Non-League and Academy football writer

In their second fixture of their 2026 London Diplomatic Summer Football League season, the Irish Embassy team faced Senegal (Junction Elite) on Friday evening at Prince George Playing Fields. The Irish Embassy were looking to maintain their 100% record in this seasons’ league competition, and they would continue that record with a hard-fought 5-3 win on Friday.

During the opening minutes of the game, a short ball out from his penalty area, by the Senegal (Junction Elite) goalkeeper, would allow Joe Walbey to play a one-two pass with Cian Hession. He would then see his low effort on goal from just inside of the box, be well saved by the feet of the goalkeeper. Yet, it was Senegal (Junction Elite) who would score the opening goal of the game, early on. With their number 45 taking the ball forward, dribbling beyond an Irish Embassy defender who had slipped inside of his penalty area, before then finishing low into the goal, 0-1.

The Irish Embassy side continued to create the better of the early chances, and they would soon manage to draw level. As Kingsley Spencer’s lovely lofted pass from out on the right flank, would be controlled by Sean Wilson inside the opposing team’s penalty area. Wilson, who was in space, would then finish low into the goal, 1-1.

Senegal (Junction Elite) did create a good opportunity soon after play had resumed. With their number 45 running onto the ball down the left-hand side of the Ireland penalty area, before powering an effort narrowly over their goal, on the half-volley. But, overall and in a competitive game of football, it was the Irish Embassy who continued to create the vast majority of the chances during the first half. Next, a good move from the Irish Embassy would result in Joe Walbey shifting the ball across to Sean Wilson on the right-hand side of the opposing team’s box. After Wilson’s low effort had been well saved by the goalkeeper, Michael McElvaney’s powerful resulting effort from distance would be saved and turned behind by the goalkeeper.

Following Campbell McAulley’s whipped, free-kick effort from distance, which had hit the Senegal (Junction Elite) crossbar, the Irish Embassy would go on to finish the first half in fine fashion. For their second goal of the evening, after some good movement from Ross Humphries at the Senegal (Junction Elite) goalkeeper’s near post, he would do well to glance home Campbell McAulley’s corner-kick delivery, 2-1. And then almost immediately after, their third goal of the evening would arrive. As a good bit of skill from Cian Hession on the edge of the Senegal penalty area, would see him get a bit of fortune on the follow-up, as the Irish Embassy captain passed the ball across to Sean Wilson on the right-hand side of the box, from where he finished low and clinically into the goal, 3-1.

Senegal (Junction Elite) would get off to a great start in the second half, with their number 45 curling a ball towards the back post of the Irish goal, from the left. As their number nine would just direct the ball past the goalkeeper, with a good header, 3-2. Then, and after the Senegal (Junction Elite) number 12 had played the ball across to number 45 on the right-hand side of the Irish box, he would see two efforts in quick succession be excellently saved by Kane Hall-Patterson.

There had been a good pace and tempo throughout this game, thus far. And what was to come next, was another really good spell in the game for the Irish Embassy. They would soon reestablish a two goal cushion, after some good work from Joe Walbey would see him progress the ball forward for a while, before playing a nicely weighted pass through to Sean Wilson. And one of the most influential players on the pitch, would skilfully round the goalkeeper inside of the box, before finishing low into the goal for his hat-trick goal, 4-2.

Shortly after Niall Dunning had lofted a good pass forward to the run of Joe Walbey, his resulting lobbed effort, from the edge of the box, would hit the crossbar. And following on from that good spell in the game for Ireland, Senegal (Junction Elite) would go on to pull a goal back in the game. As some good skill from their number 12 would, after him getting to a forward pass in behind the Irish defence, result in him going across the goalkeeper with the ball, and then finishing into the goal from close range, 4-3.

The Senegal (Junction Elite) number 45 and centre-forward had arguably been their best player so far during this game. After getting on the end of number 12’s outside of the boot cross from the left flank, he would however, put the ball just wide from close range, at the back post. And in similar fashion to how they had ended the first half, the Irish Embassy would go on to create plenty of late, good chances during the latter stages of the second half.

Some good ball control from Graeme Power, would result in him laying the ball off for Sean Wilson, who from around 22 yards out from goal, would power a superb effort off the crossbar. However, Wilson would, around a minute later, play a big part in Ireland’s fifth goal of the game. Having skilfully dribbled with the ball beyond a defender on the edge of the penalty area, his low effort (one versus one with the goalkeeper) was well saved, as substitute Shay McStravick would finish low into the goal, inside of the box, and on the follow-up, 5-3.

Senegal (Junction Elite) certainly made the Irish Embassy work hard for the win today, but in the end and in a game of many chances created by Ireland, it was indeed the Irish Embassy who deservedly won the game. Forward Sean Wilson deservedly wins my player of the match award, with a great hat-trick, some clinical finishing and good skill with the ball. However, the classy Kingsley Spencer was also another real contender from this game.