Non-League and Academy football writer

Haringey Borough Reserves faced inform side London Harts United on Friday night, in an Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixture at Coles Park. Haringey Borough Reserves started this league fixture in 12th place in the Senior Division table after eight matches played, with London Harts United starting this game in fourth place in the league standings, after seven matches played. This step 7 match was won 4-3 by London Harts United.

Haringey Borough Reserves would create the first goalscoring chance of this game. After Kal El-Fenton’s fine whipped cross (following a good forward run with the ball) into the London Harts penalty area had to be headed away by an away team’s defender, the ball went behind for a corner-kick, but only just wide of goalkeeper Enrique Kalsi’s goal. London Harts United would however, go on to take the lead in the game, very soon after. John Quissua would drive forwards with the ball down the left flank, before his low cross into the Haringey box wasn’t cleared away properly. The ball came to Tamas Retyi, who from just inside of the penalty area would show some good skill with the ball, before finishing cleverly into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, under pressure, 0-1.

Soon after play had resumed and after Haringey Borough player Rashid Bangura had got to a lofted diagonal pass on the left-hand side of the away team’s penalty area, he would hit a decent powerful effort (on the half-volley) over the goal. But, a couple of moments after Pharrell Mensah’s inviting cross into the London Harts box had to be headed behind by a defender, with the ball going just wide of the goal, Haringey would draw level. A corner-kick which was played short to Nacer Ahmed on the edge of the London Harts box, would see the Haringey midfielder, who was in a bit of space, hit a brilliant swerving effort which found the top right-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

Following that equalising goal for Haringey Borough Reserves, and shortly after the resumption of play in this good contest, the away side would retake the lead. The alert Tamas Retyi would run onto a long lofted forward pass and, in a central position and after running in behind of the Haringey defence, he found himself one v one with the goalkeeper, inside of the penalty area. Tamas Retyi would then calmly slot the ball low into the goal, 1-2. Haringey Borough Reserves would try to respond again, but after Rashid Bangura had hit a low effort from the edge of the London Harts box, narrowly wide of their goal, London Harts United would go on to extend their lead further.

For London Harts’ third goal of the game David Moyo would meet a long ball across the floor, towards the right-hand side of the pitch. The London Harts United forward would take the ball forward towards the edge of the Haringey penalty area, before playing a square pass to the on running John Quissua, on the left-hand side of the penalty area. From there and in space, John Quissua would finish low into the goal, 1-3. Just before half-time Tamas Retyi would play a one-two pass with David Moyo on the edge of the home team’s penalty area, before receiving the ball on the left-hand side of the box. Tamas Retyi’s resulting low effort on goal was well turned around his near post by the Haringey goalkeeper, Ronnie Lane. 

During the early stages of the second half Haringey Borough Reserves would get their second goal of the game. A nice lofted pass from Eron Scott, would find the impressive Haringey Borough captain, Luke Von Herkomer, on the left-hand side of the London Harts penalty area. From there the skilful Haringey number 10 was fouled by an opposing team’s player, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot. As Pharrell Mensah finished emphatically to the left-hand corner of the goal, from the resulting penalty, 2-3.

Shortly after John Quissua had hit a quickly taken and powerful low effort (from the left-hand side of the home team’s box), which went narrowly wide of Ronnie Lane’s left-hand post, Haringey Borough would go really close to making it 3-3. With Pharrell Mensah hitting a fine and powerful low effort on the London Harts goal from 25 yards out, which was really well turned behind by Enrique Kalsi. And then a couple of minutes afterwards, Rashid Bangura’s powerful low effort across goal, from the left-hand side of the London Harts box, was well gathered by Enrique Kalsi.

The chances continued to be created by both sides as the second half progressed. The next chance came the way of London Harts United, as John Quissua surged forwards with the ball down the left flank, before playing the ball across to Tamas Retyi, in space in the centre of the Haringey box. However, his side-footed effort would go over Ronnie Lane’s crossbar. Tamas Retyi did manage to get his hat-trick goal around five minutes later though, and it would come from the penalty spot after George Mwale had been fouled inside of the penalty area. Tamas Retyi would then calmly curl the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-4.

Both sides would continue to move the ball around the pitch with both pace and purpose, during the latter stages of the game. Haringey Borough Reserves didn’t stop trying. And following a short pass to Luke Von Herkomer on the edge of the London Harts United penalty area. After skilfully working the space under pressure to get an effort away on goal, his resulting curling effort on goal was heading for the back of the net. And although Enrique Kalsi had done well to parry the ball, he was just unable to stop the ball from going into the goal on the goal-line, with Oscar Cameron helping the ball over the goal-line, on the follow-up, 3-4. Haringey Borough Reserves would really push for a very late leveller, but London Harts United were just able to hold on, as they picked up another important three points.

This was a brilliant game of football, in which both teams impressed in, with London Harts United running out 4-3 winners in the end. Both sides played looked to play forward at every opportunity, and it made for a highly entertaining game. For London Harts United, Tamas Retyi, John Quissua and Kyran Henderson were some of their standout players on Friday. For Haringey Borough Reserves, Luke Von Herkomer was very good both in and out of possession (he was my Haringey Borough Reserves player of the match), with Pharrell Mensah and Nacer Ahmed just some of their other notable performances, in what was a real team performance from this youthful reserve team. Also, centre-forward Dillon Barnes’ leading of the line was very good throughout, I thought.

My overall player of the match award goes to London Harts United’s number 10, Tamas Retyi, who with a well taken hat-trick of goals, and some excellent movement and anticipation of play, he had a very good game for the away side.