Non-League and Academy football writer

Having both won their opening Thurlow Nunn League First Division South (step 6) fixtures of the 2026/27 season, Lymore Gardens faced Athletic Newham at Parkside Stadium (Aveley FC) on Wednesday evening, in their latest league fixture. Lymore Gardens would win this game 3-0, to continue their good start to the season.

In the 12th minute of the game, and in what turned out to be their best chance of the first half, Lymore Gardens would take the lead. As Dylan Roberts passed the ball to Sertan Kirman in midfield, who in turn would wait for a couple of moments, before curling an exquisite lofted pass in behind of the Athletic Newham defence, and into the run of Roberts. Dylan Roberts would take the ball into the away team’s box, before powering an unstoppable effort into the roof of goalkeeper Oren Campbell’s goal, 1-0. Athletic Newham did respond well to going 1-0 down so early on in the game, however. And although Lymore would defend well, it was Athletic Newham who came the closest to getting the next goal, during the remainder of the first half.

After Kennybella Mingle had played the ball across to Wilson Mendes, the Athletic Newham defender would show good feet inside of the Lymore box, before hitting an effort just over Arshak Sargsyan’s goal. Athletic Newham continued to test Lymore, and not long before half-time, they would go very close to drawing level. As Lucas Gonzalez did ever so well to meet Wilson Mendes’ lofted ball into the Lymore box, on the volley. Gonzalez’s excellent volleyed effort would hit Arshak Sargsyan’s right-hand post. Early on in the second half, and after Patrick Clarke’s good, curling corner-kick delivery had gone into the centre of the Athletic Newham box, the referee had spotted a Lymore player having his shirt pulled by an opposing team’s player. A penalty would be awarded to Lymore, as Wisley Baltazar stepped up confidently to perfectly find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, despite Oren Campbell managing to get a hand to the ball, 2-0.

A deep cross from Athletic Newham defender Ede Chidubem would hit the top of Arshak Sargsyan’s crossbar, as Athletic Newham tried to get back in to the game. Lee Benjamin’s Lymore side had shown good game management, but Athletic Newham would continue to push them. Next, and the Athletic Newham players were adamant that the ball had crossed the goal-line, after substitute Richard Mensah’s powerful low effort from inside of the Lymore box, had hit the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. The ball would then go across goal, and the Athletic Newham players were sure that the ball had crossed the goal-line, before Arshak Sargsyan had gathered the ball.

Lymore did create some additional chances from which to extend their lead, before the end of the game. Firstly, and after Rio Mudhar-Hedley had won the ball in the away team’s final third, the Lymore substitute would then pass the ball across to Omar Dacas. One versus one with the goalkeeper and inside of the away team’s penalty area, he would see his lofted effort be well saved and gathered by Oren Campbell. And then before the end of this game, and despite Athletic Newham continuing to create some good openings, Lymore would seal the win, by adding a third goal to their tally. Arriving as the result of some really good pressing and  chasing down by Tyrique Peters, who after winning the ball off a defender, would drive forwards with the ball into the Athletic Newham box. After skilfully going around their goalkeeper, he would then calmly slot the ball into the goal, 3-0.

Lymore Gardens managed this game well, scoring at decisive moments in the game against a talented Athletic Newham side, who did create chances on Wednesday. In the end though, it was another good win and performance from Lymore Gardens, with excellent and commanding central-defender Ryo Brown being named as my player of the match, after a very good performance. Mentions also for Yinka Akinlabi, who filled in really well at right-back, before finishing the game at left-back, and also second half substitute and debutant, Will Smallshaw, for his impressive performance.

Starting line-ups/match-day squads:

Lymore Gardens: 

(1) Arshak Sargsyan

(2) Ben Joao 

(3) Yinka Akinlabi 

(6) Ryo Brown (captain)

(33) Sertan Kirman 

(17) Gaston Mendy 

(7) James Smith

(16) Patrick Clarke 

(11) Tyrique Peters

(21) Dylan Roberts 

(26) Wisley Baltazar 

Substitutes:

(20) Omar Dacas

(28) Will Smallshaw

(23) Kirk McPherson

(30) Erol Hassan

(25) Rio Mudhar-Hedley

Athletic Newham:

(1) Oren Campbell (captain)

(2) Ede Chidubem

(3) Wilson Mendes

(4) Lucas Gonzalez

(18) Rodney Capemba 

(8) Joseph Arnold 

(10) Robert Calancea 

(7) Kennybella Mingle

(9) Idris Aminu

(20) Seco Fati

(17) Eren Ordek 

Substitutes:

(19) Richard Mensah 

(16) Dylan Bonsu

(6) Amariah Williams 

(15) Jailson Seidi