Non-League and Academy football writer

FC Baresi went in to their Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture with Dunmow Town on Saturday afternoon at Wodson Park, on the back of a three game unbeaten run. Tufail Amjad’s side started this match in 15th place in the league standings, after nine league matches played. The visitors on Saturday, Dunmow Town, started this match in 18th place in the league table, after seven matches played. It was FC Baresi who won this match, 2-1.

Early on in this match and Baresi goalkeeper Graham Loki’s long pass out to Kishawn James on the right-hand side of the pitch would result in James taking the ball forward at pace. The FC Baresi winger would then play a pass across to Junior Appiah in the centre of the Dunmow box, with his low first time effort being gathered by Harrison Crowther in the Dunmow goal. Baresi were definitely the more creative side during the opening stages of this contest. Following a counter forwards with the ball Alexandru Vtornicov would play the ball to Kishawn James on the right-hand side of the Dunmow box, as his effort on goal was parried by Crowther. And then a couple of minutes later and after a back pass had been picked up accidentally inside of his box by the Baresi goalkeeper, an indirect free-kick was awarded to the away side. Jack Young would get to a lay off inside of the box, but his powerful effort on goal was blocked by a defender.

The game would continue to pick up pace, and it was FC Baresi who were certainly proving to be the more creative of the two sides. A great chance would follow for Baresi, which saw Stefan McKie drive forward with the ball from midfield, before passing the ball to Alexandru Vtornicov. In a bit of space on the right-hand side of the Dunmow box, the centre-forward’s powerful effort would go over the goal. Around five minutes later and Junior Appiah would pass the ball towards the run of Alexandru Vtornicov. However, from inside of the Dunmow box, Crowther would do well to close down the striker’s angles, before a foul was given against him.

Shortly before half-time and after Junior Appiah had put pressure on the Dunmow goalkeeper inside of his penalty area, this would allow Alexandru Vtornicov to get on the ball. His effort was blocked by a defender, before the ball came out to Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo, also inside of the box. His low effort would hit the goalkeeper’s left-hand post before the ball was then cleared away. FC Baresi would start the second half at an excellent pace. After Baresi player Sajid Aziz had played a clever short pass into the feet of Junior Appiah down the left-hand side of the Dunmow box (after Alexandru Vtornicov had been fouled and advantage had been played), the Baresi forward would play the ball across the face of the goal, but there were no teammates there to finish. 

Stefan McKie would receive the ball in the middle of the pitch before going on another excellent surging forward run. Stefan McKie would take the ball to the left-hand side of the Dunmow box before passing the ball across to Alexandru Vtornicov in space, but he was just unable to connect with the ball properly, as his effort went wide of the goal. However, in the 55th minute of the game FC Baresi did take the lead, and it came courtesy of a well worked move. Junior Appiah would get on the ball around 20 to 25 yards out from goal, before quickly passing the ball forward to Kishawn James on the left-hand side of the Dunmow penalty area. James would wait for a moment before passing the ball across to Junior Appiah in the centre of the box, after he had made the run. And his first time side-footed effort would go low in to the goal, 1-0.

Baresi would try to capitalise on taking the lead early on in the second half. Baresi substitute Erol Hassan would play a good pass down the line to Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo down the right-hand side of the pitch. Oshodi-Atinmo would then cut inside with the ball on to his left foot, before delivering a good lofted cross towards Junior Appiah inside of the box, but his flicked effort on goal was really well kept out by the diving Harrison Crowther. However, in the 61st minute of the match Baresi would double their advantage. Sajid Aziz’s well delivered corner-kick was met by Junior Appiah, who rose up to power a header in to the left-hand corner of the goal, courtesy of a deflection off a Dunmow player, 2-0.

Less than eight minutes after Baresi had made it 2-0, an improved Dunmow Town side would get a goal back in the game. Reggie Pegrum’s forward pass was met by Dunmow substitute Darnell Fuller, and from the left-hand side of the Baresi penalty area the Dunmow forward would finish clinically in to the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-1. FC Baresi needed to react, with Dunmow now pushing for a leveller. Baresi’s creative central midfielder Sajid Aziz would play a good pass to Alexandru Vtornicov, and from just inside of the Dunmow box Alexandru Vtornicov’s low effort was well saved by Harrison Crowther. And then a couple of minutes later Sajid Aziz would play a well weighted short pass towards Junior Appiah, in behind of the Dunmow defence and to the right-hand side of their box. Junior Appiah’s effort was well saved by the outrushing Harrison Crowther.

Dunmow Town would push for a late equaliser, but soon after Huey Reid had nodded an effort wide following a Dunmow free-kick to the back post of the Baresi goal, the referee would sound his full-time whistle. This was a good performance from FC Baresi, who played some fine football and who could have won this game by a much bigger margin than just the one goal. However, my Dunmow Town player of the match, their goalkeeper Harrison Crowther, made several big saves, and he had a really good game. FC Baresi are on a good run now, and there seems to be a really good team spirit amongst their squad. 

With a brace and some great movement off the ball, Baresi captain Junior Appiah’s (he has scored nine goals so far this season) leadership on the pitch as well as a really good performance in the forward areas of the pitch, meant that he was my player of the match on Saturday. Special mentions must also go to Sajid Aziz, Kishawn James and Stefan McKie, to name just some of the other notable FC Baresi performances.