Buckhurst Hill 3 Brimsdown 1

Thurlow Nunn Division One South, Tuesday 19th October

I was over at Roding Lane for an historic evening on Tuesday night as Buckhurst Hill played their very first match under lights at the ground, and it saw a brace from Nathan Sollosi help them come from behind to defeat a very hard working Brimsdown.

I have watched Buckhurst Hill rise from the Junior football ranks up to where they now play, and have seen there ground transform over the last couple of seasons, and to see it with lights, and stand, turnstile, tea bar, the already decent club house and fencing along the stand side of the ground, it's amazing how well the club continue to build and build both on and off the pitch.

And with this being an historic night for the hosts, a crowd in excess of three figures turned up to watch what many thought would be a routine home victory against a Brimsdown side who sat bottom of the table, but the visitors are much changed now since those early dark days at the start of the season, and they certainly have been much more competitive of late.

And sure enough just before the quarter hour mark the hosts, who had made some changes to their usual line up, found themselves behind after Chirosi Basden's effort from outside the box deflected off teammate Ricardo Price and wrong footed Hill keeper Daniel Blockley, ending up in the net. The hosts were adamant Price was offside, but after referee Fabio Roque had discussed with his assistant on the far side, the goal was allowed to stand, and Brimsdown had the lead.

The hosts had most of the play and attacking intent, but they were not at their best and saw either visiting keeper Ali Dogan in the way or misfiring efforts see them remain frustrated, but finally after an hour's play they found the net when Nathan Sollosi smashed home from inside the box, and now the hosts felt they could go on and win this one.

Hill boss Mark Williams introduced main man Suleyman Zuhdu and also another normal starter in the shape of Sonny Shilling, and their introduction certainly helped the old Hill to return as they began to play how everyone knew they could, and with twelve minutes remaining they hit the front when Shilling buried from close range, this after keeper Dogan, who had made some brilliant stops prior to the goal, had stopped an initial effort from the Hill attacker. 

Brimsdown though were still very much in the game and at 2-1 did force the hosts back a bit at times, but they were unable to find a spark and restore parity, and then in stoppage time saw Nathan Sollosi, who had had another superb game, lobbed a stranded Dogan from the edge of the box to finally seal this contest and hand hill another victory in what has been a superb debut senior season so far.

Fair play to Brimsdown though, who certainly were more than competitive against one of the better sides in the division, and on this showing will not be down at the bottom for long, that is for sure, plenty of positives for them to take from this defeat.

Full time Buckhurst Hill 3 Brimsdown 1