Brent’s Under-14 squad turned on the style in a fantastic display of football to record the association’s biggest win in a Middlesex competition in the association’s fifty year history. In-form striker Keiano Josephs opened the scoring with a super shot into the top corner. Shortly afterwards winger Reece Weekes sprinted down the left and supplied the perfect cross for Josephs to bag his second. Josephs clinched his hatrick on the half hour mark outsprinting the Hillingdon defense to latch onto a Kieran Ali through ball and make the score 3-0. TJ Clarke made it four just before half time with a long range shot that curled just inside the post.
Brent pressed straight from the restart and got their reward when all-action winger Weekes scored a fantastic solo goal, chipping the keeper from 25 yards to make it 5-0.
After that, Hillingdon’s Man of the Match, goalkeeper Joe Ringer, made a string of superb saves but Brent kept their foot on the pedal . William Lahti passed to Kyle Mathews who released Josephs down the right wing. Josephs sprinted to the by line and unselfishly cut the ball back to the edge of the area where Weekes raced on to the ball to score with an unstoppable drive to make it 6. Brent rang the changes; Wicktor Wachala was brought on and his neat passing released Cai Burrows who reacted quickly in the box and calmly passed the ball into the net to make it 7-0. Brent keeper Garara released right back Gareth Balekomoso who started a neat passing move involving skipper Michael Adjei, Odain Donaldson and Mohamed Elmabarak who played in Josephs to drive home and make it 8. Burrows made it 9 with a skilful solo effort beating two defenders before smashing the ball into the net.
Brent coach Chris Ampofo paid tribute to his team: “That was a magnificent team performance. The goals will catch the eye but the team also defended brilliantly. They didn’t let Hillingdon play. I congratulated the Hillingdon keeper Joe Ringer after the game. He was outstanding. Getting back to Brent though, everyone in the squad contributed. Recently we have been focussing on priorities. The defenders defending well, the midfield tackling and passing and we have been asking for more crosses and shots from the strikers. The players have worked very hard on this and got their reward on the pitch today. At half time we were four nil up. Some players would have eased up but not this group. We talked about keeping team discipline and intensity. It worked and they went on to score another five. They work very very hard for each other and played some fantastic football ”.
The win piles pressure on league leaders Barnet who know that they can’t afford to slip up with Brent hot on their tail in second place. Brent play Harrow next.
Brent squad: William and Tommy Lahti (Newman), Odain Donaldson, Drillon Kresniqi (Capital City), Michael Adjei (capt), Gareth Balekomoso, Reece Weekes, Cai Burrows (St Gregorys) Kush Garara, Kiran Ali (Kingsbury), Mohamed Elmabarak (Copland) , Kyle Mathew (Wembley), Wicktor Wachala (Ark), TJ Clarke (Preston Manor), ,Keiano Joseph (Claremont)