Premier Division

Larkspur Rovers  1    Kodak (Harrow)  0

Wednesday, 14 August 2024
 

I was in attendance for Larkspur Rovers' second Middlesex County Football League Premier Division fixture of the season, against Kodak (Harrow) FC, on Wednesday evening at Lord Halsbury Playing Fields. Larkspur Rovers had lost 5-1 at home to Jolof Sports, on Saturday (in what was their first match of the season), but this league fixture was Kodak's first of the 2024/25 season. This step 7 match was won 1-0 by Larkspur Rovers. After Larkspur Rovers were awarded an early free-kick out on the right flank, a good delivery into Kodak penalty area, saw the ball headed wide of the goal by Henry Taylor, at the back post. Ryan Durrant's corner-kick (for Larkspur Rovers, a couple of minutes later) was met by Henry Taylor, in the centre of the Kodak penalty area. However, the defender's first time effort was kept out by the diving Kodak goalkeeper, Warren McCreeth.

In what was quite an even game, the next chance of the game (this time for Kodak) came from another set-piece. With Romario Godfrey-Brown's free-kick delivery from the right flank being met by Aaron Fernandes in the centre of the Larkspur Rovers' penalty area. Fernandes' powerful headed effort went wide of goalkeeper Bradley Morris' right-hand post. Around five minutes later Larkspur Rovers centre-forward and captain Liam Walford, hit an effort on the bounce, from the left-hand side of the Kodak box, wide of their goal. The best chance of the first half followed, however, as Larkspur Rovers player Ryan Durrant received Darwaish Alamyar's cross just inside of the Kodak penalty area. Durrant's exquisite ball control saw the ball sit up nicely for him, and his fine resulting volleyed effort went just over the Kodak goal.

Just before half-time, Kodak player Thari Taleb managed to get on the ball on the right-hand side of the home team's penalty area. However, his effort on goal was well held by Bradley Morris. In what was a much more livelier second half, It didn't take very long before the first chance of the second half from open play was created. With a good and long forward ball from Bradley Morris, finding Toren Scott, who would take the ball just inside of the Kodak penalty area. The ball would eventually be controlled by Liam Walford (also inside of the box) whose low effort on the turn went wide of Warren McCreeth's right-hand post. After Romario Godfrey-Brown had won the ball off of a Larkspur Rovers player on the edge of their penalty area, he would take the ball into the box, before having a good effort on goal which was well saved by Bradley Morris, at his near post.

Following a breakdown in communication between Samuel Brake and the Kodak goalkeeper Warren McCreeth, the ball was latched onto by Larkspur Rovers player James Breed. He would take the ball down the left side of the Kodak penalty area, but his resulting effort was well saved by McCreeth. A couple of minutes later and after receiving Liam Walford's pass on the left-hand side of the Kodak box, Rob Minter would hit a good low effort, which went just wide of McCreeth's left-hand post. Then, in the following five minutes, Kodak would create a really good chance for which they were unlucky not to have taken the lead from. With Romario Godfrey-Brown delivering a good low cross (from the left side of the Larkspur Rovers box) to Joseph Longman at the back post. However, Longman's low effort on goal was really well saved and kept out by the legs of Bradley Morris.

Soon after that fine chance for Kodak, and following a corner-kick for the away side, Larkspur Rovers would counter forward with the ball with great success. After Israel Boateng had managed to do well to get to the ball in central midfield, he would then pass the ball forward to Anthony Byfield. Byfield would progress the ball further forward, before finding James Breed with a pass from the right-hand side of the pitch, to the left-hand side of the Kodak box. From there James Breed would hit a really good and powerful low effort into the bottom right-hand corner of the Kodak goal, 1-0. Shortly after the opening goal of the game had arrived, Larkspur Rovers defender Henry Taylor did well to block and clear away a headed effort on goal (from inside of the Larkspur Rovers box) by Joseph Longman.

Larkspur Rovers would manage the remainder of the game really well, against a Kodak side who were pushing for a late equalising goal. Following Ralford Thorpe's lofted ball to the centre of the home side's penalty area, Kodak captain Kareem Campbell would glance a header wide of the goal. And then after James Breed had travelled inside with the ball from the left flank to the edge of the Kodak box, he would see his resulting effort on goal be held by McCreeth. Very late on in the match Ralford Thorpe would hit an effort over Bradley Morris' goal, from distance. Larkspur followed their game plan and instructions from the manager on the sidelines, really well, to see out the game. Kodak (Harrow) are a very good side in this league, and this was only their first league game of the season. However, a well organised and much improved Larkspur Rovers side (from Saturday) deserved to win the match, in my opinion.

Larkspur Rovers' central defender Anthony Byfield capped off a really good defensive performance by also providing the assist for the winning goal. Byfield impressed with his reading of the game and decision making. He was my player of the match on Wednesday. Also, vocal Larkspur Rovers goalkeeper Bradley Morris (he made some good saves and decisions), captain Liam Walford, Israel Boateng and goalscorer James Breed, did very well, I thought. The whole Larkspur Rovers defence also did really well, to make it challenging for the Kodak forwards during the match, in what was a good team performance from the club who play in Northolt. For Kodak (Harrow), I thought that the creative Romario Godfrey-Brown, was the player of the match for the away side.

This match report was written by Lennon.