Non-League and Academy football writer

In midweek, in the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Football League, there was once again a number of matches being played. On Easter Monday, Jolof Sports would win 4-3 against Indian Gymkhana Club. Also, SL Benfica won 4-3 away to Larkspur Rovers, and London Tigers beat Soccer Stars Fennecs, 1-0. 

On to Wednesday night, and Shepherds Bush would win 4-0 against Hayes & Hillingdon (at Northwood FC), in the final of this season’s Middlesex County FA Intermediate Cup. Congratulations to Shepherds Bush, on winning this county cup. In Premier Division action on Wednesday night, Eagles Land Cricklewood beat Pitshanger Dynamo 5-0, Kodak (Harrow) won 2-0 against Larkspur Rovers, and Soccer Stars Fennecs won 2-1 against Stonewall.

On Thursday night, at Spratleys Meadow, SL Benfica secured their promotion to step 6 for next season, with a 10-1 win over Jolof Sports. Many congratulations to SL Benfica, on such a great and well deserved achievement. The only Premier Division game taking place on Friday night, was between Soccer Stars Fennecs, and Indian Gymkhana Club. Although Indian Gymkhana Club won this game 4-0, the points were subsequently awarded to Soccer Stars Fennecs, because Indian Gymkhana Club played an ineligible player in this match. 

On to another busy Saturday of football, in the Middlesex League. In the final of this season’s The Eddy Mee Division Two Challenge Cup final, and Eastcote British Legion would win 2-1 against Kodak (Harrow) Reserves, in what was a highly competitive cup final. You can read my match report of that final, on my blog, as well as my match report for the subsequent final. The second final on Saturday (at Uxbridge FC) was an incredible one, which finished 4-4 between Feltham Town and AFC Heathrow, after regulation time. However, Feltham Town won this season’s Jeff Nardin & Combination Cup final 6-5 on penalties. What a game! 

In Premier Division action on Saturday, and on the show pitch at Hackney Marshes, Camden & Islington United returned to the top of the Premier Division table, with a 2-1 win over Larkspur Rovers, thanks to goals from Josh Gruby and Jonny Ding. At Northwood FC, Hayes & Hillingdon won 2-1 against Kensington Dragons, and Hilltop Reserves won 3-2 against Indian Gymkhana Club. Also, Pitshanger Dynamo recorded a 1-1 draw with Kodak (Harrow), and the Shepherds Bush versus London Tigers fixture was awarded to London Tigers, with Shepherds Bush unable to field. The final Premier Division fixture taking place on Saturday, was between Stonewall and Camden United. Stonewall returned to winning ways, with goals from Yusuf Isiaq, Cam McEwan (Cam got two goals), and Coltrane Morley-Williams.

In the Division One East & Central of the Middlesex League, Apollo London lost 6-2 at home to Hackney Wick Reserves, and FC Marylebone won 3-0 at home to Camden & Islington United Reserves. At Christ College (Finchley), Soccer Stars Fennecs Ascenders lost 4-3 to Alexandra Knights. Alexandra Knights would start this game the better of the two sides, with Filippo Gin, who started this game out on the left flank as a winger, scoring three first half goals, as Alexandra Knights led 3-0 at half-time. Filippo Gin would score three finely taken goals from inside of the Ascenders’ penalty area, as a result of three well worked moves.

Soccer Stars Fennecs Ascenders (a number of their players had played for the Soccer Stars Fennecs first team in midweek) started the second half a lot better. However, Alexandra Knights were awarded a penalty after the midway stage of the second half, which Ernest Kyere finished powerfully in to the goal to make it 4-0. Soccer Stars Fennecs Ascenders would finish the game really well, going on to score three goals in relatively quick succession, in a ten minute spell. However, the Ascenders’ centre-forward was sin-binned shortly after their third goal of the game, and the game would finish 4-3 to Alexandra Knights. Filippo Gin was the player of the match.

Also in the Division One East & Central, and Westminster & Kensington were awarded the win for their fixture with Stonewall Reserves, who were unable to field. In the Division One South & West, and there was a big win for AFC Southall, who won 8-2 against Brentham, on Saturday. And in the Division One North & West, Harrow Bhoys won 4-1 away to Celtic, and Hillside AFC won 4-1 at home to Brent United, at London Tigers Sports Complex. At the same venue, goals from Kamaal Nur, who got a hat-trick, Khaled Omar, and Abdisalam Yusuf, helped Wood Lane to a 5-2 win over Brookhouse. Wood Lane are so close to winning the Division One North & West. In fact a win against Hillside AFC, next Saturday, would seal the title for them.

This week, my Middlesex County Football League fixture of the week, is the Premier Division title decider between SL Benfica and Camden & Islington United, at Spratleys Meadow, on Saturday afternoon.