Non-League and Academy football writer

On Wednesday evening at Wodson Park, FC Baresi would host Enfield Borough, in this first round tie of the Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup. FC Baresi have drawn one and lost three from their opening four league matches of the new Thurlow Nunn League First Division South season. Enfield Borough have lost all three of their opening three league matches of the new league season. On Wednesday it was Enfield Borough who got their first win of the new season, winning 2-0 against Baresi, to progress in to the next round of the cup.

Enfield Borough would see a lot more of the ball, during the opening minutes of this cup game. After Enfield Borough player Daniel Linehan had hit a decent dipping effort over the Baresi goal and from distance, the away side would start to create a number of goalscoring chances. Their next chance of this match would see Nathaniel Brown hit a bouncing effort from 20 yards out from goal, narrowly wide of  Baresi goalkeeper Jahnih Bulbrook’s goal. And then a couple of minutes after Baresi player Sajid Aziz had curled a free-kick effort wide of the Enfield Borough goal (from 20 yards out), the visiting team would go close to taking the lead. With Daniel Linehan’s corner-kick delivery to the near post of the Baresi goal, being flicked towards goal by Borough’s captain, Archie Smith. His effort would deflect over, off the top of Bulbrook’s crossbar.

Enfield Borough continued to play well as the first half reached its latter stages. Following a good turn from Shaun Jackson, 25 yards out from goal, the Enfield Borough player would go close to catching out the Baresi goalkeeper, with his curling effort going narrowly wide of his right-hand post. And then not long before half-time Enfield Borough player Alex Mansaray would play the ball across from the left flank, to James Ayetine, inside of the home team’s box. From not far out from goal Ayetine’s effort was really well closed down and saved by Bulbrook, who a couple of moments later would hold an effort on his goal well, from distance.

Enfield Borough would also start the second half well, and they came close to taking the lead in the tie, following a good move to the left-hand side of the Baresi penalty area. However, Baresi defender Bryan Ntueba would make a very good goal-line clearance from an effort which was heading in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. Baresi would then manage an effort on goal, with substitute Teyon Weston hitting a powerful effort on the Borough goal from distance, which was held by their goalkeeper, Sebastian Jacovides. A corner-kick delivery in to the centre of the Baresi penalty area soon after, was met by Archie Smith, who from close range would see his powerful headed effort on goal be well pushed over by Bulbrook.

Straight after that headed effort from Archie Smith, and from the resulting corner-kick, Enfield Borough would take the lead in this cup match. Dominic Curran would meet Nathaniel Brown’s corner-kick delivery in to the Baresi box, and he headed the ball in to the top right-hand corner of the goal, 0-1. Soon after play had resumed, and Daniel Linehan would get to a loose bouncing ball some 25 yards out from the home team’s goal, before hitting a really fine and powerful effort, which went just wide of Bulbrook’s left-hand post. And not long after that good effort, Enfield Borough would deservedly double their lead in this game. It was Nathaniel Brown who provided the assist. His lofted free-kick delivery across the Baresi box was met by Alexis Tsolacos, who finished well with a first time effort in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 0-2.

Enfield Borough continued to dominate this cup tie, and they soon came close to making it 3-0, after Nathaniel Brown had shown some excellent ball control inside of the home team’s penalty area. He would then turn well with the ball before hitting  a low effort on goal, which was well gathered by the alert Baresi goalkeeper. FC Baresi did improve as the game and the second half went on. A looping headed effort on goal from the centre of the Enfield Borough box from Teyon Weston, would dip narrowly over the goal. And then around five minutes later the hardworking Sertan Kirman would play a short pass to Romuald Boco, who from 20 yards out from goal would turn quickly on the ball, before hitting a low effort narrowly wide of Sebastian Jacovides’ goal.

Some good work from Enfield Borough substitute Zinell Royes would result in him cutting inside with the ball from the left flank, before hitting a good effort narrowly over the crossbar. Shortly before the end of this cup tie, Enfield Borough came close to extending their lead, after Daniel Linehan had rather fortuitously got to the ball following a rebound in behind of the Baresi defence, and inside of their penalty area. Linehan’s resulting effort was well parried behind by the impressive Jahnih Bulbrook at his near post, with a recovering Baresi defender also making a last ditch challenge. This was a very professional performance from Enfield Borough, who greatly deserved to win this cup tie, as well as keeping a clean-sheet on the night.

Enfield Borough were very good on the ball, moving it around well for the entirety of this game. In forward areas of the pitch, players such as Nathaniel Brown and Daniel Linehan were very effective with the ball, but defensively and all-round, this was a very good performance from Enfield Borough, who did well to really control this game. For FC Baresi I thought that their player of the match, on only his second ever appearance at this level, was their 17 year old goalkeeper – Jahnih Bulbrook, who made some really fine stops. However, he was also very vocal, and with regard to his distribution, I also thought that he did well. I would also like to mention the defensive performances of Zuhayr Amjad and Bryan Ntueba, who also did well for the home side.

Regarding my overall player of the match award on Wednesday, there were a lot of contenders on the Enfield Borough team. Players such as Nathaniel Brown, Daniel Linehan and Alexis Tsolacos were just some of the players who played very well against FC Baresi. However, my player of the match was Archie Smith. A very commanding and vocal presence in the heart of central defence for Enfield Borough, their captain lead the defence by example, really making it difficult for Baresi to get past them.