BRUNSWICK RED WIN IN MIDDLESEX U16 CUP
Pitshanger Red hosted Brunswick Red on Sunday last 19 December, in a previously postponed Middlesex Under 16 Cup 3rd Round match, to decide which side would fill the one remaining vacant place in Round Four.
The County’s roving team of Chris Benn (photographer) and Jim Taylor (reporter) visited Pitshanger Park West for this match.
After receiving byes in the first round, both teams had recorded emphatic victories in the second round. Pitshanger Red had beaten Slough Town Junior Stags at home 7-0, while Brunswick Red triumphed away to Ashford Town Junior Colts 9-2.
Brunswick opened the match playing very good passing football and dominated possession in the first half, creating several scoring chances. The fact that they only scored once in the half can be attributed to a tendency to over-elaborate in front of goal and a general lack of real power in their shooting.
Brunswick’s first shot on target came from Max Bogdanovic in the 8th minute, after he had been set up by Azhar Al-Mousawi. Pitzhanger keeper, Teo Andric saved at the foot of his post. The visitors took the lead in the 14th minute, through Azhar, from close range, after Teo had saved low down from Bahrad Pishehvari.
Max Bogdanovic tested Teo with another low shot and for some time the Pitshanger custodian was very active. Pitshanger mounted a rare attack in the 26th minute and Brunswick keeper, Luca Vernazza had to push out a dangerous effort from Pedro Fio Simba from under his cross bar. Then in the 28th minute Pitshanger equalised, when a Brunswick defender turned the ball into his own net.
Both sides had chances as the interval approached. Brunswick’s Azhar Al-Mousawi released Behrad Pishehvari, whose shot was blocked by a defender. Then he fed Daniel Faneca, whose shot was well saved. Pitshanger’s Toby Nuttall fired past the post. Then Addi Diacon crossed for Leroy Dos Santos, whose header was saved.
Score at Half time: Pitshanger Red 1 Brunswick Red 1
Pitshanger started the second half aggressively and Farish Ayesh tried two shots from long range, which were taken high up by keeper, Luca Vernazza. Then Juan Tapias-Gutierrez, who was dominant in Brunswick’s midfield, had a long shot saved and his team mate, Kavell Lewis Guthrie’s header from a corner met the same fate.
Surprisingly, Pitshanger took the lead in the 10th minute of the second half. Mikhail Hussain robbed the goalkeeper, on the edge of the penalty area and was able to run the ball into the unguarded net.
Pitshanger only held the lead for two minutes before Daniel Faneca finished off a good breakout move from defence, to make the score two goals each.
Brunswick, motivated by Juan Tapias-Gutierrez, mounted a sustained attack. Brandon Sangchin and Azhar Al-Mousawi had shots saved and Kavell Lewis-Guthrie fired wide.
Pitshanger eventually hit back. Addi Diacon worked his way through the visitors’ defence but was off target with his shot from a difficult angle. Then Toby Nuttall embarked on a penetrating dribble before a defender charged down his finishing shot.
Brunswick were awarded a penalty for handball in the 63rd minute, which Kavell converted to put his side 3-2 ahead.
Then Brunswick’s Luca Vernazza saved low down from Toby Nuttall. At the other end, Daniel Faneca won the ball and released Brandon Sangchin, whose shot was stopped by Teo Andric. Teo followed this with a good save, in his top corner from Max Bogdanovic.
Brunswick made the game safe in the final minute (matches are 40 minutes each half in this competition) when Brandon Sangchin tapped Azhar Al-Mousawi’s low cross in at the far post.
Final Score: Pitshanger Red 2 Brunswick Red 4
Congratulations are due to both teams for providing a very enjoyable match, played in an excellent spirit, on a very cold day. Pitshanger must be particularly commended on their fighting performance, against a team that play two divisions above them in the Harrow Youth League.
Brunswick Red are now drawn to play away to Isleworthians Youth U16 Reds in the 4th Round on Sunday, 9th January, 2022.
PITSHANGER RED: (rolling subs used): Teo Andric, Fahad Kashmoula, Adam Smiri, Omario Campbell, Toby Nuttall, Panagiotis Verroiotis, Sean Kerr, Pedro Fio Simba, Addi Diacon, Tobyn Legaspi, Mikhail Hussain, Omar Al-Janabi, Benjamin Lepper, Faris Ayesh and Leroy Lima Soares Dos Santos.
Manager: Bernardo Lopez Garcia Assistant Manager: Alan Collins
BRUNSWICK RED: Luca Vernazza, Azhar Al-Mousawi, Max Bogdanovic, Daniel Faneca, Abubakr Gadzhiev, Raphael Garrett, Kavell Lewis-Guthrie, Behrad Pishehvari, Nikolla Prenga, Juan Tapias-Gutierrez, Brandon Sangchin and Adam Yalcin.
Manager: Danny Volino.
REFEREE: Gary Little.
I was delighted that this match gave me the opportunity to renew (albeit briefly) an acquaintanceship from many years ago. Danny Volino has been involved with the Brunswick club and we became good friends when I was the Chairman of the County’s Disciplinary Committee. People like Danny are the lifeblood of our great game.
Another typical example of dedication to the cause was provided by Gary Little, our referee. When we arrived at the ground, Gary was out on the pitch, in charge of a league match in a lower age group, between teams from Pitshanger and Brunswick. He obviously enjoys his refereeing and was quickly immersed in our match, having immediately bonded with the players of both teams. He had an excellent game and contributed significantly to the entertainment on view.
We thank Chris and Jim for giving up their valuable time to take in this entertaining Youth Cup fixture, as ever they have picked out some of the key images from the match as shown in the report, courtesy of Chris Benn there is also a full range of photography from the match that can be found below.
