Non-League and Academy football writer

FC Baresi were looking to make it three wins in a row on Saturday afternoon, when Tufail Amjad’s side welcomed Coggeshall Town to Wodson Park (Ware FC), for a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. FC Baresi started this match in 15th place in the league standings after eight matches played. The visiting side on Saturday, Coggeshall Town, started this match in ninth place in the league table after six league matches played. This highly competitive match would finish in a 2-2 draw.

Coggeshall Town would start this game really well, going on to take a very early lead. Baresi were unable to clear the ball inside of their penalty area, as Todd Hollocks was able to get to the ball in behind of the defence and inside of the box, doing well to finish past the outrushing goalkeeper (Graham Loki), on the stretch and from relatively close range, 0-1. Shortly after Coggeshall player James Long was able to get to a rebound on the left-hand side of the Baresi box, he would hit a low effort on the goal, with Graham Loki doing well to keep it out. Then, as Coggeshall continued their fine start to the game, a long throw-in in to the centre of the Baresi penalty area, would result in Josh Ambrose hitting a good overhead kick effort just wide of the goal.

FC Baresi’s first effort of the game came courtesy of a good effort from distance by Sertan Kirman, following a nice bit of skill with the ball, his powerful effort dipped just over the Coggeshall goal. However, the away side would continue to do well at creating chances. After James Long had done well to get to a lofted pass in behind of the Baresi defence and down the left flank, he would deliver an early low cross in to the centre of the box, with Alex Banyard powerfully hitting a first time effort over the goal. Then, and a couple of minutes after Graham Loki had made a good save to stop a Coggeshall free-kick effort from going in at his near post, Baresi would start to play their football really well.

A great surging forward run through the middle of the pitch from deep by Stefan McKie, would result in the Baresi defender eventually losing the ball. However, Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would then get on the ball (on the edge of the Coggeshall box) before hitting a powerful effort on the goal, which was well tipped over off the top of his crossbar, by Coggeshall goalkeeper Ben Jones. A couple of minutes later and Oshodi-Atinmo would cut inside with the ball on the right-hand side of the Coggeshall box, before hitting a good effort (it took a slight deflection off a Coggeshall defender) which was well parried by Ben Jones.

Baresi continued to really take the game to Coggeshall, as the first half went on. A powerful effort from distance by the influential Sajid Aziz, was well parried by Ben Jones, with Baresi centre-forward Alexandru Vtornicov just unable to connect with the ball inside of the penalty area, on the follow-up. In the 42nd minute of this game FC Baresi would deservedly draw level in this contest. Sajid Aziz’s good forward pass would find the run of Kishawn James in the final third of the pitch. James would take the ball in to the left-hand side of the Coggeshall penalty area, before passing the ball across to the on rushing Alexandru Vtornicov, who had done well to make up a lot of ground, and he would powerfully side-foot the ball in to the goal, 1-1.

Alexandru Vtornicov was doing well, and after getting to Sertan Kirman’s pass to the left-hand side of the away team’s box, he would see his effort on goal be gathered by Ben Jones. Deep in to first half stoppage time and FC Baresi would go 2-1 up. Stefan McKie’s long lofted forward ball would find the run of Alexandru Vtornicov, to the left-hand side of the Coggeshall box. The ball would go just beyond the outrushing goalkeeper after he had pressed him well, as the Baresi striker finished low in to the empty goal, 2-1. Baresi would manage the game well during the early stages of the second half. After Eugene Sagoe had hit a low first time effort wide of Ben Jones’ goal from 20 yards out, there was a bit of a wait before the next chance of the game was created.

Following a well delivered Coggeshall cross from the left flank and in to the centre of the Baresi penalty area, Ben Towler would get to the ball, before hitting a quickly taken effort off the bottom of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post, with Baresi then managing to clear the ball away. However, in the 58th minute of the game Coggeshall Town did manage to draw level. A through-ball pass was well controlled by Todd Hollocks on the edge of the Baresi penalty. He would control the ball well, taking it in to the penalty area before finishing powerfully beyond Graham Loki, 2-2. Both sides would continue to compete well during the latter stages of the game.

Following another good surging forward run, this time to the left-hand side of the Coggeshall box, Kishawn James would deliver a powerful cross across the face of Ben Jones’ goal, only just missing the onrushing Alexandru Vtornicov in the process. And then during the final 15 minutes of the game, first of all Coggeshall player Chandler Wray would hit a good effort over the Baresi goal from distance, before Coggeshall came close to winning the game late on. Todd Hollocks would get to a pass following a good run in behind of the FC Baresi defence, to the edge of their box. Todd Hollocks would skilfully work the space beyond a recovering Baresi defender, before seeing his well hit effort on goal be really well and importantly stopped by Graham Loki.

This was a good contest today, with FC Baresi showing good character and resilience to get the point in the end against a strong Coggeshall Town side, whereas earlier on in the season they might not have done. I thought that a draw was probably the fair result overall. Todd Hollocks (Coggeshall Town’s number eight) was my Coggeshall player of the match today. He scored two good goals and he moved well off the ball. For my overall player of the match award, Todd Hollocks, Stefan McKie (the FC Baresi left-back had another good game), Sertan Kirman (the Baresi midfielder did a lot of good work) all did very well, but for me and on his home debut for the club, FC Baresi’s centre-forward Alexandru Vtornicov was my player of the match. He lead the line well once again, scoring two good striker’s goals. However, he also held the ball up well, bringing others in to play.