Non-League and Academy football writer

Lymore Gardens had won their first four matches of the new 2025/26 Thurlow Nunn League First Division South season – their first season at this level of non-League football. The east London club’s most recent win came away to Basildon Town (they won that game 2-1) on Wednesday evening. On Friday night, Lymore Gardens would welcome NW London to The Techsoc Stadium, for what was both team’s first league fixture of this season. NW London had one won, drawn one, and lost two, from their first four league matches of this season. On Friday night, it was Lymore Gardens who won this game, 3-2.

NW London would take an early lead in this match, courtesy of a superb goal with real technique shown by CJ Eseka. Following a lofted ball out to the right-hand side of the pitch, and on the edge of the Lymore box, CJ Eseka would hit a brilliant effort which had both power and swerve, on the half-volley, which looped over the goalkeeper and went in to the goal in unstoppable fashion, 0-1. Lymore needed to respond to going behind so early on in this game, and after James Smith’s impressive first time pass had found Malik Donaldson, out on the left flank, the skilful Lymore player would take the ball in to the NW London box well. Donaldson would then manage to get a powerful effort away on goal, which was well parried by NW London’s goalkeeper, Will Barker.

Following that good response from Lymore Gardens, the home side would manage to draw level in this game. A lofted forward pass would find Callum Fisher, who was just inside of the away team’s box. However, Joshua Joseph’s sliding challenge on Fisher, would result in the referee awarding a penalty to Lymore. Dylan Roberts’ excellently taken penalty, would find the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1. After play had resumed, Lymore’s captain Ryo Brown would lose the ball to Hussein Farhat, just on the edge of the home team’s penalty area. However, Ryo Brown would then make a really good sliding challenge to importantly win the ball back in time. Lymore were by this point in the game, playing their football well and with real confidence. A well delivered free-kick from Makism Todoschuk, would see the ball bounce to Papa Ndiaye, on the left-hand side of the NW London penalty area. Papa Ndiaye’s resulting headed effort on goal was however, held and gathered by Barker.

The next chance of this game was also created by Lymore Gardens. A nice pass towards Malik Donaldson (on the left-hand side of the pitch) would result in the highly skilful Lymore Gardens winger going forward at pace in to the NW London box. Donaldson’s powerful resulting effort on goal was parried away by Barker. A couple of minutes later and James Smith would make another good pass from midfield, this time finding Callum Fisher out on the right-hand side of the pitch. Fisher’s resulting slaloming run across the edge of the NW London penalty area, would result in him hitting a powerful low effort which went narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post. 

Lymore had been really pushing to take the lead in this game. And shortly after Hussein Farhat had whipped a good effort from 25 yards out from the Lymore goal, narrowly wide, Lymore would manage to take the lead. Callum Fisher would play the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch, as he found the run of Dylan Roberts. Roberts would progress the ball forward with such fine skill and close ball control, to the byline and on the right-hand side of the away team’s box. Roberts would then cut the ball back to Malik Donaldson, who had made a run in to the centre of the box, and from where he would finish in to the goal, with both power and accuracy, 2-1.

After Lymore had taken the lead in this game, play had hardly resumed before they found themselves 3-1 up. The impressive Yinka Akinlabi’s lofted forward pass to Callum Fisher, was cushioned down by him to Dylan Roberts, who continued forwards with the ball at pace, in to the NW London penalty area, right on the stroke of half-time. Under pressure from some NW London defenders, Roberts’ initial effort was blocked, but at the second time of asking, he finished well in to the goal, 3-1. NW London would show signs of improvement during the early stages of the second half. Not too long after NW London defender Hocine Krouchi’s powerful low effort on Sidhant Nayar’s goal had been pushed behind by the Lymore goalkeeper, Papa Ndiaye would then make an outstanding last ditch block inside of the Lymore box, following a good NW London passing move.

Another well worked move from the visiting side, during the second half, would result in them going close to getting their second goal of the game. As Jose Mata had hit an effort over the Lymore goal from the centre of their penalty area, after meeting Bernardino Andeme’s pass across from the right-hand side of the box, and following some good work with the ball from him. However, NW London did manage to get their second goal of the game, and deservedly so, following a much better and improved second half performance. Emmanuel Okoko would get to a good forward pass down to the left-hand side of the Lymore penalty area. His low effort was finished and taken well, as it powerfully found the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 3-2. During the final moments of the game, Lymore Gardens player Gaston Mendy would make a good and important block (on the edge of the Lymore penalty area) to stop Jose Mata’s powerful effort from really testing the Lymore goalkeeper, who gathered the ball.

Lymore Gardens’ superb start to the new season and life in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, continues. As they make it five wins from their opening five league matches of the season. Tonight they did well to turn it around after going 1-0 down so early on in this match. Once again showing good character as a team to win, they played some excellent football during the first half. And although NW London were much improved during the second half, I thought that Lymore Gardens deserved to win this game, with Malik Donaldson, Dylan Roberts and Callum Fisher all very influential with the ball in the final third. However, despite those previously mentioned players all doing really well, my player of the match was Papa Ndiaye. The Lymore Gardens central-defender made some excellent and hugely important defensive interventions, blocks and clearances, and he more than played his part in this victory for Lymore.

For NW London, who once again played their passing game well, I was impressed with the performances of their vocal central-defender – Devin Mills, who lead well from defence. Hussein Farhat and CJ Eseka also had good games against Lymore Gardens, I thought.