Non-League and Academy football writer

London Fennecs are in a good position to win the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division title. They started this league fixture against Hilltop Reserves on Monday evening (at Club Des Sports), in third place in the Premier Division table after 27 league matches played, and three points off the league leaders Hayes & Hillingdon. Hilltop Reserves started this game in 17th place in the table, after 27 league matches played. London Fennecs would win this league match 3-2, to move up to the top of the league table.

London Fennecs went on to manage the first goal attempt on target of this important game. As Mouadh Kermani had managed to latch onto the ball following a loose pass, and from the edge of the Hilltop penalty area, he would hit a powerful effort on goal, which was well pushed away by their goalkeeper, Ahmed Ahmed Omer. London Fennecs were definitely creating the better chances early on in this game, but Hilltop Reserves were defending solidly. Shortly before the first goal of the game had been scored, not long before half-time, London Fennecs player Ilias Tahraoui would power an excellent effort, from 35 yards out, which would hit the Hilltop crossbar. But, then, soon after, Hilltop Reserves would go into the break 1-0 up.

For the opening goal of the game, Hilltop Reserves were awarded a free-kick around 25 yards out from goal, in quite a central position. Ahmad Fisal Bawar’s effort on goal wasn’t quite gathered by the London Fennecs goalkeeper, with the ball bouncing just in front of him, and in the end the ball would go into his goal, 0-1. London Fennecs were certainly pushing for an equaliser during the early stages of the second half, and early on in the second half and following some good work from Mouadh Kermani out on the left flank, the London Fennecs winger would play the ball across to Adam Toubal, on the edge of the Hilltop box. However, his low effort would go just wide of the goal.

Hilltop Reserves continued to defend well, but London Fennecs had now picked up the pace further, in how they were moving the ball around the pitch. Michael Babarinde would receive the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch, before taking it forwards at pace. Having gone on a good and skilful run to the right-hand side of the Hilltop box, Michael Babarinde would finish emphatically off the goalkeeper’s bottom right-hand post and into the goal, 1-1. And then straight after the resumption of play, London Fennecs would score another goal.

For their second goal of the game, and after the home side had won the ball, Sofiane Hammouda would take the ball forwards, beyond the Hilltop defence and to the edge of their penalty area, where his powerful low effort would go into the goal, 2-1. And in no time at all, London Fennecs would go on to establish a two goal lead. With a Hilltop defender’s loose pass from defence being latched onto by Mouadh Kermani on the edge of the Hilltop penalty area. And just like with Michael Babarinde and Sofiane Hammouda’s finishes before him, Mouadh Kermani would finish low and powerfully into the goal, 3-1.

London Fennecs came close to making it 4-1, courtesy of an intricate team move. As Mouadh Kermani’s clever short pass had found Sofiane Hammouda down the left-hand side of the Hilltop box. London Fennecs’ top goalscorer this season, would see his powerful curling effort on goal be well saved and kept out by Ahmed Ahmed Omer. As Sobaan Samad’s effort on goal from close range and on the follow-up was superbly cleared over on the goal-line, by Hilltop defender Victor Jarrett.

London Fennecs would continue to create chances, as the second half went on. But, after their captain Ramy Rouighi had hit a low effort narrowly wide of the Hilltop goal, from the edge of their penalty area, there was to be a late fightback in the game from Hilltop Reserves. This would result in them being awarded a late penalty. As shortly after having made a good save from close range, London Fennecs’ goalkeeper, Rilwan Alowonle-Taiwo would foul a Hilltop player on the follow-up. Up stepped Ahmad Fisal Bawar, who calmly found the back of the net, from the penalty spot, 3-2.

In the end it was a good game, which London Fennecs would importantly win in their quest for the league title. Hilltop Reserves defended admirably for so much of this game, as London Fennecs’ creative quality with the ball would ultimately win them the game. Mouadh Kermani, despite real competition from Ramy Rouighi, was my player of the match. My Hilltop Reserves player of the match was their defender, Darren Cheok Hin Chow. Both sides are next in action on Wednesday evening, in the Premier Division.