Non-League and Academy football writer

Waltham Forest Borough and CSM London met at Victoria Road (Dagenham & Redbridge FC), in the final of this seasons’ Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division Cup, on Thursday evening. What promised to be a good cup final between two strong Senior Division sides, was won 2-1 by Waltham Forest Borough.

CSM London would start this game positively, and in my opinion during the early stages of the cup final, they were pushing for the opening goal. However, it was Halil Hassan’s Waltham Forest Borough side who would take the lead early on. As Dylan Florence’s perfectly weighted lofted ball over the top of the CSM defence was met by the good run of Mustafa Hussein, in behind the defence. And from the edge of the CSM penalty area, Mustafa Hussein would skilfully lob the ball over the outrushing Ryan Thompson and into the goal, 1-0.

Less than ten minutes after having taken the lead in this cup final, Waltham Forest Borough would double their advantage in the game. Dylan Florence’s lofted free-kick delivery from deep, was met by Kazim Bishop in the centre of the CSM penalty area, where the defender’s glancing header would go past Thompson, who was  unlucky not to have made the save, having got a hand to the ball, 2-0. Around five minutes later, a Waltham Forest Borough free-kick which had been awarded right on the edge of the CSM penalty area, would be taken by Dean Florence, whose good side-footed effort would skim the crossbar on its way over.

Will Brobby’s CSM side would finish the first half well, similar to how they had initially started the game. Before half-time they had managed to get a goal back, with Tyrell Huggins-Solomons’ excellent and simply unstoppable curling free-kick effort from 20 yards out, finding the top left-hand corner of Callum McEvoy’s goal, 2-1. And CSM would create a couple of good openings just before the half-time break.

CSM would, during the early stages of the second half, go on to create a good chance at one end of the pitch, before a decisive moment in the game occurred after Waltham Forest Borough had countered forward. And in the end, and following a lofted ball over the CSM defence, the outrushing Ryan Thompson, was deemed to have handled the ball by the referee, outside of his penalty area, and to stop a Waltham Forest Borough effort. This would result in Ryan Thompson being shown a straight red card with a teammate having to go in goal for the remainder of the game.

Despite having ten men out on the pitch, CSM would defend really admirably following the sending off of their goalkeeper. The next chance in the game would see Dylan Florence skilfully progress the ball down the left flank, before whipping a good, low cross to the back post of the CSM goal, where from a couple of yards out from goal, the ball would bobble up slightly, as Dean Florence’s effort went narrowly over the goal. A couple of moments later, and at the opposite end of the pitch, David Quarteyson’s whipped corner-kick delivery into the Waltham Forest box, was headed over, off the top of the crossbar, by Conrad Doggett.

First of all, I think that CSM London showed great character in this game. They played some good football, and even after their goalkeeper had been sent off, they would defend admirably. Waltham Forest Borough are a very good and experienced side, and they were clinical in front of goal, scoring two good goals from which to win the cup final. They also defended well against CSM London, to win this seasons’ Senior Division Cup. Many congratulations to Waltham Forest Borough on their cup final victory, and commiserations to CSM London, who played their part in a good contest. 

With two hugely important assists from the creative Dylan Florence, and some fine work in the final third, the Waltham Forest Borough player was my player of the match on Thursday. Special mentions also to Kazim Bishop, Tyrell Huggins-Solomons, and George Breen on their notable performance yesterday.