Non-League and Academy football writer

Looking to bounce back from a 4-2 away defeat to Enfield Borough last Saturday, FC Baresi welcomed May & Baker ECFC to Wodson Park on Saturday afternoon, for what was another very important Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture. FC Baresi started this league fixture in 12th place in the league table after 14 matches played. Baresi came in to this game tied on points with May & Baker, who started this game one place below them in the table, in 13th place. This step 6 match was won by 2-1 by FC Baresi.

This game would start at a steady pace, with FC Baresi creating the first real chance of the contest. With Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo getting to a loose ball, before playing a short forward pass to Junior Appiah, close to the edge of the May & Baler box. Junior Appiah’s low effort on goal was gathered by Amarildo Cekrezi, the May & Baker goalkeeper. May & Baker’s first goalscoring chance of the game would arrive around five minutes later. As their centre-forward, Liam George (he was in a bit of space) glanced a header wide of Graham Loki’s goal, following a corner-kick delivery into the FC Baresi box. 

FC Baresi were starting to play their passing game well, as the first half progressed. A through-ball pass from Sertan Kirman would find the run of Alexandru Vtornicov, in behind of the May & Baker defence. The Baresi centre-forward was through on goal and one versus one with the goalkeeper, but from just inside of the box his powerful resulting effort would go over the goal. After a decent spell in the game for the home side, a well organised May & Baker side would go on to finish the first half the better of the two sides.

After May & Baker’s number ten Ricardas Milasius had played the ball forward to the run of hardworking centre-forward Liam George, he was met by the outrushing Graham Loki on the right-hand side of the pitch. Liam George’s good resulting effort, from a difficult angle, would go across the face of the FC Baresi goal. May & Baker were definitely getting closer to taking the lead, and soon after Arnold Mamm’s corner-kick delivery to the back post was headed against the woodwork by Joe Elull, the east London side would take the lead shortly before half-time.

For the opening goal of this game Liam George would head a lofted forward ball down to Steven Wade out on the right-hand side of the pitch and close to the byline. Steven Wade would assess his options before crossing the ball into the penalty area, finding Liam George at the back post of the goal. The tall centre-forward would powerfully head the ball across goal into its right-hand corner, in what was an unstoppable header, 0-1.

The first real goalscoring chance of the second half would lead to FC Baresi drawing level. Sertan Kirman would receive the ball close to the edge of the May & Baker penalty area, before playing a clever delayed pass towards the path of Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo, who had done well to run in behind of the May & Baker defence. Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo would quickly finish low into the goal, beyond the goalkeeper, 1-1. May & Baker would react quite well to that goal for FC Baresi, and they would soon come close retaking the lead. 

Steven Wade’s free-kick delivery from the left flank and into the FC Baresi penalty area, was met by Liam George, whose headed effort on goal was well blocked on the goal-line by Blerdon Kurtolli. And on the follow-up Joe Elull’s headed effort on goal was kept out by Graham Loki. However, from defending well and stopping May & Baker from retaking the lead, Baresi would then go on to take the lead themselves. A lofted forward pass found Alexandru Vtornicov, who with his back to goal would flick the ball down to Sertan Kirman, who from 20 yards out would then play a nicely weighted through-ball pass towards the run of Alexandru Vtornicov. The Baresi striker would time his run beyond the defence well, and after receiving the ball inside of the box, he would unselfishly play the ball across to the on running Junior Appiah, who finished low into the goal from close range, 2-1.

FC Baresi would manage their one goal lead well, as the second half progressed. Next, Sertan Kirman would receive the ball on the right-hand side of the May & Baker penalty area, before playing a lofted pass to Junior Appiah on the left-hand side of the box. Junior Appiah would bring the ball down well, before hitting a low effort on goal which was gathered by Amarildo Cekrezi. Very late on in the game and following a free-kick which had been awarded to May & Baker out on the left flank, May & Baker would push a lot of players forward into the home team’s penalty area. Billy Gray’s free-kick delivery into the penalty area would find Joe Elull, who headed the ball narrowly wide of the goal. 

This was a second half performance of good character from FC Baresi, who turned it around in the second half, following a difficult spell towards the latter stages of the first half. May & Baker were looking likely to win this game, but following two goals in relatively quick succession for Tufail Amjad’s side, they went on to defend their one goal lead well, showing good determination as a team to pick up a very important win and three points. For May & Baker I thought that their impressive centre-forward and goalscorer Liam George was their player of the match. However, vastly experienced recent signing Joe Elull had a strong game defensively, also impressing for the away team.

For my overall player of the match there was competition from FC Baresi teammates Junior Appiah (both his and Alexandru Vtornicov’s work rate in the forward areas was very good), Blerdon Kurtolli, and Erol Hassan, I’m going to award Sertan Kirman with today’s player of the match award. The midfielder provided one assist (his third of this season), but once again his energy, skill with the ball, and all-round decision making, impressed.