Non-League and Academy football writer

In an Essex Alliance Football League Premier Division West fixture, FC Baresi Reserves faced London Cranes on Saturday afternoon, at Aylward Academy. FC Baresi Reserves started this league game in sixth place in the Premier Division West table, after five league matches played. London Cranes started this match in ninth place in the table, after eight league matches played. It was London Cranes who deservedly won this game, 4-2.

London Cranes started this game at a really good pace, and they would soon make it 1-0, early on in the match. Following a good through-ball pass towards the run of London Cranes player Oscar Innocent, in behind the FC Baresi defence, he would take the ball past the outrushing Baresi goalkeeper (Jahnih Bulbrook), before surging forward into the penalty area. Although he waited a short while, with a number of Baresi players managing to get back inside of their penalty area, Oscar Innocent would play the ball across, from the right-hand side of the box, to the on running Arafat Lubega. And from the centre of the penalty area he would finish low into the goal, 0-1.

Baresi’s first chance of the match arrived soon after the resumption of play, however. As London Cranes goalkeeper David Cena had to make a good stop to keep out an FC Baresi effort from inside of his penalty area. London Cranes would soon start playing their fast passing game well again, however. After Arafat Lubega had hit a decent and powerful effort over the Baresi goal, from over 20 yards out, John Lumansi would then see his lofted ball into the home team’s penalty area be headed just wide of their goal by Oscar Innocent. 

London Cranes were continuing to create chances as the game went on. And shortly after Matthew Mugisha’s effort powerful low effort from the edge of the Baresi box, had been well kept out by the feet of Jahnih Bulbrook, London Cranes would make it 2-0. Arafat Kajjumbi’s brilliant, powerful effort on goal from over 25 yards out, would hit the underside of Jahnih Bulbrook’s crossbar, with Arafat Lubega then finishing low into the goal, on the follow-up and from close range, 0-2.

FC Baresi Reserves would start to find their rhythm as a team, during the latter stages of the first half. A great, skilful run from midfield by Demitri Davis-Thorpe would see the Baresi player take the ball forward at pace to the edge of the London Cranes box, before playing a short pass to Kishawn James, inside of the box. James’ low effort was well kept out by the goalkeeper, and then on the follow-up, Davis-Thorpe would see his resulting effort be bravely blocked behind, off a defender.

Baresi’s first goal of the match arrived courtesy of a corner-kick, which had been delivered into the London Cranes’ penalty area by Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, with Kishawn James managing to get on the ball inside of the box. James would work the space well, and his resulting powerful low effort would go into the goal, courtesy of a deflection off FC Baresi defender Nikhil Juggessur, 1-2. And despite an end to end finish to the first half, Baresi would make it 2-2 before half-time. Kishawn James received the ball on the right-hand side of the London Cranes penalty area, before playing the ball across to Harlem Anderson. His initial ball control was good, and one versus one with the outrushing goalkeeper, he managed to finish low into the goal, 2-2.

Early on in the second half, and after Jahnih Bulbrook had done well to save an effort on his goal from over 20 yards out, it was London Cranes who were looking the more likely side to win this game. It was still a fairly end to end game, but it was London Cranes who were certainly the more creative side with the ball, in a second half where the home side just didn’t really get going.

Very impressive London Cranes player Arafat Kajjumbi would play a starring role in this good second half performance from the east London club. After going forwards with the ball down the right-hand side of the Baresi penalty area, Arafat Kajjumbi would see his powerful low effort, across goal, be well turned behind by Jahnih Bulbrook. But, soon after, and during the latter stages of this game, the London Cranes player would get his first goal of the afternoon. 

For London Cranes’ third goal of the game, a lofted forward pass was flicked onto Arafat Kajjumbi, just in behind of the FC Baresi Reserves’ defence. He would then take the ball forward at pace, going beyond the outrushing goalkeeper on the edge of the Baresi box, before finishing low into the empty goal from inside of the penalty area, 2-3. Soon after London Cranes player Collina Masembe had volleyed a low effort wide of the Baresi goal, following a good clipped cross into the centre of their penalty area, London Cranes would reestablish their two goal lead, very late on in this contest.

For their fourth goal of the game, Arafat Kajjumbi would skilfully twist and turn with the ball, as he progressed it forward through the middle of the pitch, before powering an unstoppable effort (from over 20 yards out) into the bottom left-hand corner of the FC Baresi goal, 2-4. This was a very good performance from London Cranes on Saturday, I thought. Although the youthful FC Baresi Reserves will be disappointed with their performance, particularly during the second half, the intensity in which London Cranes played their football at for so much of this game, as well as their creativity on the ball and the amount of chances that they created, made them in my opinion, worthy winners.

For FC Baresi Reserves on Saturday, I thought that their hardworking forward Harlem Anderson (he scored the goal to make it 2-2), was their player of the match.  Also, a mention must go to Kishawn James, who provided two assists on the day. For London Cranes, Arafat Lubega, Oscar Innocent and Arafat Kajjumbi were some of their best players from this game. For me however, the excellent and very influential Arafat Kajjumbi, who with two goals and a very good all-round performance, was my player of the match.