by Melvin Sullivan

Lea Valley 4
Minchenden Youth 1

LEA Valley took the game straight into the Minchendenian's half and though the visitors had a few forays upfield, that's where the ball stayed for much of the first period.

Papa Baah took advantage of a loose ball in only the third minute and drove home from a wide angle to notch his first goal for the club. With the Swans largely in control of the midfield it amazingly took another twenty minutes to add the second when Emrah Mandarun hooked the ball into the net from close to the penalty spot.

Minutes later Zain Iqbal, showing yet again what a clever player he is, moved effortlessly into the middle where he latched onto a through ball before slamming it past the Minchenden keeper for number three.

Out on the left, Habeel Khaliq gave his usual dependably solid display. He is a player who likes to keep the ball on the ground, and the excellent interaction between him and Mandarun allowed Baah and Nathaniel Soneye-Thomas to menace the visitors with runs from deep positions.

Back in goal, Swans stopper Danny Alam was rarely called into action but showed a safe pair of hands when occasion demanded.

Kenan Bancroft was introduced to the action late in the half and his mazy runs on the left flank immediately caused all sorts of problems for the visitor's defense.

The Minchenden keeper did well to scoop away a rasping fifteen yard shot from the winger after good setting-up work by Soneye-Thomas. And Bancroft repaid the compliment on the brink of half-time when he found Soneye-Thomas in a good position, and the big striker found room to poke the ball into the corner of the net.

With the cushion of a four goal lead, Valley manager Tom Hazelton took the opportunity in the second half to move one or two players to unfamiliar positions.

To their credit Minchenden pushed forward in search of a goal and the home side found themselves under pressure. Adil Gite and Saif Shahid were a commanding presence at the back for Valley and Moazam Sheikh & Ahmed Meshkati kept a tight rein on anything moving down the flanks.

But a moment of indecision inside the six yard box with only five minutes remaining cost the Swans a clean sheet and gave Minchenden the consolation goal that their efforts undoubtably deserved.

Soneye-Thomas nearly made it five in the last moments but his effort came off the outside of the post.

Both sets of players enjoyed the game in a competitive but sporting atmosphere and it was a pleasure to play host to their team and their friendly management and supporters.

Squad: Alam, Meshkati, Shahid, Gite, Sheikh, Iqbal, Sweeney-O'Brien, Mandarun, Khaliq, Baah, Soneye-Thomas, Bilal, Bancroft, Hanson. All players were used.