Non-League and Academy football writer

Step 6 Thurlow Nunn League First Division South side FC Baresi came from 3-0 down to beat a talented Norsemen side 4-3 on Thursday evening, in Edmonton. At the end of last season Norsemen, a very historic football club, saw their first team win promotion to step 7 of the Herts Senior County League, for the 2026/27 season. Norsemen would start this game really well, quickly taking a very early lead, courtesy of an unstoppable looping header. And not too long afterwards, Norsemen would double their lead from a set-piece.

As the first half progressed, Norsemen continued to play and move the ball around the pitch well. Following some good work from Norsemen’s number six, he would set-up their number nine, who found himself through on goal, before finishing low and clinically into the bottom right-hand corner of FC Baresi goalkeeper Jahnih Bulbrook’s goal. However, FC Baresi would improve, and before half-time they would manage to score two goals in quick succession. Their first goal was created by Immanuel Soetan, whose low effort was kept out by the Norsemen goalkeeper, with Ali Shikheey heading the ball into the goal on the follow-up. And then just before half-time, Immanuel Soetan would make it 2-3, with a goal from the penalty spot.

On to the second half, and FC Baresi would make a number of changes in this pre-season friendly. Another penalty for FC Baresi, would this time result in Israel Kabengele scoring his second goal in two games, to make it 3-3. And after the FC Baresi number eight had made it 4-3 soon after, impressive recent FC Baresi signing, Saul, would go close on a couple of occasions to extending their lead. However, two great, late blocks from FC Baresi defender Abiodun Kamalu, would stop an impressive Norsemen side from drawing 4-4 against step 6 opposition, so early on in their pre-season. I do think that this was a very useful workout for both sides, who I think will do well in their respective leagues during the 2026/27 season.