Non-League and Academy football writer

NW London welcomed May & Baker ECFC to Coles Park on Friday night, for a Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. NW London started this game in seventh place in the league table after nine matches played, knowing that a point against May & Baker would take them in to the play-off positions. May & Baker started this game in 11th place in the league table, after eight matches played. This step 6 match would end in a 2-2 draw.

NW London would start this game well, and at a good pace and intensity. After NW London captain Emmanuel Okoko’s low curling effort from 25 yards out was well parried by May & Baker goalkeeper Luke Burns, the goalkeeper would then gather an effort on his goal on the follow-up, at his near post and from close range. A couple of minutes later and a well worked passing move from the home side would result in Zekariyas Haliu delivering a low cross in to the May & Baker penalty area, with Gherardo Lucchesini hitting a first time effort wide at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Another fine passing move from NW London, around five minutes after that earlier chance for Gherardo Lucchesini, would see him get to a squared pass in the centre of the away side’s box, with his first time effort hitting their crossbar, before a teammate hit a low effort wide on the follow-up. A well organised May & Baker side would respond well to that good start for NW London. May & Baker would take the lead, as following a corner-kick for the visitors, the ball was headed clear to the edge of the box, with Elion Kadishani hitting a low effort back in to centre of the box. From there Reon George would turn the ball in to the goal, from relatively close range, 0-1.

A May & Baker free-kick delivery (soon after) from out on the right-flank from Tommy Foster, was headed on to the top of the NW London crossbar by Rowan Newland, as May & Baker continued to do well in this game. And then as they continued their good spell in the game, Steven Clark’s May & Baker side would create a brilliant goalscoring chance from which to double their lead from. Reon George would run on to Liam George’s through-ball pass from midfield, and in behind of the NW London defence and through on goal inside of their penalty area George’s low effort on goal was well saved by NW London’s outrushing goalkeeper, William Barker.

After that chance for Reon George, May & Baker would double their lead from the resulting corner-kick. With Liam George’s header following a whipped delivery in to the box, being really well parried by Barker, but on the follow-up May & Baker defender Quincy Warner would slot the ball in to the goal, 0-2. NW London would react well during the latter stages of the second half. The home side managed to get a goal back in the game, soon after the resumption of play. A cross in to the May & Baker penalty area was cleared away towards Emmanuel Okoko, who from around 25 yards out from goal, would curl a deftly accurate effort which had a lot of pace on it, in to the bottom right-hand corner of the May & Baker goal, 1-2.

During the final minutes of the first half and NW London would go on to create two further goalscoring chances before half-time. Firstly, Mohammed Al-Nashi would hit an effort narrowly over the away team’s goal, on the half-volley and from just  inside of their penalty area. And then a couple of minutes later a headed effort on the May & Baker goal, following a corner-kick in to their box, was cleared off the goal-line by a defender. NW London would see a lot of the ball during the early stages of the second half. It might have taken a while before the first real goalscoring chance of the second half was created, but when it was, NW London came desperately close to drawing level.

A deep and well delivered NW London cross from the right-hand side of the pitch, would find Hussein Farhat at the back post of the May & Baker goal. The NW London number 10 was in a bit of space, but he had to adjust in order to get a header away on goal. In the end Hussein Farhat’s header came off the underside of Luke Burns’ crossbar, before the goalkeeper was able to gather the ball. May & Baker were continuing to defend strongly, with NW London continuing to move the ball around the pitch well, continuing to create good chances in the process.

A great volleyed effort from distance by an NW London player would hit the woodwork of the May & Baker goal, before Luke Burns made a good save from a curling effort on goal, at his near post. Late on in this game and NW London did eventually manage to get an equalising goal. NW London forward CJ Eseka would get to a low cross in to the May & Baker box, but from a couple of yards out his effort was well saved by Luke Burns, with Hocine Krouchi finishing powerfully in to the goal on the follow-up, 2-2.

The final stages of the match would see NW London really push for a late winner. After May & Baker forward Liam George had powered an effort on the bounce narrowly wide (from the edge of the NW London box) of William Barker’s goal, it was NW London who were looking very likely to make it 3-2. Wesley Cafe’s whipped free-kick from 20 yards out, on the May & Baker goal, was well parried away by Luke Burns, before CJ Eseka’s header from the resulting corner-kick, had hit the crossbar. NW London continued to really push for that winning goal during the final minutes of the game, going close on several occasions. However, after Devin Mills’ fine lofted pass from deep had found the run of Arianit Krasniqi in behind of the May & Baker defence, the NW London forward found himself one v one with the goalkeeper. However, after lifting the ball over the outrushing Luke Burns, the ball would go just wide of the goal.

NW London came desperately close to getting all three points on Friday, and if they had managed to get the win then there would have been no complaints. NW London played some great football against May & Baker, who are an also a very good team, with a great squad of players. May & Baker were very well organised and they managed the game well, with their defence and goalkeeper having strong games. In the end NW London were just unable to get the win, but May & Baker deserve credit for not allowing them to get all three points. My May & Baker player of the match was Modou Diop Gueye, who had a good game defensively, with Liam George leading the line well, and he was also a contender. 

NW London’s number eight Wesley Cafe was my player of the match tonight. He was creative on the ball, making a good impression on the game throughout. This was a really good game of football.