Thurlow Nunn League Challenge Cup - Monday 18th August

Barkingside 3-2 NW London

Jayden Mitchell-Brown 18' (Barkingside)
Elton Gjonbala 34' (Barkingside)
Mitchell Ngwueche 39' (NW London)
Wesley Cafe 46' (NW London)
Adam Sheikh 69' (Barkingside)

Just three days after the dramatic clash with Lymore Gardens, NW London returned to action on Monday night in the League Challenge Cup, which features teams from the Thurlow Nunn Divisions One South, One North and the Premier Division.

Having taken four points off Barkingside last season but also remembering a 3–2 cup defeat three years ago, NW London were looking to progress — but instead suffered a frustrating repeat, falling to their third 3–2 loss in seven games, despite looking the more likely winners for long spells.

With the busy schedule in mind — including a crucial FA Vase tie this coming Sunday — manager Wasim Khan made a number of changes, handing a debut to weekend signing Wesley Café in midfield, while exciting youngster Bernardino Andeme made his first start of the campaign after missing pre-season.

NWL started positively, moving the ball well and carving out early opportunities, with Luchessini firing narrowly wide from a tight angle. Against the run of play, Barkingside went ahead when a deflected effort looped cruelly over Malik in goal.

The setback didn't affect NW London's approach as they continued to dominate possession, but another error proved costly — Malik misjudged a long pass, allowing the Barkingside striker to run through and double the lead.

Their persistence was finally rewarded when Soares laid the ball off for Ngwueche, who fired a delightful strike into the top corner from just inside the box to bring NW London back into the contest before the break.

The second half began perfectly for Khan's side. Within a minute, another flowing move saw Soares slip Café through on goal, and the debutant showed composure to round the keeper and slot home for a deserved equaliser.

With momentum building, Okoko forced a save from a free kick, and NW London pressed hard while Barkingside retreated deeper. But just as it looked like the pressure might tell, disaster struck again: a clearance left Malik stranded and a curling effort from wide drifted into the net — another freak goal to put Barkingside back ahead.

From there, NWL pushed for a leveller but seemed to run out of steam. Barkingside threatened on the counter while the visitors struggled to fashion clear chances in the closing stages.

It ended 3–2 once more, a scoreline that has become an all-too-familiar story. Despite the defeat, there were plenty of positives to take — not least Café's debut goal and Andeme's return — but NW London will be determined to turn strong performances into results as they prepare for a big FA Vase tie on Sunday.