Non-League and Academy football writer

On Friday evening at The Techsoc Stadium, Lymore Gardens would participate in the FA Vase for the very first time in their history. As the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South side faced step 5 Essex Senior League side Woodford Town, in this FA Vase first qualifying round tie. Lymore Gardens are currently the league leaders of the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South, after five matches played, and they are also unbeaten in all competitions. Woodford Town are currently in first place in the Essex Senior League standings, after four matches played. This FA Vase tie was won 1-0 by Lymore Gardens, in what was a heroic team performance from the home side. 

From an early Woodford corner-kick (following a deflected effort from the edge of the Lymore box) during the opening minutes of the game, the ball would fall to a Woodford player, in the centre of the Lymore penalty area. His low quickly taken effort was well saved by Lymore’s goalkeeper – Sidhant Nayar, who managed to get down really well, to save and then gather the ball. Around five or so minutes later, Lymore came desperately close to taking the lead in the tie. Some fine work from Malik Donaldson on the left-hand side of the Woodford box, would result in him curling an effort on goal. His effort seemed destined to go in to the roof of the goal, but for a top save from Woodford’s goalkeeper (Pharrell Chinyere) to somehow tip the ball on to his crossbar, before the ball was then cleared away from the box.

This was proving to be quite an even and cagey game of football. After Dimitri Christou had sent a lofted pass from the left-hand side of the Lymore box, to find Peter Angelov at the back post, it would result in Angelov heading the ball in to the side-netting of the goal. Next, and at the opposite end of the pitch Gravlyn Kitondo’s free-kick effort from 25 yards out on the Woodford goal, was helped behind by the Woodford goalkeeper. And then towards the end of the first half, a fine through-ball pass from Alex Coster would find the run of Dylan Roberts in behind of the Woodford defence. Roberts was met by the outrushing Woodford goalkeeper, who fouled him. This resulted in a free-kick, right on the edge of the Woodford box, being awarded to Lymore. Dylan Roberts’ resulting low and powerful free-kick effort would go narrowly wide of Pharrell Chinyere’s left-hand post. 

During the early stages of the second half, a Woodford Town corner-kick delivery in to the Lymore box would result in Myles John having a low effort on goal from the left-hand side of the box, which was gathered by Sidhant Nayar. Around five minutes later, and the hardworking Alex Coster would get to the ball just inside Lymore’s half of the pitch, before making an excellent Harry Kane-esque long forward pass to find the good run of Malik Donaldson, down the left flank. Donaldson would go forward with the ball, closely followed by a couple of Woodford defenders, down the left-hand side of the away team’s box. His resulting powerful effort would hit the side-netting of the goal, at the goalkeeper’s near post.

There weren’t a lot of chances as the second half progressed. However, Lymore had been defending very well as a team, making it very difficult for Woodford to create good chances. Some excellent work and perseverance from Dylan Roberts on the right-hand side of the pitch, would see him stop the ball from going out of play, before then delivering a good cross in to the Woodford box. Finding Andre Graham on the left-hand side of the penalty area, his low volleyed effort on goal was gathered by the Woodford goalkeeper. And it was not long at all after that Lymore chance, when the home side did manage to take the lead in this cup tie.

Some excellent work from Zidane Bolessa, who got to a forward pass down the left flank, would see him progress the ball forward at pace, and for quite some distance. After drifting inside with the ball to a more central position, Zidane Bolessa would play the ball across to Munnir Saad who took the ball to the right-hand side of the Woodford box. His resulting cross was parried away by the Woodford goalkeeper following a deflection off a defender. However, the alert Dylan Roberts would get to the ball at the back post, as he finished in to the goal well, and from close range, 1-0. After some great scenes of celebration from the Lymore players, they now had to regroup, to try and hold on to their lead during the remainder of this cup tie.

Woodford Town substitute Roman Michael-Percil would get to a long throw-in to the left-hand side of the Lymore box. However, his powerful effort, under pressure, went wide of the goal. Quite late on in the game and Lymore would create a great chance to secure the win and their place in the next round of the FA Vase. Zidane Bolessa did ever so well to make a good overlapping run down the left flank to receive a pass, before surging forward with the ball at pace. Eventually going forward down the left-hand side of the Woodford box, he would skilfully lift the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper, with the ball bouncing just wide of his left-hand post. Some tremendous late defending from Lymore Gardens would see them hold on to their one goal lead, as they made club history by progressing in to the next round of the prestigious FA Vase. What a night for everyone at Lymore Gardens!

In what was a cup tie between two very good footballing sides, it was Lymore Gardens, who managed this game so, so well throughout the match, and who were ultimately victorious. The way in which they defended, really limiting an excellent Woodford Town side to very little in the way of good goalscoring chances, was a credit to the home side’s all-round performance. And I really thought that Lymore Gardens were deserved winners on Friday. From the Lymore goalkeeper Sidhant Nayar, right up to all of the Lymore forwards on the pitch, this performance was a real team one. This historic Lymore Gardens victory was won by every single player who was involved in this game. 

My Woodford Town player of the match was their goalkeeper – Pharrell Chinyere. However, for my overall player of the match award, I really could have awarded it to any of the Lymore Gardens player. However, and despite outstanding performances from Makism Todoschuk, Zidane Bolessa, Dylan Roberts and Papa Ndiaye, my player of the award goes to Yinka Akinlabi. The Lymore defender was superb in how he defended, especially 1v1 on the right-hand side of the pitch. He read the game so well.