The Preliminaries

THE PROMOTION RACE IN THE CCL PREMIER DIVISION NORTH CONTINUES

Jim Taylor

A trio of Middlesex FA affiliated clubs, Hanworth Villa, Southall and North Greenford United, are currently setting the pace at the top of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North.   Before kick off on Saturday last, 18th December, Hanworth Villa were unbeaten and headed the table with 45 points from 17 matches.   North Greenford United were second with 36 points from 18 matches and Southall had 35 points from 16 matches.   Our roving team of Chris Benn (County photographer) and Jim Taylor (reporter), chose, on this occasion to visit North Greenford United, who were entertaining 14th placed Virginia Water.

It was a pleasure to be at Berkeley Fields on Saturday.  To quote Joint Managers, Paul Mills and Gary Brown from their programme notes, “There is a real feel-good factor about the whole club”.   This is being reflected on the pitch.   The team is playing attractive attacking football and had scored 17 goals in winning its previous 4 CCL matches.     

They scored 5 more goals in this exciting match, played on a heavy pitch and but for a superb performance by the Virginia Water goalkeeper, Luke Wynn-Lintern. who was making his debut for the club, would have added to that total.

North Greenford made an excellent start, when new signing, Perry Price scored in the 2nd minute, with a spectacular strike from around 25 yards.

Perry Price (11) puts NGU ahead in the second minute

They continued to dominate play but wasted several reasonable chances.   ‘The Waters’ keeper, Luke Wynn-Lintern, saved with his feet, from Charlie Mitchell and similarly from  Billy Leonard.   Billy went close with another shot and then fired a volley just over the cross bar. Then Kai Omoko-Brosnan fired across the goal.

However, Virginia Water, who until then had not had a shot on target, equalised in the 25th minute.  Kevin Maresi fouled Casey Bocarro just inside the penalty area and Leo Pedro converted the kick.

Leo Pedro puts Virginia Water level from the penalty spot

The visitors were only level for 3 minutes before Billy Leonard converted Perry Price’s pass to score United’s second goal.

Billy Leonard (8) puts NGU 2-1 ahead

Kevin Maresi made a good block on ‘The Waters’ Casey Bocarro as he was shooting but then United resumed the attack.  Charlie Mitchell bounced a shot on top of the visitors’ cross bar and an effort from Joe Mills was a little higher.

Harvey Killeen was pulled down in the box in the 40th minute, took the penalty kick himself and placed it into the corner of the net.

Harvey Killeen (10) puts NGU 3-1 up form the penalty spot

The last action of the first half saw Perry Price fire against the post.

Half time score: North Greenford United 3   Virginia Water 1

Perry scored his second goal and United’s fourth ten minutes after the break, after being set up by Kai Omoko-Brosnan.

Perry Price (11) hits his second and NGU's fourth goal

The chances kept coming for North Greenford.   Billy Leonard hit the post from around 20 yards.  Newly introduced substitute, Louis Harrison-Sears made a good but unsuccessful attempt with a diving header from a strongly hit cross.   Kai fired across the goalmouth but nobody managed a touch and then his goal bound shot was charged down.   Then the keeper made a superb save by tipping a close-range header from Louis over his crossbar.

Joe McBride netted from close range to pull a goal back for ‘The Waters’ in the 84th minute.

Joe McBride pulls a goal back for Virginia Water

United quickly killed any faint hopes of a close finish.   Following further saves by Luke Wynn-Lintern from Kai and then from Billy Leonard, Kai scored United 5th goal in the 86th minute, after good approach work by Louis and Joe Mills.

Kai Brosnan (7) completes the scoring for NGU

Virginia Water finished the match with 10 players, after Finn Kelly-Lewis was shown the red card, following a foul committed in the final minute of normal time.

Virgina Water's Finn Kelly-Lewis is shown the red card

Final score: North Greenford United 5   Virginia Water 2

North Greenford United: Sam House (capt), Kevin Maresi (Samuel Brown 85 mins), Sam Molyneaux (Daniel Pidgeon 85), Sammy Olanipekun, Georgie Brown (Ethan Relf 75), Joe Mills, Kai Omoko-Brosnan, Billy Leonard, Charlie Mitchell, Harvey Killeen and Perry Price (Louis Harrison-Sears 70).

Joint Managers: Paul Mills and Gary Brown.

Virginia Water: Luke Wynn-Lintern, Elijah Oladunojoye, Max Samyint, Joe McBride, Finn Kelly-Lewis, Isiah Goddard-Joseph, Casey Bocarro, Ryan Blake (capt), Turnell Sinclair, Saaim Shabeer and Leo Pedro.

Substitutes: Harry Brooks, Conner Watson, Adam McNamara, Jake Baker and Eric Mafuta were all introduced during the second half of the match.

Manager: Ceri Jones.

Referee: Oliver Cross   Assistant Referees: Nigel Hickes and Simon Cudner.

Attendance: 125

The North Greenford United club management invited their members, supporters and everyone else connected with the club to contribute to the Ealing Foodbank.   The response was staggering, as the picture shows.

NGU's contribution to the Ealing Food Bank

As ever we thank Chris & Jim for giving up their time to showcase some of the senior football being played in the county. They have identified their 10 picks as displayed througout the report, these and all photography can be found at the below links courtesy of Chris Benn.

Chris & Jim's Picks

Full range of photography courtesy of Chris Benn

Other relevant results:

Hanworth Villa won their home game against Wokingham & Emmbrook 2-0.  The Villains goalkeeper, Terry Buss celebrated his 800th competitive appearance for the club in this match, with a clean sheet. Southall were without a match this week.

The top of the table now reads:

#

Team

Played

Pts

1

Hanworth Villa

18

48

2

North Greenford United

19

39

3

Southall

16

35

4

Abbey Rangers

16

34

5

Egham Town

17

32

6

St Panteliemon

17

30

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