and the away side (Alexandra Knights), who had started this game well, would get an equalising goal. As Hamza Ibn El Hadj’s forward pass had found the run of Filippo Gin, down the left-hand side of the Marylebone box, the forward’s powerful effort was on target, with the goalkeeper attempting to push the ball over his crossbar. But, the ball would loop in to the goal, despite the best efforts of a defender on the goal-line, 1-1.

Alexandra Knights were continuing to play well, and create chances. After Romario Asenso had an effort (from the right-hand side of the Marylebone box) which was saved by the feet of the home team’s goalkeeper, at the opposite end of the pitch, Keenan Yates would then make a good save. Romario Asenso would then go forward with the ball, down the right-hand side of the home team’s box, before his ball across the face of the goal, found Hamza Ibn El Hadj, whose effort on the stretch, went over, at the back post. Both sides continued to go forward well with the ball, and after Alexandra Knights has been awarded a penalty, which was then really well saved by the Marylebone goalkeeper, at the opposite end of the pitch, Keenan Yates would make a couple of top saves.

The second half would start at a similar intensity to how the first half had ended. Shortly after Keenan Yates had made a great reaction save to keep out FC Marylebone centre-forward Jevonte Deabreau’s effort on goal, from inside of the penalty area, Alexandra Knights would then go forward with the ball. This time Rui Rocha’s through-ball pass would find the run of Alexandra Knights substitute Ernest Kyere, who was through on goal inside of the FC Marylebone box. His effort was however, saved by the goalkeeper. Following on from another hugely important save by Keenan Yates, from close range and following a free-kick, Alexandra Knights would go on to take the lead in this really good contest. The visitors would counter forward with the ball, as Ernest Kyere played a brilliant pass in behind of the FC Marylebone defence, to find the run of Hamza Ibn El Hadj, down the left-hand side of the penalty area, from where the forward would finish well in to the goal, 1-2.

FC Marylebone would respond well to going 2-1 down, but after Keenan Yates had made another good stop, Filippo Gin would head an effort narrowly wide from an Alexandra Knights free-kick delivery in to the home team’s penalty area. Now, with it being 11 v 11 once again, and FC Marylebone had committed a number of players forward, as they really tried to get back in to the game during its latter stages. From a throw-in, in to the visitor’s penalty area, FC Marylebone forward Jevonte Deabreau would see his low effort from close range, be excellently kept out by Keenan Yates. But, in the final minutes of this game, Jevonte Deabreau would find the top right-hand corner of Keenan Yates’ goal, with an unstoppable free-kick effort from over 20 yards out, 2-2.

This was a really good game of football, and Alexandra Knights really took the game to a very good FC Marylebone side, on the day, only just being unable to hold on to the win, because of a moment of brilliance from Jevonte Deabreau. Despite a number of contenders for my player of the match award, a number of brilliant saves from Keenan Yates, on the day, meant that he was my player of the match on Saturday. Also in the Division One East & Central, the champions, LBS Lions, would win 5-1 away to Soccer Stars Fennecs Ascenders, and goals from Ajay Davis, who got two goals, Aiden Hale, and Kolawole Soyoye, helped Stonewall Reserves to a 4-2 home win over Westminster & Kensington. Also, Apollo London, of the Division One East & Centaral, lost 4-2 to Clapham Old Xaverians in the final of this season’s AFA Challenge Cup.

In the Division One South & West, both Sporting Duet Academy, and Ruislip Town were awarded the points, for their scheduled fixtures with Ickenham, and CB Hounslow & Abbots A, respectively. In the Division One North & West, Hillside AFC were awarded the points against Eagles Land Cricklewood XI, who were unable to field on Saturday. And, FH Whistlers were awarded the win against Brent United, who were unable to field on the day. However, two goals from Yusuf Khalaf, helped Wood Lane to a 2-0 home win over Celtic (1995), at London Tigers Sports Complex.

At step 9 of the Middlesex League, Eastcote British Legion won 8-1 away to Kensington Dragons Blues. The only other game taking place in The Russell Grant Division 2, saw Kodak (Harrow) Reserves draw 2-2 with Wiseman West. This week, my highlighted Middlesex League game of the week, is the Soccer Stars Fennecs versus SL Benfica game, on Saturday afternoon at the Terence McMillan Stadium.