FC Baresi (they started this game in 18th place in the league standings) faced an inform Hoddesdon Town side who started this Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture in first place in the league table, on Wednesday evening. The last meeting between these two sides was an interesting one, which Hoddesdon won late on. This time and in a game that Hoddesdon had to play with almost ten men for during almost the entirety of proceedings, the visitors would win 1-0.
Very early on in this game Hoddesdon town had a player sent off. With Freddie Wilkinson being shown a straight red card for something that had occurred off the ball inside the FC Baresi penalty area, just before a corner-kick was about to be taken by the away side. Hoddesdon would go on to go close on around three occasions during the remainder of a quite cagey first half of football, from set-pieces. Then and after Baresi midfielder Leo Ruci had powered an effort from distance, which had taken a slight deflection on its way narrowly wide of Liam Nugent’s goal, right on the stroke of half-time Hoddesdon took the lead.
Hoddesdon’s goal, which arrived in the third minute of additional time, came from a quick counter with the ball. As the ball was just slipped into the run of their captain Jack Gibbs, in behind the home team’s defence and in their final third. Through on goal after taking the ball just inside the home team’s penalty area, Jack Gibbs would finish well past the outrushing Errol Ozkumru, into the bottom left-hand corner of his goal, 0-1.
Around 15 to 20 minutes into the second half, FC Baresi substitute Isaac Zumbu would skilfully control the ball some 30 yards out on goal, on the turn. The forward would then hit a good and powerful effort on the half-volley which went narrowly wide of Liam Nugent’s goal. It wasn’t a second half of very many goalscoring chances, however. The next chance of the game saw a good ball over the top of the defence find Hoddesdon centre-forward Jack Gibbs, who through on goal inside the home team’s penalty area, he was met by the outrushing Errol Ozkumru who made a big save low down, to turn the ball behind for a corner-kick.
Unbeaten in the league so far this season, Hoddesdon continued to dig deep, do the simple things well and effectively, and really frustrate FC Baresi during the remainder of the game, in order to get another important three points. And I thought that the league leaders really deserved their win on Wednesday, as they continue to do really well. My player of the match award this evening, despite competition from match winner Jack Gibbs, Blue Gallagher and Hadley Richards, was Hoddesdon defender Jack Orchard. He led his teammates by example, and in the heart of the Hoddesdon defence he was very good. For FC Baresi I thought that their player of the match was central-defender Stephen Ellery.
Team-sheets/match-day squads:
FC Baresi:
(1) Errol Ozkumru
(2) Richard Arhin
(4) Roberto William-Asaro
(5) Daniel Alawode
(6) Joseph Sulola
(9) Israel Kabengele
(10) Sajid Aziz (captain)
(12) Stephen Ellery
(15) Leo Ruci
(17) Luis Fernando Flores Hernandez
(18) Korede Da Silva
Substitutes:
(3) Saeed Emmanuel Bangura
(7) Divine Daniel Uche Nweze
(8) Archie Flynn
(11) Issac Zumbu
(14) Mkay Kitoko
Hoddesdon Town:
(1) Liam Nugent
(2) Jake Harvey
(3) Hadley Richards
(4) Jimmy Agnew
(5) Jack Orchard
(6) Blesson Asekolenga
(7) Connor Casey
(8) Blue Gallagher
(19) Jack Gibbs (captain)
(10) Freddie Wilkinson
(11) Connor Bolton
Substitutes:
(12) Ollie Babbage
(14) Ollie Finch
(15) Reggie Pegrum
(16) Jason Brown
(17) Edward Purser
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