Non-League and Academy football writer

Ongar Town welcomed Ryan FC to Wodson Park (Ware FC) for one of the opening Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixtures of the 2026/27 season, on Friday evening. Promising to be a good game, a fine performance from Ryan FC, would see them win this season opener 5-2.

After Ongar’s number nine, Teddy Hogger had seen his powerful low effort from the left-hand side of the Ryan penalty area, be well saved by Theo Anderson, Ryan would take the lead a couple of minutes later. For the opening goal of the game, Kemar Bello would cleverly flick the ball on to Arty Benjamin inside the centre of the Ongar box. From where Arty Benjamin would finish clinically to the goalkeeper’s left, 0-1. Some time later in the first half, and after Ongar had created a couple of good openings, Ryan would double their advantage. 

Ryan centre-forward Levi Burgin would play a nice lofted pass towards Arty Benjamin on the edge of the Ongar box. Benjamin would play the ball quickly to Kemar Bello down the left-hand side of the penalty area. Kemar Bello would unselfishly square the ball for Arty Benjamin, who had made the forward run. And he would finish low past the goalkeeper from close range, 0-2.

Around five minutes after Ryan had doubled their lead, Eny Okoro’s side would make it 3-0. Levi Burgin had done well to get to a cross-field lofted pass out on the left flank, going on to hold off Ongar’s captain, Max Housden. However, and despite appeals from the Ongar player for a foul, play was waved on by the referee. And Levi Burgin with space to take the ball forward, would progress the ball in to the left-hand side of the Ongar penalty area. From where he would finish low and powerfully, from an acute angle past the goalkeeper, 0-3. It was a really good finish!

Not long before half-time (after Max Housden had been sin-binned for the home side) Ryan came close to making it 4-0. As Arty Benjamin’s skilful turn on the ball in midfield, had resulted in the influential Ryan FC player playing a well weighted forward pass on to the run of Bilel Benyoucef. The Ryan winger would show good pace, as he took the ball in to the Ongar box. From the right-hand side of the penalty area, he would power a low effort off the outside of the goalkeeper’s near post.

On to the second half. Some good skill from Levi Burgin to take the ball inside the Ongar penalty area would result in him being through on goal. However, some good goalkeeping from Reis Hasekilerden, would see the Ongar goalkeeper do well to gather the ball from his feet. Ongar Town did manage to get a goal back in the game soon after. With substitute Antonio Fusco getting to a flick on following a lofted ball in to the Ryan box. His powerful volley would hit the underside of Theo Anderson’s crossbar. The ball would bounce up again, with Jack Walden finishing in to the goal from close range on the follow-up, 1-3.

Ryan would respond brilliantly to conceding that goal, however. As straight after play had resumed they would make it 4-1, courtesy of a good move. With substitute Dillon Williams placing a good volleyed effort in to the bottom right-hand corner of the Ongar goal, after meeting a really good cross from Harley Cass, in to the penalty area, 1-4. Harley Cass had done well with the ball in the build-up to that goal. Ryan would continue to press well and play well as a team in the minutes that followed that goal. And before not very long they would extend their lead further. This time and after there had been a bit of a misunderstanding in defence, Dillon Williams would get to the ball close to the edge of the Ongar penalty area. Before finishing over the goalkeeper and in to the goal, 1-5.

Levi Burgin would continue to impress with his leading of the line, for Ryan. Towards the latter stages of the game, and shortly before Ongar had made it 2-5, Levi Burgin would drive forward with the ball down the right flank. After taking the ball in to the Ongar box, his resulting powerfully hit effort would go a fraction wide, across the face of the goal. Then for Ongar’s second goal of the game, a lofted free-kick from deep (by Endrit Abazi) would just loop over the Ryan goalkeeper inside of his penalty area. Gethyn Frowde would make an impressive block on the goal-line. However, on the follow-up Henry Mort would head the ball home from close range, 2-5. 

Ryan’s pressing and intensity as a team was very good against Ongar. They played really well for so much of this game, after Ongar had looked like the more likely side to take the lead during the first five to ten minutes of the game. Ryan however, would play well across the pitch, playing some great one-two passes. They were also very clinical in front of goal. They really pushed on after taking the lead early on, with the team creating further confidence from taking the lead so early on. 

There were a number of players who were in contention for being my player of the match on Friday. Kemar Bello, Arty Benjamin and Harley Cass were all contenders, in what was a big team effort. However, personally my player of the match, with one goal to his name and some really good play and leading of the line in the final third, was Levi Burgin. He would draw a number of fouls against Ongar, with his movement being very good.

Starting line-ups/match-day squads: 

Ongar Town:

(1) Reis Hasekilerden

(6) Henry Mort

(7) Luke O’Connor

(3) Mackenzie Clouston

(10) George Milton-White

(2) Max Housden (captain)

(4) Eren Musa

(9) Teddy Hogger 

(15) Joshua Wilkening 

(5) Josh Manley

(8) Ruben Costache

Substitutes:

(14) Endrit Abazi

(11) Jack Walden

(16) Antonio Fusco

(17) Lloyd Gullefer

(18) Joe Gibbs

Ryan FC: 

(1) Theo Anderson 

(17) Harley Cass

(4) Gethyn Frowde

(5) Finlay Sims (captain)

(3) Jack Marsh

(15) Jobe Marsh 

(10) Arty Benjamin 

(16) Tori Rendall

(11) Bilel Benyoucef 

(14) Kemar Bello 

(9) Levi Burgin 

Substitutes:

(2) Rashid Kabia

(18) Benjamin Kasu

(19) Olanrewaju Olabanji

(20) Dillon Williams