Non-League and Academy football writer

At The Hive (Basildon United FC) on Wednesday evening I was in attendance for this Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture between Basildon Town and London Fennecs. Basildon Town had lost their first two league matches of the new season, while recently promoted side London Fennecs had lost 4-0 to London Harts United, in their very first league match at this level. Both sides would record their first point of the season, with this game finishing in a 1-1 draw.

After a competitive but fairly uneventful start to this game, London Fennecs midfielder Obinna Nebuwa would manage the first effort on target of the evening. With his well hit effort from distance having to be tipped over his crossbar by Basildon Town goalkeeper, Dino Maras. Not long before the 30 minute mark, and Basildon Town would take the lead. As Charlie Jarvis’ lofted ball into the London Fennecs box, was punched only partially clear by goalkeeper Saeed Pirmoradi, inside of his penalty area. And on the follow-up, Basildon’s number nine Rhonan Dunphy would finish in to the goal via a slight deflection off a London Fennecs player, 1-0.

Before the end of the first half London Fennecs defender Islem Guerniche would deliver a free-kick into the Basildon box, from deep. Their goalkeeper Dino Maras would collide with a defender as he punched the ball partially clear. With London Fennecs’ centre-forward Abdelaziz Khefacha putting the ball wide of the goal, from his effort inside of the penalty area, and on the follow-up.

In similar fashion to the early stages of the first half, the early stages of the second half were also quite uneventful. The first effort on goal of the second came from a Basildon Town player. As Callum Phelps’ low effort from the edge of the away team’s box, would have to be well pushed away by Saeed Pirmoradi, who had got down well to make the save. Then, around five minutes later, and London Fennecs defender Hocine Krouchi would go on a clever weaving run to take the ball forwards in to the Basildon penalty area. His resulting effort on goal was well kept out by Dino Maras, however.

Late on in this match and after London Fennecs had really started to put Basildon Town under pressure, they would score an equalising goal. With a short corner-kick from Mouadh Kermani finding Camille Tani out on the left flank, the London Fennecs defender would curl a good cross in to the Basildon box. The ball was met well by the head of London Fennecs substitute Sofiane Hammouda, who jumped up well to plant a good header into the bottom right-hand corner of Dino Maras’ goal, 1-1.

London Fennecs had definitely grown in to this game well. And towards the very latter stages of the game, with both sides really going for the win, they would go on to create a great chance, which on another day would have seen them win the game. As Mouadh Kermani’s fine lofted forward ball from out on the left flank, would find the good run of Sofiane Hammouda in behind the Basildon defence. And the scorer of London Fennecs’ first goal at step 6, would on this occasion lob the ball over the outrushing Dino Maras from the edge of the penalty area, with the ball going wide of the goal. In the end though, this was how the game would finish.

Basildon Town won’t be very happy with how they played, in terms of chances created on the night. However, London Fennecs would grow in to this game well, and as I mentioned, they could have won it late on through Sofiane Hammouda. My player of the match on Wednesday was London Fennecs’ central-midfielder, Obinna Nebuwa. He played really well, and in a competitive game he won the ball well and used it well in forward areas. Special mentions also for the performances of the respective team’s captains, Youcef Mezaoui and Grant Cumming.

Starting line-ups/match-day squads:

Basildon Town:

(1) Dino Maras

(2) Jack Jones

(3) Lucas Polyblank 

(4) Jake Littmoden 

(5) Grant Cumming (captain)

(6) Jack Hurley

(7) Lucas Willison 

(8) Charlie Jarvis

(9) Rhonan Dunphy

(11) Robbie Scanlon 

(12) Connor Polyblank 

Substitutes:

(14) Sonny Sadgrove

(15) James O’Brien

(16) Giovanni Boffa

(17) Callum Phelps

(18) Charlie Justin 

London Fennecs:

(1) Saeed Pirmoradi 

(4) Islem Guerniche 

(3) Camille Tani

(16) Raouf Laib

(18) Obinna Nebuwa

(10) Zineddine Hadad 

(11) Michael Babarinde 

(6) Youcef Mezaoui (captain)

(8) Mouadh Kermani 

(2) Olumide Olagunju

(9) Abdelaziz Khefacha 

Substitutes: 

(12) Xavier Quintero

(5) Hocine Krouchi

(20) Hichem Mechta

(7) Sofiane Hammouda 

(13) Ahmed Ayoub