Non-League and Academy football writer

In a rearranged London Senior Trophy first round tie, FC Baresi faced SC Thamesmead on Wednesday evening at Wodson Park. Both step 6 sides, FC Baresi are currently in 12th place in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South table after 17 league matches played. Whilst SC Thamesmead are currently in 15th place in the SCEFL First Division, after 12 league matches played. In what was the first ever meeting between these sides, it was FC Baresi who won this eventful cup tie, 4-1.

FC Baresi would go ahead early on in this cup tie, following a good team move. Left sided central-defender Marvin Smith would win the ball deep inside of the home team’s half, on the left flank. He would then progress the ball forward for a little while before playing a forward pass across the floor to Kishawn James, who would himself take the ball forwards, to the byline. James would then deliver a good low cross into the centre of the SC Thamesmead box, from where Alexandru Vtornicov would finish emphatically (first time) into the roof of the goal, 1-0.

SC Thamesmead would try to create some good goalscoring chances, as the game progressed, as they looked to respond to going 1-0 down. But, FC Baresi were defending their goal well, before going on to double their advantage in the 24th minute of the game. Kishawn James would pass the ball across, from the left, to Alexandru Vtornicov, who was just inside of the SC Thamesmead box, and from there he was brought down by a defender, with the referee pointing to the penalty spot. Alexandru Vtornicov’s resulting penalty was finished powerfully into the bottom left-hand comer of the goal, 2-0.

Tufail Amjad’s FC Baresi side would continue to move the ball around the pitch well, showing good patience with the ball. Late on in the first half SC Thamesmead would create two goalscoring chances. Following Owen Jeavons’ powerful effort from the right-hand side of the Baresi penalty area, which went over goalkeeper Graham Loki’s crossbar, the Baresi goalkeeper would then gather Brandon Hatega’s effort from inside the box, at his near post, soon afterwards.

During the opening stages of the second half SC Thamesmead would shown signs of improvement, but it was FC Baresi who would get the next goal of the tie. Again arriving courtesy of a penalty, after Sajid Aziz had been fouled after getting to Erol Hassan’s lofted free-kick delivery down the right-hand side of the away team’s penalty area. With Alexandru Vtornicov sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot to get his hat-trick goal, 3-0.

Soon after that third goal of the tie, SC Thamesmead would get a goal back in the game. SC Thamesmead substitute Sam O’Keefe finishing low and powerfully on the follow-up after an initial effort, following a cross into the FC Baresi box, had been well blocked, 3-1. SC Thamesmead were now really growing into the game, as they started to create a number of chances, in quick succession. After George Dennis had met a through-ball pass in behind the home team’s defence, and to the right-hand side of their penalty area, he would see his powerful effort across goal be really well turned behind by Graham Loki. And then a couple of minutes later, SC Thamesmead substitute Hassan Omar would head an effort over following a free-kick delivery to the centre of the Baresi penalty area.

FC Baresi had already had to make all of their changes (they had three substitutes on the bench) when their ever impressive captain Edson Lami had gone down injured, Baresi would have to play the game with ten men for the next couple of minutes. Next, and FC Baresi substitute and first team debutant, Gabriel Mazur, would make a hugely important headed goal-line clearance, following Dan Palfrey’s (he was sin-binned soon after) powerful header on goal, after he had met a corner-kick delivery into the home team’s box. SC Thamesmead were continuing to really dominate the play in FC Baresi’s final third of the pitch. And straight after an excellent fingertip save from Graham Loki had stopped a deflected effort, from the edge of his box, from dipping into his goal, the away team would again go very close to making it 3-2. With a headed effort hitting the woodwork of Graham Loki’s goal, from the resulting corner-kick. 

Very late on in the tie, and with SC Thamesmead now down to nine men (for another sin-bin, I believe), Baresi would go on to add a fourth goal to their tally. And what a goal it was from the influential Sajid Aziz, who powered a superb first time effort (from a rolling ball) high into the away team’s goal from over 30 yards out, 4-1. I thought that FC Baresi were excellent both in and out possession, during the first half of this cup tie. The team who will face SE Dons (away) in the next round of this prestigious competition, did have a lot of defending to do during the second half, following a much improved second half performance from SC Thamesmead, and whilst Baresi were unfortunate with injuries, they held on, as well as getting a late fourth goal, despite a lot of pressure from the visiting side.

Marvin Smith was my player of the match on Wednesday, for what was an outstanding defensive display in central-defence from the vastly experienced FC Baresi player, whose main position is in central midfield. He read and anticipated the play really well, as well as showing his quality on the ball. Blerdon Kurtolli, hat-trick hero Alexandru Vtornicov, Edson Lami, Erol Hassan, and Sajid Aziz, were some of the other contenders for my player of the match award.