Non-League and Academy football writer

LBS Lions’ final Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture of this season took place at Brunel University Sports Complex on Wednesday evening, against league title hopefuls London Fennecs. LBS Lions started this match in 12th place in the league table, after 31 league matches played. London Fennecs started this game in first place in the Premier Division table, after 28 league matches played. It was London Fennecs who won this game 5-0, courtesy of a great team performance.

LBS Lions would match London Fennecs during the early stages of Wednesday’s game, with their tempo. Proving to be well organised off the ball, it was LBS Lions who came the closest to taking the lead during the opening stages of the game. With Narcelio Souza Junior hitting a powerful effort right across the face of the London Fennecs goal, from over 25 yards out, and from the right-hand side of the pitch. However, that would result in London Fennecs really finding their tempo as the first half progressed. And shortly after LBS Lions had created a decent opening at one end of the pitch, a long pass to Sofiane Hammouda in the LBS Lions’ final third, would see the inform London Fennecs forward give them the lead, in spectacular fashion.

For that opening goal of the game, Sofiane Hammouda, who was closely followed by an LBS Lions defender, having shown some good pace to get in behind their defence, would shift the ball onto his right foot, on the edge of their penalty area. And what followed was a superb and emphatic finish off the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, with Adriano Zoppi rooted to his spot, 0-1. Soon after the game had resumed, Ilias Tahraoui would pass the ball to Mouadh Kermani down the left-hand side of the LBS box. Still relatively far out from goal, Mouadh Kermani would power an effort into the top right-hand corner of the goal, in style, 0-2.

Before the whistle for half-time had been sounded by the referee, London Fennecs would add to their already fairly comfortable lead. Ahmed Ayoub’s forward pass was received by Michael Babarinde down the right-hand side of the pitch. And Michael Babarinde would excellently twist and turn his way around an LBS defender, on his way inside the penalty area, before finishing low and powerfully beyond Adriano Zoppi at his near post, 0-3.

London Fennecs would continue to control the game during the second half, with the away side really playing their football in style. For their fourth goal of the game, Sofiane Hammouda would progress the ball across from the left flank to the edge of the LBS penalty area, with the London Fennecs forward then playing a short pass across to Michael Babarinde, whose powerful low effort would go beyond the goalkeeper and into the goal, 0-4. London Fennecs would soon add a fifth and final goal to their tally for the evening, after London Fennecs substitute Obinna Nebuwa, who had been outstanding since being substituted on, had won a penalty after being fouled down the left-hand side of the LBS penalty area. With Sobaan Samad finishing low and clinically into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, from the penalty spot, 0-5.

Izaak Sajovic-Crosland had been LBS Lions’ most creative player during this game, and not long before the end of the game, he would whip a good free-kick delivery into the London Fennecs box, as a teammate’s headed effort on goal at the back post, had to be well turned behind by Saeed Pirmoradi. In the end though, it was London Fennecs who continue to look like the most likely side to earn promotion to step 6 next season, as league champions. London Fennecs’ excellent midfielder, Obinna Nebuwa, made a great impression on this game this evening, deservedly winning my player of the match award.