In a Division One fixture of the Islington Midweek Football League on Thursday evening at Market Road Pitches, Camden United (Midweek) faced Spicegun 3rds. In what promised to be an interesting game, it was a very youthful Camden United (Midweek) side who managed to win their second game of the season, 2-1.
Relatively early on in this game, Camden United player Jack Orbell would get to a rolling ball some 25 yards out from the Spicegun goal, before hitting a first time side-footed effort which bounced awkwardly in front of the goalkeeper, who had to push the ball behind. Spicegun 3rds did manage to create some decent early openings, but both sides would show early on in this game, that their defences were strong. Some time later, and Deon Zogi would do a couple of step-overs down the left-hand side of the Spicegun penalty area, before curling and effort on goal which was well kept out by the Spicegun goalkeeper.
Before half-time Camden United would take the lead, with the pace of the game having picked up. Mohamed Salim would play a one-two pass with a teammate down the left flank, before taking the ball forward at pace down the left-hand side of the Spicegun box, where he was fouled by a defender. A penalty was subsequently awarded to Camden by the referee, with Mohamed Salim stepping up to chip an excellent effort into the bottom right-hand corner of the Spicegun goal, 1-0. And then just before half-time, Camden United captain and central-defender Sam Brake would make an important block, to stop the Spicegun number 7’s powerful effort from down the right-hand side of the Camden box from testing goalkeeper Alfie Lewis.
After quite an uneventful start to the second half, we had to wait a long while before either side could create a notable goalscoring chance. Both sides had continued to defend well, with the team who were 1-0 up (Camden United) going on to increase their creativity once substitute Rhys Hajro had been substituted on. The skilful winger would receive the ball out on the right flank before skilfully working the space and the ball onto his left foot, where from 25 yards out on goal he would power a low effort on goal. However, his effort was well matched by the Spicegun goalkeeper, who did well to push the ball away.
Late on in the second half this game really came to life. Following a long ball upfield from the Spicegun goalkeeper, the ball was flicked on by their number 8 into the path of their number 7, who ran in behind the Camden defence and into their penalty area. One versus one with Alfie Lewis, he would clinically finish low into the bottom right-hand corner of his goal, 1-1. Yet that goal wouldn’t decide the game, as soon after Camden would score a very late winner. Rhys Hajro created the goal, having gone forward with the ball down the right-hand side of the Spicegun box, before pulling the ball back to Vitor Santos, who finished low into the goal from close range, 2-1.
A game between two good sides, I thought that on the balance of play that Camden United deserved all three points. In a closely contested game of football they were the more creative side, with plaudits going to defenders Omar Sufi and Sam Brake for their defensive performances. However, in more forward areas of the pitch, Mohammed Al Nashi, Jack Orbell and Ebuka Sullyunna all had strong games, with Jack Orbell being named as my player of the match on Thursday.
Match-day squads/team-sheets:
Camden United (Midweek):
(1) Alfie Lewis
(2) Rafiuddin Amblin
(18) Omar Sufi
(12) Sam Brake (captain)
(3) Nicholas Rengifo
(17) Elias Moreno
(14) Mohammed Al Nashi
(15) Ebuka Sullyunna
(8) Deon Zogi
(11) Mohamed Salim
(6) Jack Orbell
Substitutes:
(7) Saqib Karim
(5) Vitor Santos
(13) Rhys Hajro
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