This first round tie of this season’s very prestigious FA Sunday Cup, was played between two very good sides in Highgate Albion (Barnet Sunday League) and East London Ballers (Essex Sunday Corinthian Football League) at Coles Park Stadium (Haringey Borough FC), on Sunday afternoon. After a good game of football in 90 minutes, it was East London Ballers who would progress into the next round of this national cup competition on penalties.
I thought that Highgate Albion were looking like the more creative side early on in this cup tie, with them seeing more of the ball. Sam Fitzgerald would get to a loose ball around 24 yards out from goal, and with East London Ballers goalkeeper Raven Consta slightly off his goal-line, Fitzgerald would chip a good effort narrowly wide of the goal. However, some time later and following a corner-kick for the visitors, captain Steven Carvell would put a great ball into the penalty area, with Raul Da Silva getting up well to power a header into the goal, 0-1.
Before half-time and Highgate Albion would go on to create two good goalscoring chances. Firstly, Sam Fitzgerald’s lofted free-kick delivery from the left flank, was met by Hermes Gbio at Raven Consta’s back post, as his resulting volleyed effort on goal was really well turned behind by the East London Ballers goalkeeper. And then just before half-time Excellence Muhemba would play the ball to Danny Bassett on the right-hand side of the away team’s box, as his powerful effort at the near post was well pushed behind by Raven Consta.
With East London Ballers defending really well during the opening stages of the second half, they came close to doubling their advantage for the afternoon from a set-piece. As Steven Carvell’s whipped corner-kick delivery to the back post of Alexandru Gavriloaia’s goal, was volleyed over from close range by a teammate. However, soon after and East London Ballers would make it 2-0. Another excellent, whipped set-piece, following a free-kick from Steven Carvell, which had been awarded out on the right-hand side of the pitch, was met by forward Shomari Barnwell at the back post of the Highgate goal. With Shomari Barnwell heading the ball across goal into the bottom right-hand corner, 0-2.
East London Ballers would continue to defend well, and also manage their two goal lead well. However, after upping the intensity two goals in quick succession from Highgate Albion would change this cup tie. For their first goal Richard Ennin would travel forward with the ball down the left flank before delivering a good cross into the away team’s box, finding Karl Kayembe, who headed home from relatively close range, 1-2. Then straight after the resumption of play, Alphanso Kennedy’s cross into the East London Ballers box (from the left flank) was unfortunately headed into his own goal by defender Clayton Afonso, 2-2.
An interesting end to the game would see Alphanso Kennedy power a low effort narrowly wide inside the away team’s box, before East London Ballers had one player sin-binned and one sent off during the very latter stages of the game. On to penalties, and after some fine saves and finishes, with the scores at 3-2 to East London Ballers, Highgate Albion player Jardell Stirling had to score his penalty to keep Highgate in it. However, once again the excellent Raven Consta would make a big save to send East London Ballers into round two of this great cup competition.
It was a really eventful second half of football between two very good sides. For Highgate Albion, I thought that their player of the match was the very good Hamza Semakula. With two fine assists from the East London Ballers captain and some really hard work off the ball and good leadership also, saw Steven Carvell named as my player of the match for the away side.
Team-sheets/match-day squads:
Highgate Albion:
(1) Alexandru Gavriloaia
(6) Alvin Kyeremeh
(30) Sean Bonnett-Johnson
(18) Hermes Gbio
(20) Callum Ismail
(14) Sam Fitzgerald
(8) Hamza Semakula
(23) Alphanso Kennedy
(7) Danny Bassett
(10) Excellence Muhemba
(4) Jardell Stirling
Substitutes:
(9) Pele Riley
(20) Simeon Olarerin
(24) Jordan McNally
(11) Richard Ennin
(5) Karl Kayembe
East London Ballers:
(1) Raven Consta
(7) Chaka Barnett
(10) Steven Carvell (captain)
(8) Fahad Nazor
(11) Marcus Painter
(12) Wesley Santos
(5) Shomari Barnwell
(3) Raul Da Silva
(17) Ugonna Emenike
(4) Clayton Afonso
(14) Marcos Dos Santos
Substitutes:
(2) Prince Aderogba
(16) Qusay Mohammed
(6) Tom Canham
(9) Khris Oti
(18) Bruno Tavares
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