Non-League and Academy football writer

Camden & Islington United Development faced Apollo London on Saturday afternoon (at Regents Park), in a Middlesex County Football League Division One East fixture. It was second versus third in the league table, as third place Camden & Islington United Development would face second place Apollo London, who had won their opening two league matches of this season. This step 8 match was won 3-0 by Apollo London.

After Camden & Islington United Development’s player-manager Luca Malagigi had hit a free-kick effort from distance over the Apollo London goal, it was the away team (Apollo London), who would take the lead very early on this match. A good and clever lofted pass (from Armend Metaj) following a free-kick which had been awarded in the middle of the pitch, was met by an Apollo teammate, Kostandin Brahimaj, on the left-hand side of the home team’s box. Kostandin Brahimaj would then loop a fine effort, which bounced into the goal of the Camden & Islington goalkeeper’s left-hand post, 0-1.

Apollo London had started this game really well, and they were playing their football very effectively. Following Apollo player Abdulsalam Yusuff’s good lofted pass from out on the right-hand side of the pitch, towards the left-hand side of the Camden & Islington box, the ball was left by a teammate to Indrit Lata. The Apollo number nine would see his low effort on goal be well turned behind by the Camden & Islington goalkeeper Alex Achermann-Stanfield. Soon after that Apollo effort on goal, Apollo player Filipe Gaitano De Sousa Alcamtara would cut inside with the ball from the right-hand side of the pitch, and into the Camden & Islington box. His resulting low effort on goal was gathered by Alex Achermann-Stanfield, at his near post.

Still early on in the game and Apollo London would double their advantage in this game. Filipe Gaitano De Sousa Alcamtara would get to a lofted pass out on the right-hand side of the pitch, before playing a short forward pass (from the edge of the home team’s box) towards the run of Daniel Ndoj. And after getting in behind of the Camden & Islington defence and inside of their penalty area, he would show good composure to finish low into the goal from close range, 0-2. Apollo London would continue to do really well with the ball during the rest of the first half. Late on in the first half and after Camden & Islington had lost possession of the ball on the edge of their penalty area, Renato Todri would play a one-two pass with a teammate on the edge of the box, the Apollo player would then lob the ball just over the crossbar, from close range.

Very early on in the second half of this match, Luca Malagigi would curl a good effort from distance, which went narrowly over the Apollo goal. Camden & Islington United Development had definitely improved during the second half, but Apollo London were continuing to create goalscoring chances, as well as defending very well. After Apollo substitute Errikos Biniaku had made a great curling pass from out on the left flank, his pass would find Daniel Ndoj, who was just in front of the Camden & Islington goal. After controlling the ball Daniel Ndoj would hit an effort narrowly wide of the goal, from close range.

The impressive Armend Metaj would continue to influence the game well for Apollo. After progressing the ball into the Camden & Islington box, he would pass the ball to a teammate, who then back-heeled the ball back to him, in the centre of the box. However, Armend Metaj would see his low effort on goal be excellently saved by the feet of Alex Achermann-Stanfield. A couple of minutes later and Armend Metaj would hit a fine outside of the boot effort on Alex Achermann-Stanfield’s goal, and with good movement on the ball, the goalkeeper did well to turn it behind for a corner-kick.

As the second half progressed, the influential Armend Metaj continued to be very creative for Apollo. After he had received Indrit Lata’s short pass to the left-hand side of the Camden & Islington penalty area, Armend Metaj would skilfully round the goalkeeper. But, from the byline his low effort was excellently cleared off the goal-line by Camden & Islington defender Isaac Webster. Late on in the game and after Errikos Biniaku had shown some good skill and strength to take the ball from the left flank and into the home team’s box, he would see his resulting curling effort on goal be really well tipped over his crossbar by Achermann-Stanfield. However, before the final whistle had been sounded, Errikos Biniaku would get his goal. Armend Metaj would play the ball across to Errikos Biniaku, and following some good skill inside of the penalty area, he would finish low, into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 0-3. 

This was a very professional performance from Apollo London, who played really well as a team from start to finish. They were both very creative on the ball, and also excellent in defence, making it very difficult for a youthful Camden & Islington United Development side to create goalscoring chances. Camden & Islington United Development worked very hard as a team and they improved during the second half of this game. My Camden & Islington United Development player of the match was their goalkeeper (Alex Achermann-Stanfield), who had an excellent game, making several very good saves.

The very creative Armend Metaj, forward Indrit Lata and Kostandin Brahimaj were just some of Apollo London’s best players on Saturday. In the heart of the Apollo defence, Kostandin Brahimaj put in a tremendous defensive performance, and as well as scoring the opening goal of the game, he organised the defence really well, and he was my player of the match on Saturday.