Non-League and Academy football writer

In what was both side’s penultimate group-stage fixture of this season’s Somali British Champions League (Group A), OIR faced Newmont on late Sunday afternoon, at Enfield Grammar School. OIR’s opening group-stage fixture, against Hilltop, finished 2-2. Newmont won their opening group-stage match 1-0, away to Wood Lane. This match would finish 1-1.

Newmont started this game quite well. Around the 15 minute mark of the game, Newmont player Mohammed Ali would see his low effort on goal, from the left-hand side of the OIR penalty area, be excellently cleared off the goal-line by OIR defender Ayub Ali. Then, at the opposite end of the pitch, from an OIR free-kick (from 25 yards out on goal) Ahmed Ali’s good, dipping effort would hit Elmi Elmi’s crossbar, before going behind for a goal-kick.

Newmont had by this point in the first half, really started to play well. They soon found themselves 1-0 up, courtesy of a fine finish from Khalid Maye. Newmont player Mahamud Hussein’s pass across to Khalid Maye on the right-hand side of the pitch, would result in the Newmont forward powering a low effort (from the edge of the box) into the bottom right-hand corner of the OIR goalkeeper’s (Freddy Andrews) goal, 0-1. Now in control of the game, Newmont were really pushing for a second goal before half-time.

After some good holdup play from Mohammed Ali with the ball, he would turn well with the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch, before playing a short pass across to Amir, on the edge of the OIR penalty area. Amir’s really good first time side-footed effort, would hit the underside of the goalkeeper’s crossbar, before bouncing clear of the goal. And then just before half-time with Newmont continuing to do well, Mahamud Hussein would hit a good effort, from 30 yards out, which dipped just over the OIR goal.

OIR had certainly improved in their all-round play during the second half, and they would manage to draw level in this game. After Alie Bangura had received a forward pass down the left flank, the highly skilful OIR player would do well to go around a Newmont defender before taking the ball towards the Newmont penalty area, and then delivering a great and very inviting cross to the back post of their goal. His cross was powerfully headed into the goal by Mukhtar Muridi, 1-1.

Proving to be a really good contest during the second half, Newmont went on to create the next goalscoring chance of this game. Khalid Maye would turn with the ball in midfield, before playing a through-ball pass towards the run of Mohammed Ali. Mohammed Ali’s run with the ball, down the right-hand side of the OIR box, would result in him (he was closely followed by an OIR defender) hitting a low effort wide of the goalkeeper’s near post.

OIR were seeing more of the ball during the second half, against a well organised Newmont side, and they were really pushing for that winning goal. However, the final real chance of the game, came the way of Newmont. As substitute Abdilahi Abdi had got to the ball inside the OIR penalty area, before hitting a low effort which seemed destined to find the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, but for a great bit of defending and anticipation from an OIR defender, on the goal-line.

This was a really competitive game, with Newmont undoubtedly being the better of the two sides during the first half, but OIR definitely improved during the second half, really going for the win. In the end however, both sides would have to settle for a point, as they maintain their unbeaten run in the competition, this season. Newmont central-defender Sharmake Ali was my player of the match on Sunday, after a very good defensive performance from him, alongside Warsame Mohamed. However, Abubakar, Mahamud Hussein, Khalid Maye, and Mohammed Ali were some of the other impressive performances for the west London side.

For OIR, Alie Bangura, Mohammed Awale, and Ayub Ali, were in my opinion three of their best players on the day. OIR’s final group-stage fixture is a very important one against Wood Lane. Newmont face Hilltop, in their final group game of this season’s edition of the SBCL.