Non-League and Academy football writer

Old Carthusians, who are currently in first place in the Premier Division of the Arthurian League, faced a London Fennecs side who are really challenging for the Premier Division of the Middlesex County Football League, in this Amateur FA Senior Cup quarter-final tie on early Saturday afternoon. Played at Charterhouse School, in Surrey, it was London Fennecs, who despite having a player sent off during the early stages of the second half, would find a winning goal in second half extra time, to deservedly progress into the semi-finals of this prestigious competition.

Old Carthusians would take an early lead in this cup tie. As a well delivered corner-kick (by number 5) which was delivered towards the back post of the London Fennecs goal (the London Fennecs goalkeeper was an outfield player at this early stage of the game) would end up curling into the goal, although I’m not quite sure if a teammate had helped the ball into the goal at the back post, 1-0. London Fennecs would respond well to going 1-0 down, but shortly after Mouadh Kermani had received the ball on the edge of the home team’s box, and then hit a powerful effort wide, across goal, Old Carthusians would go on to create a couple of further, decent chances.

Not too long before half-time, and London Fennecs player Obinna Nebuwa would pass the ball the short distance to Sofiane Hammouda, who after a nice bit of skill with the ball, would power a good effort (from 25 yards out) on goal, which was well parried and then gathered by the home side’s goalkeeper. During the very early stages of the second half, and London Fennecs would draw level, courtesy of a special free-kick goal from Sofiane Hammouda. The London Fennecs forward’s powerful, dipping free-kick effort from a central position and from between 25 and 30 yards out, would go over the other team’s wall. And with good movement on the ball, Sofiane Hammouda’s effort would nestle into the right-hand corner of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance of getting to the ball, 1-1.

London Fennecs had certainly found their rhythm in this competitive game. However, shortly after Mouadh Kermani’s powerful effort from the edge of the Old Carthusians box, had gone narrowly wide of the goalkeeper’s near post, London Fennecs had a player sent off, as Sofiane Hammouda was shown a straight red card for something that had happened just off the ball, following on from a throw-in for Old Carthusians.

Next, and an Old Carthusians lofted free-kick delivery into the London Fennecs box, was flicked goal-wards by a teammate. However, the London Fennecs goalkeeper, Saeed Pirmoradi, would do well to keep the ball out of the goal, making a good stop in the process. Continuing to compete and do really well against the 11 players of Old Carthusians, London Fennecs player Ramy Rouighi would curl a free-kick effort over the Old Carthusians goal, from the edge of their penalty area, before Old Carthusians were awarded a late penalty.

During the latter stages of a competitive second half to the game, London Fennecs defender Hocine Krouchi was deemed to have fouled an Old Carthusians player inside of the London Fennecs penalty area. This was a crucial moment in the game for both sides. However, Saeed Pirmoradi would make an excellent save to keep out an Old Carthusians player’s (number 4) effort from the penalty spot, before a cross back into the box, to the same Old Carthusians player, would result in his looping header going just over the crossbar.

Despite the ten men of London Fennecs then pushing for a very late winner, the game would go on to extra time. Following quite a cagey first half of extra time, in which in my opinion the visitors had been the better team in, the second half was a lot more lively. Ramy Rouighi would get to the ball down the right-hand side of the Old Carthusians penalty area, in what promised to be a fine chance. His powerful effort on goal was well saved by the outrushing goalkeeper, with Mouadh Kermani seeing his effort on the follow-up, be well anticipated and blocked off the goal-line by a defender.

Yet, it was only a matter of minutes, if even that, after that fine double chance for London Fennecs, when they were awarded a penalty of their own in the final minutes of extra time. Ramy Rouighi had been fouled and brought to the ground by a defender inside of the Old Carthusians box, and the referee would point to the penalty spot. A really big moment in this game followed. The excellent Hocine Krouchi would show some really good composure during his run up, before calmly and clinically finishing high into the goal, beyond the Old Carthusians goalkeeper, 1-2. There was some great scenes of celebration from the London Fennecs players and management staff, as they all celebrated what had proved to be a deserved winner right at the end, of what had been a really good performance from them.

This was a team performance from London Fennecs to be proud of for the management/coaches, especially with ten men for so much of the second half, and against strong and experienced opposition, in Old Carthusians. However, the resilience in which every London Fennecs player showed with ten men, and their confidence in continuing to play their fine football, was admirable. Could London Fennecs win the treble this season, including the Premier Division of the Middlesex County League? Well, it wouldn’t surprise me! They have been very consistent throughout the season so far, and they also have a great squad of players.

For Old Carthusians today, I thought that their vocal and commanding defender (number 20) was their player of the match. For my overall player of the match however, and excellent London Fennecs central-midfielder, Obinna Nebuwa, goalkeeper (Saeed Pirmoradi), and right-back, Sobaan Samad, were all contenders. Personally however, alongside another player who had a very good game (Islem Guerniche), central-defender and match winner, Hocine Krouchi, was my player of the match. Very brave, both aggressive and assertive in defence, Hocine won so many headers, and he defended by example today, making a very important contribution to this hard fought win for London Fennecs. Well done to London Fennecs on their win today.