Non-League and Academy football writer

In what was both side’s opening group A fixture of this season’s Somali British Champions League, Newmont faced Wood Lane at Springwest Academy (in Feltham) on late Sunday afternoon. Promising to be a good game of football, it was Newmont who won this competitive and well contested match, 1-0. 

Wood Lane’s start to this game was very good, and it wasn’t long before their first goal attempt of the game. And after Rayan Haddi’s decent, looping effort from distance had gone wide of the Newmont goal, Wood Lane were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Newmont penalty area. With Abdihakim Daahir’s whipped free-kick delivery going in front of the goalkeeper, as a teammate (he was under pressure) headed wide from close range. 

The pace to the game during its early stages was very good. Next, and the alert Wood Lane goalkeeper, Ahmed Hassan, would do well to win the ball off Abdilahi Abdi, who had taken the ball down the right-hand side of the away team’s penalty area. Still quite early on in this competitive game, there would be a penalty which was awarded to the away side, as the result of a coming together involving the Newmont goalkeeper (Elmi Elmi) and a Wood Lane player inside of the penalty area. The Newmont goalkeeper had the ball in his hands when the coming together had occurred, and after the referee had consulted the linesman on the near side, he would show a yellow card to Elmi Elmi, as well as awarding a penalty to Wood Lane.

Wood Lane’s captain, Abdullahi Abdullahi, would step up to take the resulting penalty. His powerful low effort would however, go wide of Elmi Elmi’s right-hand post. With Wood Lane still pushing for the opening goal of this contest, Newmont would stun the visiting side by taking the lead in the game, and they would go on to finish the first half well. For their goal, Newmont player Abdilahi Abdi’s inviting, whipped corner-kick delivery into the centre of the Wood Lane penalty area was met by Adan Ali, whose powerful header found the back of the goal, 1-0.

Newmont forward Abdilahi Abdi was starting to really influence the game down the right-hand side of the pitch, and soon after the game had resumed and following some fine step-overs with the ball down the right-hand side of the Wood Lane box, he would get an effort away. Abdilahi Abdi’s outside of the boot effort would however, go just wide of Ahmed Hassan’s right-hand post, as the ball went across the face of his goal.

During the opening stages of the second half and following an earlier chance for Newmont inside the Wood Lane box, Newmont’s number 19 would turn with the ball on the edge of the home side’s box, before hitting an effort narrowly over Ahmed Hassan’s crossbar. Newmont would then go on to create a further two goalscoring chances, still early on in the second half. Firstly, and after Arale Mohamed’s half-volley from out on the right-hand side of the Wood Lane penalty area, had gone wide across the face of their goal, Newmont would again manage another effort. On this occasion, Amir Mohammed’s powerful low effort from 20 yards out, would go wide of Ahmed Hassan’s goal.

After that good start to the second half from Newmont, Wood Lane would start to really play their football to good effect, once again. Following a lofted Wood Lane free-kick from midfield, into the Newmont penalty area, the ball would fall for Daniel Pereira, just on the edge of the box. After turning quickly with the ball, his resulting low effort would go narrowly wide of Elmi Elmi’s right-hand post. A couple of minutes later, and Daniel Pereira would receive Omar Dirow’s pass along the floor, on the edge of the Newmont penalty area. Once again Daniel Pereira would turn well with his back to goal, before this time seeing his low effort which was heading for the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, be really well turned behind by Elmi Elmi.

With Wood Lane continuing to really push for a late leveller, Abdihakim Daahir’s low curling effort from 20 yards out on goal was well gathered by Elmi Elmi, before Wood Lane had a player sent off late on, which made it very difficult for them to get a point from this game. As Rayan Haddi, who had an impressive game for Wood Lane, was shown a straight red card for a sliding challenge on a Newmont player, by the referee. Wood Lane did push a number of players forward for the final minutes of the game, but Newmont would hold on, to record all three points.

This was a very competitive game, which saw some strong challenges, and it was played at a very good tempo throughout. In my opinion, Wood Lane were very unfortunate not to get something from the game, overall. Although, Newmont have to get credit for the way in which they managed the game and how they defended their 1-0 lead during the second half, Wood Lane will be very disappointed that they couldn’t get at least one goal. As they created a really good number of goalscoring chances during the 90 minutes. However, it was another enjoyable game to cover on my blog, in the excellent SBCL.

For Wood Lane, Jay Hines (he was very good in central defence, both on the ball and in his defending), Rayan Haddi, Daniel Pereira, and Abdullahi Abdullahi, were some of the the away team’s players who in my opinion were some of the contenders for the player of the match award. For Newmont, Abdilahi Abdi and Sharmake Ali were some of their best players (in my opinion) during this game. But, overall my player of the match award goes to Aarush Yogarajan, who defended very well on the left flank for Newmont. He was relentless off the ball, and he would also progress the ball forward well on occasions. Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to both teams, for their all of their help and their welcome on Sunday.