Non-League and Academy football writer

Once again, here are my five highlighted non-League/grassroots football matches of this weekend, which are taking place within the London area, or which features teams from London.

Lymore Gardens versus Barkingside: 

On Friday night at The Techsoc Stadium, Lymore Gardens will be looking to return to winning ways in the league, after losing 2-1 away to Hutton, last Saturday. This Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6) fixture is between a Lymore Gardens side who are positioned just outside of the play-off positions, and a Barkingside team who are currently positioned in the relegation zone, in the league table. A win for Lymore Gardens, who have been very strong at home this season, would increase their chances of achieving a play-off spot this season, as they have a number of games in hand over the teams around them in the table.

However, Barkingside, although they have been on a bit of a difficult recent run in the league, will be more than up for this challenge. They will be looking to achieve all three points on Friday, as well, and with so much to play for, this promises to be a really interesting and competitive game of football, in east London.

River Green versus Old Isleworthians: 

Southern Amateur Football League side, River Green, are currently in eight place in South Division 7 of the SAL. Old Isleworthians (first team), who play in the Middlesex County Football League (The Russell Grant Division 2), are having a good season. This is a semi-final tie of this season’s Amateur FA Minor Cup competition, and both sides have been on good cup runs to get to this stage of the cup, with River Green having knocked out Winchmore Hill fifths in the previous round. As Old Isleworthians, beat Tenisons Reserves, in their quarter-final tie.

This important cup game will take place at Barn Elms Sports Centre, on Saturday afternoon.

Hounslow Lions versus RF Elite: 

This Middlesex League semi-final tie of The Eddy Mee Division Two Challenge Cup, promises to be another really interesting cup tie, which is taking place on Saturday afternoon, between Hounslow Lions and RF Elite. RF Elite, who are in their first season in the Middlesex County League, are doing well in The Russell Grant Division 2, and I’ve heard some good things about them as a team. They will face a good Hounslow Lions side who are two places below them in the league table. However, this is a one off cup game, which is taking place at Cranford Community College, and it will be a competitive game, with both sides looking to secure their place in the cup final at Uxbridge FC, next month.

Rochford Town Reserves versus CSM London Under 23s:

CSM London’s talented Under 23 side will travel to Essex on Saturday, for a very important and much deserved semi-final tie of the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy. I’m wishing Essex Alliance Football League Division Two side, CSM London Under 23s, all the very best for this important county cup tie, as they face a tough opponent, in Rochford Town Reserves, of the Essex Olympian League. The talented Under 23 side of CSM London, have been on a great run in this cup competition, so far this season. And they are yet to concede a goal in their run up to this cup tie. Whatever happens on Saturday, CSM’s Under 23 side have done the club proud, as they aim to book their place in the final of this competition.

AC Milano Reserves versus AFC Kumazi Strikers:

Yet another cup tie which makes my highlighted list of games for this weekend, as this time I feature a Sunday league game. In this semi-final tie of the London Sunday Trophy, AC Milano Reserves and AFC Kumazi Strikers face each other, in what will definitely be a really good cup game, with so much at stake, as both sides look to make the final. AC Milano Reserves are currently in fourth place in Division One of the Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League. However, in their way on Sunday morning at Ford Sport & Social, are current Division One Orpington & Bromley District Sunday Football League side, AFC Kumazi Strikers, who are in fifth  place in the division. I may well be at this cup tie, on Sunday.