Non-League and Academy football writer

In a first round tie of this seasons Middlesex FA Premier Cup Hillingdon Borough faced Brimsdown at The Middlesex Stadium, on Tuesday night. Hillingdon Borough play their football in the Combined Counties Football League Division One (step 6) and they are currently in 20th place in the league table. Brimsdown, who play their football in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6), came in to this cup tie in great recent form. Brimsdown are currently in fourth place in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South standings. This county cup tie was won 1-0 by Hillingdon Borough, late on in the tie.

Brimsdown would start this cup tie positively. Shortly after a Brimsdown player had curled an effort narrowly wide of the Hillingdon Borough goal, from the edge of their penalty area, Harvey Nunez would see his free-kick effort from 25 yards out, be gathered by the Hillingdon goalkeeper. Hillingdon Borough would start to really grow in to the game, although it was proving to be an even enough contest during the early stages of this cup tie. Following a Hillingdon Borough free-kick delivery from the right-hand side of the pitch, the ball was met by a Hillingdon player at the back post of the Brimsdown goal, with his headed effort on goal being cleared off the goal-line by Brimsdown defender Max Montgomery.

Around the midway stage of the first half Hillingdon Borough player Serhar Kurt would receive the ball, before playing a short forward pass (from the edge of the Brimsdown box) to their number nine Abdilahi Abdi, on the right-hand side of the penalty area. However, Brimsdown’s goalkeeper Kris Ozols, would make a big save from the Hillingdon forward’s low effort on his goal. Just before half-time and after Brimsdown’s central-defender and captain Max Montgomery, was shown a yellow card following a foul on a Hillingdon player, the referee then issued him with a second yellow card straight after. This meant that Brimsdown would have to play the remainder of the game with ten men.

During the early stages of the second half and despite having only ten players on the pitch, Brimsdown would start well, I thought. Still early on in the second half and Brimsdown forward Amari Perkins would meet a through-ball pass in behind of the Hillingdon defence. Inside the Hillingdon box, Amari Perkins was met by their outrushing goalkeeper (Filip Gremza) but his powerful effort would go over the goal. Soon after and another good through-ball pass, this time from out on the right-hand side of the pitch, would find the run of Amari Perkins, in behind of the Hillingdon defence. Amari Perkins was one v one with Filip Gremza, who after rushing out of his goal, would make a big low save from the forward’s effort on his goal.

The ten men of Brimsdown continued to play their football well, as the second half went on, in what was proving to be a good contest in this cup tie. The next chance of the tie would see influential Brimsdown substitute Taylan Kilinc get on the ball out on the left flank, before delivering a cross in to the centre of the Hillingdon box. The ball wasn’t quite cleared away by the Hillingdon defence, and Amari Perkins managed to get to the ball. From close range, his effort on the stretch came so close to going in to the goal, with the ball going across the face of the Hillingdon goal. 

Late on in this cup tie Gary Pitt’s Hillingdon Borough side would score a late winner (in the 85th minute). Tojumi Ladipo would get to the ball out on the left flank, before progressing the ball forward at pace to the left-hand side of the Brimsdown penalty area. After doing well to hold off a Brimsdown defender, Tojumi Ladipo would finish low in to the goal beyond the Brimsdown goalkeeper, 1-0. During the final moments of the tie and with Brimsdown pushing to take the game to penalties, the away side managed to create one last chance. The impressive and experienced Kwasi Amoah would play a pass to Shaun Diboussi, who after shifting the ball on to his right foot on the edge of the Hillingdon box, would curl an effort just over Filip Gremza’s crossbar.

This was a very competitive cup tie, which was very close in the end. However, and although Brimsdown did ever so well I thought with ten players on the pitch for all of the second half, they couldn’t quite stop a very hardworking Hillingdon Borough side from going on to win the tie. Hillingdon Borough defended well, and like Brimsdown, they used the ball well in the tie. For Hillingdon Borough, I was impressed with their skilful midfielder Kieron Barnard-White, defenders Alfie Campbell and Jamie Pitt, and the match winner – Tojumi Ladipo. 

Brimsdown also had plenty of good performers on Tuesday, with Amari Perkins (he was so unlucky not to get on the scoresheet), substitute Taylan Kilinc and Duwane Thomas just some of their player who did well. However, my player of the match from this cup tie was Brimsdown’s left-back Emmanuel Olasehinde, who was very good both defensively and at getting forward down the left flank. Emmanuel Olasehinde finished this game in central defence.