Non-League and Academy football writer

In a potential league title decider in the Middlesex County Football League Premier Division, the league’s first place side, London Fennecs, faced the league’s second place side, Hayes & Hillingdon, at London Tigers Sports Complex on Tuesday evening. Three points separated London Fennecs (71) from Hayes & Hillingdon (68), although with London Fennecs’ significantly better goal difference, a win on Tuesday was a must for the away side. London Fennecs would win the league title on Tuesday, with a 4-1 win over Hayes & Hillingdon.

London Fennecs would create the first chance of the game, still early on in the game. Hocine Krouchi’s lovely lofted forward pass would find Obinna Nebuwa, in behind the Hayes & Hillingdon defence. One versus one with the goalkeeper and inside the away team’s box, the London Fennecs player would see his powerful low effort be excellently turned behind by the feet of Kian Nicoll. Fast forward around five minutes later, and Hayes & Hillingdon player Samuel Baigent’s long throw-in into the London Fennecs box, would eventually see the ball fall for Charlie Casey, whose powerful and quickly taken low effort on goal, was really well pushed behind by Saeed Pirmoradi.

London Fennecs would start to really take control of the game, creating some good chances from which to take the lead from, well before half-time. Their opening goal of this game was scored by Michael Babarinde. Obinna Nebuwa would press a Hayes & Hillingdon player who was on the ball, well. And after blocking the ball it would come to Sofiane Hammouda, who threaded a nicely weighted through-ball pass towards the run of Michael Babarinde, who took the ball forward down the right-hand side of the away team’s box, before finishing emphatically into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. 

For London Fennecs’ second goal before half-time, Mouadh Kermani would win the ball inside the Hayes & Hillingdon half of the pitch, before Sofiane Hammouda, would in similar fashion to the first goal, quickly play a pass towards Michael Babarinde. He would hold his run really well, in behind the away team’s defence, before entering their penalty area and showing good composure, and then finishing low and clinically into the goal, 2-0. 

Early on in the second half, London Fennecs would get their third goal of the evening. Michael Babarinde would provide the assist, having played a short pass across (from the right-hand side of the pitch) to Ramy Rouighi, who from around 24 yards out from goal, would brilliantly whip an effort around the outstretched goalkeeper and into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 3-0. Hayes & Hillingdon would respond positively, and they would soon get the next goal of the game. Harry Bishop’s long lofted free-kick delivery from deep, would result in the ball falling for Emmanuel Sholola on the right-hand side of the London Fennecs box. And Emmanuel Sholola would finish well and low into the goal with a good finish, 3-1.

Hayes & Hillingdon were definitely improving, but London Fennecs would manage their lead really well. And in a very competitive and high tempo game of football, it was Zack Bettache’s side who would add a fourth goal to their tally before the end of the game. The influential Yasser Boughrira would play a clever, low free-kick delivery from out on the right-hand side of the pitch, across to Hocine Krouchi inside the centre of the busy Hayes & Hillingdon penalty area. The consistently impressive central-defender would finish powerfully on the half-volley, beyond the goalkeeper, prompting great celebrations from the London Fennecs players.

Double winners, London Fennecs have been superb throughout this season (I’ll be writing a piece on their season later on this week), and against a very good Hayes & Hillingdon side, they played their game really well. The central-defensive pairing of Islem Guerniche and Hocine Krouchi, were outstanding. However, similar to their win and performance over Nottsborough in the most prestigious of the Amateur FA Cup competitions, it was a really impressive team performance from the 2025/26 Middlesex County Football League Premier Division title winners. Now the club who will be promoted to step 6 for the very first time, have a lot to look forward to next season. 

My player of the match this evening, with two goals and one assist, was Michael Babarinde. Commiserations to Hayes & Hillingdon, who have also had a great season, and who I’m sure will be up there competing for the league title again next season.