Non-League and Academy football writer

In the early afternoon kick-off at Uxbridge FC’s Honeycroft ground on Saturday, this season’s Middlesex County Football League The Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup final, was between two Division One West sides, in AFC Southall and Townmead. The holders of this league cup competition, AFC Southall, are currently in second place in Division One West, with their opponents on Saturday, Townmead, in eighth place in the league table. It was Townmead who won this cup final, 1-0.

Started at a steady pace, it was Townmead who managed to create the first real goalscoring chance of this final, after having created some decent early openings. Townmead forward Michael Enubuje would drop deep to receive the ball before then playing it forward to Stanley Geraghty, who would surge forward with the ball down the left, taking it inside of the AFC Southall penalty area. His resulting low effort on goal was gathered by AFC Southall goalkeeper, Hasan Hussein.

Shorty after AFC Southall had a goal ruled out for offside, they would really start to grow into this competitive final. A low curling free-kick effort from the edge of the Townmead box, by Jovan Bains, was well parried by the Townmead goalkeeper, Jamie Cooper. Then around five minutes later at the opposite end of the pitch, and following a Townmead free-kick, Stanley Geraghty would see his first time effort from the edge of the AFC Southall box, be well parried by Hasan Hussein.

Townmead player Reggie Whitehead would make two very important defensive interventions inside of the Townmead box, in quick succession, late on in the first half. However, AFC Southall player Jovan Bains would go on a great and skilful forward run from deep late on, with the ball. Jovan Bains would take the ball into the Townmead penalty area, before laying the ball off for Hashim Ahmed, whose powerful first time effort was really well tipped over, off the top of his crossbar, by Jamie Cooper. 

Townmead would start the second half well, taking the lead very early on. Matthew Taylor’s long throw-in into the busy AFC Southall box from out on the right-hand side of the pitch would fall for Dougie Hillman on the right-hand side of the penalty area. His initial effort was blocked by an AFC Southall player, but at the second time of asking he would loop the ball across to the back post, where Mitchell Hadaway would meet the ball on the volley, as he volleyed it into the goal well and from close range, 0-1.

AFC Southall were continuing to see more of the ball inside of the opposing team’s half of the pitch. But, Townmead, as they had done since the first whistle, were defending resolutely. Jovan Bains’ clipped cross from out on the right-hand side of the pitch, would be met by Preet Singh, on the left-hand side of the Townmead box. His effort was well saved low down by the outrushing Jamie Cooper, who made another important stop. And Townmead would then counter forwards with the ball at pace, with Kierdan Adega getting to a long ball upfield. After taking the ball into the AFC Southall box, his powerful effort on goal was pushed away by Hasan Hussein.

Despite AFC Southall really pushing Townmead during the latter stages of the game, Townmead would defend really well as a team, going into second half additional time, and they would hold on to record a 1-0 victory. This cup final victory clearly meant a lot to the Townmead players, coaches and supporters, as Benn Day’s side won the cup courtesy of a fine team performance, with everyone playing their part on the Townmead team. It was a fine performance both with and without the ball from Townmead, who wouldn’t have started this game as the favourites, but it was also a game of not very many goalscoring chances overall.

For AFC Southall, I thought that their player of the match was the creative Jovan Bains. But, for my overall player of the match I’m going to award it to a Townmead player. With the match winner Mitchell Hadaway, Dougie Hillman and Jamie Cooper all contenders. However, my player of the match award goes to the all action Reggie Whitehead. Many congratulations to Townmead on winning this season’s The Jim Rogers President’s Division One Cup.