Non-League and Academy football writer

After a 4-2 loss away to May & Baker last Saturday, FC Baresi were looking to get back to winning ways at a crucial time in their season, on Saturday afternoon at home to Southend Manor. FC Baresi started this Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture at Wodson Park, in 17th place in the league table (after 35 matches played), with Southend Manor starting this game in 19th place, after 35 matches played. My match for this season’s non-League day, it was Southend Manor who won this game, 3-2.

Southend Manor would start this game at a good intensity, pressing the home team well, off the ball. However, it was FC Baresi who went on to create the first real chance of the match. As their captain Junior Appiah’s forward pass had found the overlapping run of Leo Ruci down the right-hand side of the away team’s box. However, Leo Ruci’s powerfully hit low effort would go narrowly wide, across the goal. Following on from that early FC Baresi chance, and the influential Nicola Rapacchiani would play a nice forward pass in behind of the Southend Manor defence, towards the run of Sertan Kirman. Down the right-hand side of the box, Sertan Kirman, who was closely followed by a defender, would see his powerful effort be parried away by goalkeeper Freddy Andrews, at his near post.

Some great last ditch defending, firstly from Blerdon Kurtolli, and then from Leo Ruci inside the FC Baresi penalty area, would manage to keep the scores level. And following on from that, Baresi would create a number of fine goalscoring chances. Kishawn James would take the ball forwards well, to the edge of the Southend Manor box, before finding Sertan Kirman on the right-hand side of the penalty area, whose powerful effort would hit the crossbar. A couple of minutes after that good move from Tufail Amjad’s side, and this time Sertan Kirman would pass the ball to Kishawn James, on the edge of the Southend Manor box. Kishawn James would skilfully take the ball around a Southend Manor defender, before seeing his curling effort be really well saved by Freddy Andrews.

Baresi continued to go forward with the ball well, and at confidence, as the first half of this game progressed. A good lofted forward pass from deep, by Blerdon Kurtolli, would fall for the run of Junior Appiah, in behind the Southend Manor defence. The FC Baresi forward was one versus one with Andrews inside of the penalty area, who made another big stop to keep the scores level. And a matter of minutes later, a free-kick which had been awarded, around 24 yards out from the FC Baresi goal, resulted in Southend Manor taking the lead against the run of play. As their captain, Dylan Sanham, curled an effort into the top right-hand corner of Razvan Marcu’s goal, 0-1. 

That goal was scored late on in the first half, but just before half-time, and the same Southend Manor player would curl a free-kick effort narrowly over, from the edge of the FC Baresi box. However, in the early stages of the second half, FC Baresi would draw level in this game. A great, surging forward run from Stefan McKie down the left flank, would result in him taking the ball to the left-hand side of the away team’s box, before seeing his effort kept out on the goal-line. But, on the follow-up and following a partial clearance from a Southend Manor defender, the ball would bounce off Nicola Rapacchiani, who had done some good closing down, and go into the goal, 1-1.

Straight after the resumption of play, Baresi would lose possession of the ball on the edge of their penalty area. A Southend Manor player would get on the ball, and from inside of the FC Baresi penalty area, his low effort on goal was helped home from close range, by Finley Goodchild, 1-2. The second half of this game had started at a frantic pace, and some good persistence from FC Baresi would lead to them drawing level again, very soon after play had resumed. The ball was played out to Nicola Rapacchiani on the right-hand side of the pitch, and the FC Baresi player would then loop the ball across to Junior Appiah. From inside of the penalty area but from a difficult angle, Junior Appiah would volley an excellent effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 2-2.

There continued to be a great pace to the game, but as the second half progressed, the game became more stretched. And relatively late on in the game, Southend Manor would score what proved to be the winning goal. As Southend Manor substitute Max Bellamy had met a great, outside of the boot pass just inside of the FC Baresi box, and in a bit of space he would loop the ball over Razvan Marcu well, and into the goal, 2-3. FC Baresi now had to chase the game, but time was running out for them to get at least a point. Substitute Immanuel Soetan would run onto the ball, following a loose pass from a Southend Manor player. But, from the edge of the away team’s box, his low effort was well saved and matched by the outstretched Freddy Andrews.

A late counter forward with the ball from Southend Manor would almost lead to them sealing the win. With Lionel Bones getting to a pass across from the left-hand side of the Baresi penalty area, and in a lot of space inside of the box, his effort was well kept out by the outrushing Razvan Marcu. This was a bitterly disappointing  end to the game for FC Baresi, and one in which they more than had the chances to win. However, credit must go to a youthful Southend Manor side who took their chances at crucial moments in the game, to pick up a hugely important three points. Their goalkeeper, Freddy Andrews, was my overall player of the match today, having made several key saves in the game, to really help his side out. For FC Baresi, the scorer of their first goal and the provider of their second, Nicola Rapacchiani, was my FC Baresi player of the match.