Non-League and Academy football writer

Spartans Youth faced Eagles Land Benfica on Tuesday evening at the Bedfont Football and Social Club, in what was both side’s latest Combined Counties Football League Division One fixture. Spartans Youth had lost their opening three league matches of the season, while Eagles Land Benfica had lost their opening game of the season 6-3 to Shepherd’s Bush, last Friday. On Tuesday evening Spartans Youth would win this game 5-0.

Spartans Youth player Martel Reid-Warden would manage the first goal attempt of this game. After the Spartans Youth midfielder’s first time side-footed effort following a layoff some 22 yards out from goal, had gone just over the Eagles Land Benfica goal. That early effort was in the eighth minute of the game, but a couple of minutes later and after a positive start to the game, Spartans Youth would take the lead. The Eagles Land Benfica goalkeeper (Zakaria Abdulhadi) had been put under pressure while the ball was at his feet. His resulting pass out from his penalty area would be met by Spartans Youth player Harry Stow, who from the edge of the box, would roll the ball in to the goal, 0-1.

Kristo Beshiku would have a couple of sights of goal for the away team, but the next real chance of this game would come the way of the hosts. Firstly, Eagles Land Benfica’s number four, Archie Heaven, would make a hugely important sliding challenge on Harry Stow at a very decisive moment inside the box, before Spartans Youth’s centre-forward had hit the crossbar. As Olasupo Jokosenumi had volleyed the ball, after meeting a cross in to centre of the Eagles Land Benfica box, against Zakaria Abdulhadi’s crossbar. 

The first goalscoring chance of the second half would lead to Spartans Youth making it 2-0, in the 61st minute of the game. After the away team had lost possession of the ball, Harry Stow would get to the ball on the edge of the penalty areal. He would then lift a nice ball into the box, finding the head of Spartans Youth substitute Christain Adebowale, who headed the ball well beyond the goalkeeper and from relatively close range, 2-0. Soon after play had resumed, Eagles Land Benfica player Vitor Ramos would play the ball forward to the run of Kristo Beshiku, who surged forwards with the ball down the left-hand side of the Spartans penalty area. His resulting low effort on goal was however, well saved by the feet of goalkeeper Henry Ford.

Spartans Youth would continue to play well, and also be the more creative and better team in this game. They would soon score two goals in quick succession, to effectively seal their first win of the season. For goal number three, the home side’s number seven and captain, Donell Mensah, would get to a looping defensive header down the right-hand side of the Eagles Land Benfica box. His powerful low effort on goal was saved by Zakaria Abdulhadi, with Christain Adebowale following in on the goal-line to just help the ball in to the goal, 3-0. Then for their fourth goal of the evening, Spartans Youth’s George Crashaw would run forward with the ball down the right-hand side of the oppositions box, before playing the ball across to Harry Stow who tapped home from close range, 4-0.

Late on in the game, and Spartans Youth’s captain Donell Mensah would deservedly get on the scoresheet. As he powerfully headed the ball home after meeting Christain Adebowale’s well delivered corner-kick into the Eagles Land Benfica box, 5-0. And only the crossbar would deny Donell Mensah from getting a brace of goals, straight after the game had resumed, and after he had received the ball inside the box. This was a dominant performance from a creative Spartans Youth side who defended well, but who were also clinical in front of goal. With two goals and an assist to his name, Spartans Youth’s number ten, Harry Stow, was my player of the match this evening. But, mentions must also go to the highly influential Christain Adebowale and Donell Mensah on their respective performances.

Starting line-ups/match-day squads:

Spartans Youth:

(1) Henry Ford 

(17) Teddy Ralph

(3) Ali Ramazani

(4) George Crashaw 

(5) Simon Pandian

(6) Josh Noyes

(7) Donell Mensah (captain)

(8) Martel Reid-Warden

(9) Olasupo Jokosenumi

(10) Harry Stow

(11) Alfie Webster

Substitutes:

(12) Charlie Gostello

(13) George Taylor 

(14) Ryan Gunter 

(15) Christain Adebowale

(16) Luca Kernot

Eagles Land Benfica:

(1) Zakaria Abdulhadi

(4) Archie Heaven

(5) Denis Bardhoshi

(2) Daanyaal Anwar 

(6) Kai Jackson

(8) Wilson Ferreira 

(10) Khalid Dovie 

(12) Laye Sangare 

(7) Kristo Beshiku (captain)

(9) Witalo Andrade 

(13) Zubear Hassan 

Substitutes: 

(14) Brandon Green 

(22) Vitor Ramos

(15) Luis Silva 

(11) Jason Asamoah