Match Report
Thurlow Nunn Division 1 South
NW London 3-0 Southend Manor
Lamine Gomes 19' (NW London)
Hugo Javaloyes 43' (NW London)
Lucas Gonzalez 88' (NW London)
After a challenging start to 2025 with consecutive heavy losses, NW London bounced back with a well-deserved 3-0 victory over Southend Manor. The match, played in North London, showcased the trademark free-flowing style of NW London, as they secured three crucial points to kickstart their calendar year.
The game also marked the return of several key players, including midfielders Lucas Gonzalez and Hugo Javaloyes, as well as striker Arianit Krasniqi. Managerial changes were evident, with seven alterations to the starting lineup. Howard Nhemachena was deployed in defence, partnering Noe Nangura, who made his return to the club after a brief spell away.
From the opening whistle, NW London's renowned passing style was on full display. Bernardino Andeme was an early threat, testing Southend Manor's defence. Despite a couple of openings for the visitors, NW London's backline, determined to rectify recent defensive issues, stood firm and marshalled the opposition effectively.
The breakthrough came in the first half when Hugo Javaloyes, initially shaping to shoot, unselfishly laid the ball off to Lamine Gomes, who calmly slotted home from 10 yards out. The goal injected confidence into the NW London ranks, with Andeme and Krasniqi both coming close to extending the lead before halftime.
The second goal arrived courtesy of Javaloyes, who found the back of the net after a swift counterattack. Andeme played a crucial role, threading a precise through ball that allowed Javaloyes to finish with composure.
NW London continued to dominate in the second half, but a momentary setback occurred when Gomes was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. Despite being a player down, the flow of the game remained unchanged. Andeme struck the post, and Krasniqi had further attempts to add to the scoreline.
Once Gomes returned, NW London faced another challenge when Al-Nashi was sent off for delaying the restart of play. Southend Manor sensed an opportunity to capitalise on their numerical advantage, but Nhemachena, making his debut, produced a stunning block from a counter-attack to deny the visitors any chance of a comeback.
The game was ultimately sealed by Javaloyes, who notched his third goal involvement of the match. With a clever chested pass, he set up Gonzalez, who rounded the goalkeeper and coolly slotted home NW London's third goal. The victory was a testament to the team's resilience and attacking prowess.
This performance offered a glimpse of NW London at their best, a style that has defined their successes this season. With the return of influential players and a renewed sense of confidence, the team will be looking to build on this result and push for more points in the final months of the campaign.