Non-League and Academy football writer

In the final of the 2024/25 season’s The Eddy Mee Division Two Challenge Cup, Kodak (Harrow) Reserves faced Eastcote British Legion, at Uxbridge’s Honeycroft Ground, in the first of two big Middlesex County Football League cup finals, on Saturday. Kodak (Harrow) Reserves are currently in fourth place in The Russell Grant Division 2 standings, with Eastcote British Legion currently in top place, of that division. This very competitive step 9 cup final was won 2-1 by Eastcote British Legion.

Eastcote British Legion would start this cup final really well, taking control of the game early on. And, the leaders of The Russell Grant Division 2, would take a very early lead. With Alfie Hayes’ floated free-kick delivery from out on the left-hand side of the pitch and some 30 yards out from goal, being met by Jack Adcock, who was in a bit of space inside of the Kodak penalty area. The defender’s powerful resulting header would go past Kodak’s goalkeeper, Flezbern Sousa, and in to the goal, 0-1. Soon after play had resumed, and after Kodak defender George Michaelides’ sliding challenge had stopped the run of Josh Worley, on the edge of the Kodak penalty area, Ross McHugh would then hit a low first time effort. His powerful effort went narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, however.

Eastcote continued to play well, and following a good passing move, Joe Worsley-Hanson’s short forward pass to Jack Blackman, on the right-hand side of the Kodak box, would result in his low effort being well kept out by Souza. And then, a couple of minutes later, Jack Blackman’s lofted free-kick from some 45 yards out, in to the centre of the Kodak penalty area, would find Joe Worsley-Hanson, whose glancing header on goal lacked a bit of power, as it was gathered by Souza.

Kodak would start to grow in to this final, as the first half progressed.

Kodak’s first chance of the game arrived after some excellent skill from Kye Shelley-McPherson, on the left flank, saw him go forward with the ball. His resulting low cross, across the face of the Eastcote goal, was contested by Kodak players, Reagan Williams and Kaine Joseph, but they were unable to make contact with the ball and finish from close range in to the goal. However, not long after that fine chance for Kodak, Qays Khan’s side would draw level. As following an Eastcote free-kick which had gone short from midfield, Kye Shelley-McPherson would get to the ball, before progressing it forward and starting a good counter. Ali Yawer would then play a through-ball pass towards the run of Bailey Wilson, in behind the Eastcote defence, and through on goal inside of their penalty area. On the stretch, and Wilson would finish well beyond the outrushing Eastcote goalkeeper, Billy Twomey, 1-1.

It had become a much more even game, by this point in the first half. Shortly after play had resumed, Kodak defender Cleston Fernandes’ excellent long pass would find the run of Kye Shelley-McPherson on the left-hand side of the pitch, and right on the edge of the Eastcote box, would see Shelley-McPherson hit a powerful effort on the bounce. His effort would go just wide, across the face of the goal. And then, a Bailey Wilson free-kick from the right-hand side of the pitch, would go in to the Eastcote penalty area. Cleston Fernandes would get to the ball inside of the box, and his following powerful header, would go narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Eastcote would regain the lead. A lofted ball in to the Kodak final third, was flicked on by Marco Antiri, finding the run of Joe Worsley-Hanson, who was through on goal, down the left-hand side of the penalty area. Worsley-Hanson’s resulting powerful effort would go in to the roof of the goal, 1-2. Kodak (Harrow) Reserves would start the second half well. Following some good work from Ali Yawer, to bravely chest the ball down, following a long throw-in in to the Eastcote penalty area. Ali Yawer’s resulting effort would go wide of Billy Twomey’s goal. A couple of minutes later, Kye Shelley-McPherson would do some fine work with the ball out on the left-hand side of the pitch, before whipping a good ball right across the face of the Eastcote goal, but, no teammates were able to get to the ball and finish from close range.

Although Kodak had started the second half the better of the two sides, Eastcote were still looking good when going forward with the ball. A ball over the top of the Kodak defence from an Eastcote player would find the run of substitute Tom Hunt, in behind of the defence. Tom Hunt was now through on goal. But, Souza would do well to save his low effort on goal. This was a very good and competitive game, and as it progressed it became even more entertaining. A Kye Shelley-McPherson free-kick effort from 30 yards out, would hit the Eastcote wall, deflecting in to the path of Brandon Brown, who was in a bit of space on the left-hand side of their penalty area. His resulting effort from around six yards out would hit the underside of Billy Twomey’s crossbar, before the ball was then cleared away.

During the latter stages of the game, and with Kodak having committed a number of players forward, spaces started to appear in defence. After an Eastcote player had won the ball inside Kodak’s final third, he would pass the ball to Josh Worley, who was in space and out on the right-hand side of the Kodak box. Worley’s effort was well kept out by Souza, who had once again made an important stop. Kodak would give their absolute all to try and get a very late leveller. Their final chance of the game, would see Bailey Wilson deliver a free-kick in to the Eastcote box, and the ball would eventually be flicked on to George Michaelides, whose overhead kick went wide of the goal.

Many congratulations to Eastcote British Legion, on winning the final. It was a highly competitive cup final, which was played with so much heart. Eastcote started this final in excellent fashion, and they could’ve been leading 3-0 by the first 25 minutes of the game. However, Kodak (Harrow) Reserves put in a really spirited performance, going close on a good number of occasions, during the second half, after having managed to get back in to the game. This was quite a close final  between two teams who really wanted to win, and it was a particularly close contest during the second half. 

There were many contenders for my player of the match award, on Saturday. I thought that Kodak’s player of the match was Kye Shelley-McPherson, who did some really good work in the forward areas of the pitch, showing some brilliant skill with the ball, which wowed the crowd. Kye Shelley-McPherson was also involved in the buildup play to Kodak’s goal. Also, Kodak’s goalkeeper, Flezbern Souza, had a fine game making some good saves, and Cleston Fernandes set another impressive performance, in what was a fine team performance from Kodak. Special mentions also for captain, George Michaelides, and Bailey Brown, for their fine performances on the day.

For my overall player of the match award from this final, and despite competition from Kodak player Kye Shelley-McPherson, Eastcote player Ross McHugh (he put in a really good shift), and Josh Worley, my award goes to Jack Adcock. The Eastcote defender scored the opening goal of the game with a good headed goal, but, his reading and anticipation of the game, as well as his decisiveness in defence, made him a key player for Eastcote during this contest.