Non-League and Academy football writer

At Coles Park on Saturday afternoon, NW London faced FC Baresi in a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. NW London started this match in 15th place in the league standings, after five matches played. FC Baresi started this game in 18th place in the table, as they looked to get their first win of the season, on Saturday. NW London would win this match 3-2, however. The first real chance of this game was created fairly early on by NW London. With Bernardino Andeme going forward with the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch before playing a through-ball pass in to the path of CJ Eseka, in behind of the Baresi defence and to the right-hand side of their penalty area. CJ Eseka’s powerful low effort would go narrowly wide of Graham Loki’s goal, across the face of his goal.

Soon after that good early chance for NW London, and the home side would really test Graham Loki, with two efforts in quick succession. After Ashiqur Rahman had played the ball across to Bernardino Andeme on the right-hand side of the Baresi penalty, his powerful effort on goal was really well saved by Graham Loki. The Baresi goalkeeper would then manage to keep out Wesley Cafe’s effort, a couple of moments later, also from inside of the box. As the game progressed, goalscoring chances became more frequent in this game. And shortly after Edson Lami had passed the ball forward to Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo on the left-hand side of the NW London box, he would hit an effort over the goal.

A couple of minutes after FC Baresi’s first goalscoring chance of this game, and NW London would take the lead in this contest. After CJ Eseka had received a short pass inside of the away team’s box, the NW London forward would hit a powerful effort on goal which was well parried by Graham Loki. However, despite his very best efforts to stop Wesley Cafe’s effort on the follow-up, the Baresi goalkeeper was just unable to stop his low effort on goal from crossing the goal-line, 1-0. As Baresi tried to react, Sajid Aziz would hit a low effort from the edge of the NW London box, narrowly wide of William Barker’s goal.

Shortly before half-time, NW London player Hussein Farhat’s well weighted through-ball pass would find the run of CJ Eseka in behind of the Baresi defence and he was now through on goal inside of their box. On the stretch however, CJ Eseka’s effort was well saved by the outrushing Graham Loki. During the early stages of the second half NW London would double their advantage in this game. Bernardino Andeme’s good lofted cross from the right-hand side of the pitch would find Wesley Cafe on the left-hand side of the Baresi box, from where he volleyed the ball well in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal. 

Following their second goal of the game, NW London seemed to be in complete control. However, following a back pass soon after the resumption of play, the alert Sertan Kirman would take the ball around NW London’s goalkeeper (William Barker) on the edge of his box, and forward, before finishing in to the empty goal from close range, 2-1. After having conceded that goal against the run of play, NW London would respond really well. Following some good skill from the influential Bernardino Andeme on the right-hand side of the pitch, he would cut inside with the ball, before curling a good effort narrowly wide of the Baresi goal.

The next NW London chance of this game saw Hussein Farhat pass the ball to Bernardino Andeme, on the right-hand side of the Baresi box. Bernardino Andeme was one v one with Graham Loki, who made a top save to keep his low effort on goal out. Soon after, and with NW London continuing to dominate play, Bernardino Andeme would curl a good effort from the edge of the Baresi penalty area on their goal, with Graham Loki parrying his effort well, before then pushing the ball away from an onrushing forward. A couple of minutes after Wesley Cafe had curled a free-kick effort (from right on the edge of the Baresi box) wide of Graham Loki’s goal, NW London were awarded a late penalty. 

The impressive Hussein Farhat’s through-ball pass towards Mohammed Al-Nashi on the left-hand side of the Baresi box would result in him being fouled by Stephen Elllery, following his sliding challenge. Up stepped CJ Eseka, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to restore NW London’s two goal lead, 3-1. During the final minutes of the game and with FC Baresi desperately trying to get another goal, Glody Kalunda would make a good lofted pass out towards the run of Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo, down the right-hand side of the pitch. After doing well to keep the ball in play, Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would do well to take the ball across to the right-hand side of the NW London box, beyond a defender. He would then finish really well in to the goal with a low and powerful effort, 3-2.

NW London were the much more creative side today, and they really did deserve their win, with them playing their football well throughout this contest. Despite some good spells in the game, FC Baresi just weren’t effective enough in the final third, despite scoring two goals in the second half. For NW London I thought that players such as the influential Wesley Cafe (he scored two goals and he was my NW London player of the match) Bernardino Andeme, CJ Eseka and Husein Farhat, were all very good and effective in forward areas, against FC Baresi. However, for keeping his side in the game for so long by making some top saves, the excellent Graham Loki was my player of the match today, as the Baresi goalkeeper stopped NW London from winning this game by three or four clear goals. A special mention also to both of Baresi’s goalscorers, Sertan Kirman and Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo, for their performances against NW London.