Non-League and Academy football writer

On Saturday afternoon at Leslie Field Stadium, Burnham Ramblers faced FC Baresi in a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. Burnham Ramblers started this game in seventh place in the league table (after six matches played), with FC Baresi starting this game in 20th place in the standings (after six matches played). FC Baresi would pick up their first win of the season on Saturday, as they won this match 2-0, and deservedly so.

FC Baresi would start this match well. In the 11th minute of this game they would take the lead. Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would get to the ball on the right-hand side of the pitch. He went forward with the ball for a while before playing a short pass in behind of the home team’s defence, to the run of Sajid Aziz. With the ball on the right-hand side of the penalty area, the Baresi midfielder would, under pressure from a recovering defender, play the ball across the goal to Junior Appiah. Baresi’s centre-forward would take his initial effort early, but from a couple of yards out from goal, a defender would stop the ball from crossing the goal-line. However, on the follow-up he was able to finish low in to the goal from close range, 0-1.

By this stage of the first half FC Baresi were playing their football really well, as they worked the ball in to some good forward areas. In the 24th minute of the game Tufail Amjad’s side would double their advantage. Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would get to the ball in a central area of the pitch. The highly skilful forward would twist and turn with the ball, as he progressed it forward, before playing a nice through-ball pass to the clever run of Junior Appiah in behind of the Burnham Ramblers defence, and through on goal. Junior Appiah would finish well from inside the penalty area, with a curling low effort which came off the goalkeeper’s left-hand post before going in to the goal, 0-2.

After Sertan Kirman had hit a low effort from distance which had deflected behind for an FC Baresi corner-kick, Romuald Boco would then hit an effort narrowly wide of Jordan Hudson’s goal, from 25 yards out. Burnham Ramblers’ first effort on target of this game came courtesy of Immanuel Soetan, whose powerful low effort from the edge of the Baresi box, was gathered by Graham Loki in the FC Baresi goal. Just before half-time and after the impressive Zuhayr Amjad had done well to win the ball, Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would get to the ball. He would then cut inside with the ball from the right-hand side of the pitch, taking the ball to the edge of the Burnham Ramblers penalty area before whipping an effort wide of the goal.

Burnham Ramblers would definitely improve in their all-round play during the second half. After Noah Hayes had hit a dipping free-kick effort (from 20 yards out) wide of the Baresi goal, Lewis Nial would then have a low effort from the edge of the Burnham Ramblers box which was gathered by Graham Loki. With FC Baresi continuing to defend well, during the latter stages of the second half they would create two good chances from which to make it 3-0. Firstly, and a good lofted pass from Sertan Kirman (from the edge of the home team’s box) would result in Junior Appiah bringing the ball down well in the centre of the penalty area, before hitting an effort over on the bounce. It was a great chance for the centre-forward to get his hat-trick goal. Soon after and just before the end of the game, some great close ball control and skill from Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would see him take the ball in to the right-hand side of the Burnham Ramblers box. His angles were well closed down by Jordan Hudson at his near post though, with substitute Kishawn James hitting an effort over on the follow-up. 

This was a very professional and efficient team performance from FC Baresi on Saturday afternoon, against a Burnham Ramblers side who have started the season well. Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi side were very well structured, and that two goal cushion from the first half would stand them in great stead for the remainder of the game, which they managed well as a team. For FC Baresi and from this real team performance, Zuhayr Amjad, debutant Blerdon Kurtolli, Romuald Boco and Stefan McKie, were all very good defensively. However, going forward and in to midfield, players such as Sajid Aziz, Sertan Kirman and Eugene Sagoe all played their part in this win, as did the hardworking Kuba Vermont Ollivierre out on the left flank. 

For my player of the match award on Saturday it was a difficult call, with Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo also being a real contender with two goal involvements. However, with two goals and a fine all-round performance in which saw him lead the line so well and worked so hard for the team, FC Baresi centre-forward Junior Appiah was my player of the match.