Non-League and Academy football writer

Cannons Wood’s final Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture of the 2025/26 season was at home to FC Baresi, on Friday evening at Parkside (Aveley FC). Cannons Wood started this game in 12th place in the league standings, after 39 league matches played. FC Baresi, the visiting team on Friday, started this game in 15th place in the league table, after 37 league matches played. This step 6 fixture, which was a real game of two halves, was won 5-3 by Cannons Wood.

Cannons Wood would get off to a great start in this game, taking the lead very early on in the contest. With Ramzi Mahmoudi helping a lofted forward pass on for Alex Balisani inside of the FC Baresi box and just in behind of their defence, from where he finished clinically into the goal, 1-0. FC Baresi did try to respond soon after the resumption of play. With Stefan McKie gliding forwards with the ball down the left-hand side of the pitch, before playing a short pass to Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, inside of the Cannons Wood penalty area. However, the FC Baresi player’s powerful low effort was well kept out at his near post by goalkeeper Sidi Haidara.

Cannons Wood continued to play well, and at a good intensity. A good ball across from the right-hand side of the pitch, by Alex Balisani, would find Noah Adejokun inside of the FC Baresi penalty area, but the forward’s effort from close range was really well stopped by the outrushing by FC Baresi goalkeeper, Razvan Marcu. Before Cannons Wood had doubled their lead, FC Baresi player Stefan McKie would play a one-two pass with Kuba Vermont Ollivierre on the left flank, before receiving the ball down the left-hand side of the home team’s box. Stefan McKie’s low effort on goal was kept out well by Sidi Haidara.

For Cannons Wood’s second goal of the game, Ramzi Mahmoudi would receive the ball over 20 yards out from goal, close to the edge of the FC Baresi penalty area, but to the left-hand side of the pitch. The Cannons Wood number ten’s excellent whipped effort would find the top right-hand corner of Razvan Marcu’s goal, 2-0. Cannons Wood were relentless in their fast passing game, and it was really starting to cause the visiting team a lot of problems. Forward and Cannons Wood captain Timo Monsheju’s lay off to Alex Balisani down the right-hand side of the pitch, would result in the skilful winger playing the ball across the penalty area, to Noah Adejokun. His effort from close range would hit Razvan Marcu’s crossbar.

Two further goals in quick succession for the home side would follow. For their third goal of the evening, Sam Wilson would finish low into the goal, following a good move inside the FC Baresi penalty area, 3-0. And then soon after, for their fourth goal of the game, a cross from the left flank, into the away team’s penalty area, was headed home low and powerfully into the goal by Timothy Monsheju, 4-0. FC Baresi did manage to get a goal back before half-time, before Cannons Wood had got their fifth goal of the game.

For FC Baresi’s first goal of the game, Junior Appiah would chase the ball down following a headed back pass to Sidi Haidara, inside of the home team’s box. But, Junior Appiah would get to the ball, take it around the goalkeeper, before then finishing low into the goal from close range, 4-1. Just before half-time and crucially in the context of this game, Cannons Wood would make it 5-1. They would counter forward with the ball at pace, before Timothy Monsheju volleyed the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner of Razvan Marcu’s goal, after meeting Ramzi Mahmoudi’s cross into the FC Baresi penalty area, 5-1.

FC Baresi started the second half of this game at an improved energy and intensity. Shortly after Sertan Kirman’s powerful, swerving effort from the edge of the Cannons Wood box, was well tipped over his goal by Sidi Haidara, Baresi managed to get another goal. From Kuba Vermont Ollivierre’s curling corner-kick towards goal, most of the FC Baresi players thought that the ball had crossed the goal-line, but the goal wasn’t given. The ball would then come out to Erol Hassan, who in a central position and from over 20 yards out from goal, would hit an excellent and powerfully hit effort towards the top left-hand corner of the goal, 5-2.

With the momentum now being with FC Baresi, they managed to get another goal back in the game. As goalkeeper Razvan Marcu’s long diagonal pass had bounced into the path of Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, on the left-hand side of the Cannons Wood box. And Kuba Vermont Ollivierre would show some really good composure in front of goal, finishing well into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 5-3.

Both sides would defend well during the latter stages of this eventful game of football. FC Baresi, who continued to really push the home side, in order to try to get something from this game, would create one further decent goalscoring chance. As a good forward run with the ball from Stefan McKie, would result in the defender passing the ball to Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, whose good and powerful low effort from the edge of the box, was well parried by Sidi Haidara. A really good and competitive game of football, which saw both sides compete well right until the end of the game, in the end it would finish Cannons Wood 5-3 FC Baresi.

Regarding my player of the match award on Friday, and despite there being a number of players to choose from, I’m going to award it to Ramzi Mahmoudi, who had a great influence on this match in the context of Cannons Wood’s win, and their dominant first half performance. Timothy Monsheju, Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, Junior Appiah, and Sidi Haidara were also contenders. My FC Baresi player of the match award goes to Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, with the youngster putting in a fine performance out on the left wing. First half substitute, Sajid Aziz, also deserves a mention, for his influence on the game from midfield.