Non-League and Academy football writer

On the opening day of the 2026/27 Combined Counties Football League Division One season, I travelled to Wibbandune Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon, to cover this interesting league fixture between Colliers Wood United and PFC Victoria London. Colliers Wood United would start the season off really well on Saturday, with an impressive 4-1 win over PFC Victoria.

There were a couple of decent early openings for Colliers Wood in this game, as they undoubtedly started the game the stronger of the two sides. After PFC Victoria defender Amara Chukwunja had made a good recovery to stop Benjamin Ellerington’s effort (from inside of the box) close to the goal-line, Colliers Wood player Ben Hayes would then power an effort over goalkeeper Filip Chalupniczak’s goal, in space and from inside of the penalty area. Following on from that good chance for the home side they would then have a goal ruled out for offside, as they continued to really push PFC Victoria early on.

In the 22nd minute of the game Colliers Wood would deservedly take the lead. Moussa Traore would receive the ball over 20 yards out from goal, before playing the ball forward quickly to find Ben Hayes’ run down the right-hand side of the PFC Victoria box. Hayes would then finish excellently across goal, with a powerful low effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. Soon after play had resumed, Ben Hayes would meet a good cross into the centre of the away team’s box, but Filip Chalupniczak would make a great fingertip save to tip his powerful header onto the crossbar.

PFC Victoria did gradually improve as a team as the first half progressed. Following Kacper Kloc’s good through-ball pass, the midfielder would find the run of Aleksy Czekalski, in behind of the Colliers Wood defence. After rounding their goalkeeper on the edge of the box, Aleksy Czekalski would take the ball into the Colliers Wood penalty area, before hitting the ball against the side-netting. Kamil Zielinski would then go close soon after for the away side, but before half-time, and in an eventful finish to the first half, PFC Victoria would draw level, before Colliers Wood would then retake the lead.

For that equalising goal for the away team, defender Jakub Matwiejszyn would play the ball down the line to Kacper Kloc on the left flank. He would then pass the ball across to Aleksy Czekalski, on the edge of the Colliers Wood penalty area. From where the youngster would curl an unstoppable effort towards the top right-hand corner of Harry Wightman’s goal, 1-1. Yet, PFC Victoria’s lead lasted only a matter of minutes, with Colliers Wood bouncing back really well just before half-time. Their captain, Jack Williamson’s, lofted free-kick delivery into the PFC box, was cleared away. But, only as far as Ben Hayes, who delivered a perfect cross with a lot of pace on the ball into the box, towards Moussa Traore, who headed the ball well and powerfully beyond the goalkeeper, 2-1.

Colliers Wood started the second half in a similar fashion to how they had ended the first half. And after George Shewring’s deep cross has bounced off of Filip Chalupniczak’s crossbar, early on into the second half, Colliers Wood then went on to establish a deserved two goal lead, for the first time in this game (in the 57th minute). As Jude Soder had glanced a good header beyond Filip Chalupniczak,after meeting a good and well delivered corner-kick into centre of the PFC box, 3-1. Moussa Traore then came close to getting his second goal of the afternoon, but for a good save from Filip Chalupniczak, to turn the ball behind.

Moussa Traore’s leading of the line had been very good so far in this game, and he would effectively help Colliers Wood to secure all three points. After the centre-forward had got to the ball ahead of Jakub Matwiejszyn just inside of the PFC Victoria box, following a long throw-in, which would result in him being fouled by the defender, resulting in a penalty being awarded to Colliers Wood. Up stepped Jack Williamson, whose effort from the penalty spot was well saved by Filip Chalupniczak. But, the PFC Victoria goalkeeper had no chance of stopping Williamson’s effort on the follow-up, 4-1.

This was a very good team performance from a well organised Colliers Wood United side on Saturday, who were much the better team, against a PFC Victoria side who finished last season just outside of the play-off places. It’s still only the first game of the season, but Colliers Wood really impressed me yesterday, with their centre-forward Moussa Traore (despite competition from Jude Soder and Ben Hayes) being my player of the match. He scored one goal, but he was also involved in two of their other goals on the day. My PFC Victoria player of the match was Aleksy Czekalski.