Non-League and Academy football writer

Although Rising Ballers Kensington were drawn as the home team, this Middlesex FA Premier Cup first round tie with NW London, was played at NW London’s home ground – Coles Park, on Sunday afternoon. Rising Ballers Kensington play their football in the Combined Counties Football League Division One (step 6), and they are currently in 19th place in that league. NW London are also a step 6 side, with them currently playing their football in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. NW London are currently in sixth place in their step 6 league table. This first round cup tie was won 2-1 by NW London.

Rising Ballers Kensington would start this cup tie the better of the two sides, going on to take the lead in the tenth minute of the tie. With Kai Nemoto getting to a loose ball inside of the penalty area, after the NW London goalkeeper was just unable to gather it, and the alert Rising Ballers player would then slot the ball low in to the goal, 1-0. Soon after play had resumed, Rising Ballers player Casey Yusuff-Phillip would find the run of Sergio Carro, in behind of the NW London defence courtesy of a brilliant lofted forward pass from out on the right-hand side of the pitch. Sergio Carro was one v one with the NW London goalkeeper inside of the penalty area, but his low effort would go narrowly wide of the goal.

Around five minutes after that chance for Sergio Carro, the Rising Ballers forward would play a short pass forward to Kai Nemoto on the left-hand side of the NW London box. Kai Nemoto would then square the ball to Cain Wright, and with the NW London goalkeeper having rushed out of his goal to try and meet the ball, Wright’s low effort on goal from the centre of the penalty area was importantly blocked by an NW London defender.

NW London would improve quite a bit as the first half went on. After Lamine Gomes’ clipped cross had found Arianit Krasniqi inside the centre of the Rising Ballers box, the forward’s headed effort on goal was gathered by their goalkeeper, Kacper Zapieraczynski. Soon after and the Rising Ballers goalkeeper would parry Lamine Gomes’ powerful effort on his goal from the right-hand side of the Rising Ballers box, before Gomes’ deflected effort on the follow-up was gathered relatively comfortably by Kacper Zapieraczynski. Right on the stroke of half-time NW London would draw level. Lamine Gomes would get on the ball out on the right-hand side of the pitch, before playing the ball across to Noah Salama, whose fine whipped effort from over 20 yards out, would find the top left-hand corner of the home team’s goal, despite the best efforts of the Rising Ballers goalkeeper.

Early on in the second half and NW London would take the lead for the first time in the tie. Arianit Krasniqi’s cross from the left flank, was played back across goal by Lamine Gomes (on the right-hand side of the Rising Ballers penalty area), with Rafael Medeiros’ impressive diving header, after he had met the ball, going low in to  the goal, 1-2. Soon after and Kacper Zapieraczynski would do well to parry Rafael Medeiros’ powerful free-kick effort on his goal from distance, before then doing well to push behind Thulio Soares’ effort at his near post, and on the follow-up. 

Following that good double save from Kacper Zapieraczynski there was to be a bit of an uneventful spell in this game. However, towards the latter stages of the tie, and with NW London having managed their lead well, Rising Ballers did manage to create a really good chance from which to draw level from. Sergio Carro would meet a well weighted through-ball pass inside the centre of the NW London box. One v one with the outrushing NW London goalkeeper (Fernando Turriel) Sergio Carro’s effort was well saved by Turriel, who then managed to keep out Kwasi Otigyamfi’s effort on his goal, on the follow-up. That was to be the final chance of this cup tie, as NW London progressed in to round two.

NW London would grow in to this game as it went on, after a bit of a slow start. Rising Ballers Kensington did start the game the better of the two sides, and they played some good football as a team, against NW London. However, NW London got that important goal before half-time and they then went on to take the lead early on in the second half, before managing their lead well as a team, and moving the ball around well during the second half. NW London’s number six Noah Salama was my player of the match after a fine performance, which also saw him score a well taken goal, to make it 1-1. Lamine Gomes (he provided two assists) and Monaye Mitchell were other contenders for my player of the match award. For Rising Ballers Kensington I thought that Sergio Carro lead the line well, showing good skill on the ball and linkup play, and Casey Yusuff-Phillip and Kian Upfold also impressed me on Sunday.