Non-League and Academy football writer

In a second round tie of the Middlesex FA Premier Cup (2025/26), NW London faced Civil Service on Tuesday night, at Coles Park. NW London are a step 6 non-League side, who are currently in tenth place in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South. Civil Service play their football in the top division of the Southern Amateur League (Senior Division 1) and they are currently in ninth place in the Senior Division 1 standings. Civil Service reached the final of last seasons Middlesex FA Premier Cup, which they narrowly lost to Brook House on penalties. This cup tie was won 4-0 by Civil Service.

Civil Service would go on to take the lead early on in the tie. With a Civil Service free-kick (from between 30 and 35 yards out) being played across the floor to the run of a teammate down the right-hand side of the NW London box. His effort was well closed down and saved by the NW London goalkeeper, Fernando Turriel. However, the ball was then flicked back into the penalty area, and moments after a defender had managed to clear the ball off the goal-line, Josh Valentin would get to the ball in the centre of the box, before quickly finishing well, into the middle of the goal, 0-1.

Around ten minutes after Civil Service had taken the lead, NW London player Emmanuel Okoko would curl a really fine free-kick effort (from 20 yards out), against the away team’s crossbar. Civil Service would start to create more good chances as the first half progressed, with Josh Valentin being the focal point. After Euan Munday had played a short forward pass to the run of Josh Valentin down the right-hand side of the home team’s penalty area, he was met by the outrushing goalkeeper. Valentin would lift the ball over the goalkeeper, with his effort going narrowly wide of his right-hand post. However, Civil Service would soon double their advantage in this cup tie.

For Civil Service’s second goal of the game, and following a free-kick, Euan Munday would get to the ball on the edge of the NW London penalty area. The Civil Service number ten would then play a short pass out to Dwayne Sommerville, on the left-hand side of the NW London penalty area. Dwayne Sommerville was one v one with a defender, but he would get the ball out of his feet quickly before finishing low into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, with his left foot, 0-2. NW London would try to respond soon after play had resumed. However, shortly after NW London player Fidel Aghati had got to a lofted pass down the left-hand side of the away team’s box, with his low effort on goal being well kept out by goalkeeper Reuben Bull and a defender, NW London had a player sent off.

Not long before half-time, impressive Civil Service player Eddie Polaine’s free-kick delivery from out on the right-hand side of the pitch had been cleared. Euan Munday would then get to the ball on the edge of the penalty area, before seeing his powerful effort on the half-volley, be excellently matched and pushed over by NW London’s goalkeeper, Fernando Turriel. Civil Service would start the second half in a similar fashion to how they had finished the first half. John Sewell’s side would soon make it 3-0 in the cup tie, making it very difficult for NW London to get back into the game. 

For their third goal of the game, Civil Service’s influential number ten, Euan Munday, would receive the ball around 20 yards out from goal. Euan Munday would then shift the ball onto his left foot before finishing powerfully and low into the goal, off the goalkeeper’s left-hand post, 0-3. Civil Service would continue to dominate play, as the second half went on. After Dwayne Sommerville had gone forwards with the ball down the left flank, he would power an effort on goal from the edge of the penalty area, which was well parried by Fernando Turriel.

A couple of minutes after that effort from Dwayne Sommerville, Civil Service would again come close to making it 4-0. Josh Valentin would get to a cross out on the right-hand side of the NW London box, before playing the ball across to substitute Joe Henley, whose effort would go behind off of the goalkeeper’s near post. But, Civil Service would soon get their fourth goal of the game. Another Civil Service substitute, Ben Jones, would receive a short forward pass to the left-hand side of the home team’s box, before calmly finishing low into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 0-4. 

Civil Service continued to control the tie, and they would also continue to create additional goalscoring chances. Following a good save from Fernando Turriel, to keep out a powerful effort on his goal (from 20 yards out), Harry Gregory would then see two efforts on the follow-up and from inside of the penalty area, be well kept out by the NW London goalkeeper. The game became even more difficult for the home side, after they had a second player sent off late on in the game. Civil Service’s final notable chance, very late on, would see Joe Henley get to a pass on the left-hand side of the NW London box, before hitting a low effort against the goalkeeper’s left-hand post, with a teammate just unable to finish on the follow-up.

This was a very professional, disciplined and efficient team performance from Civil Service. The famous SAL side started the tie well, and after going 2-0 up there was a sending off for NW London, and from then on it was an even more dominant performance from Civil Service, who impressed throughout. NW London’s goalkeeper, Fernando Turriel, was their player of the match. However, for my overall player of the match award, there were a number of Civil Service players who I could have chosen. Players such as commanding central-defender Dom McCarthy, Eddie Polaine, Dwayne Sommerville, Josh Valentin, and Euan Munday. However, my player of the match award goes to tireless and very consistent Civil Service midfielder, Lind Osmani, who broke up the play so effectively, as well as using the ball really well throughout the game.