Match Report
Thurlow Nunn Division 1 South - Tuesday 18th November
NW London 1-2 Hoddesdon Town
Patrick Bozych 60' (Hoddesdon Town)
Noah Salama 66' (NW London)
Connor Casey 82' (Hoddesdon Town)
NW London fell to a 2–1 defeat against Hoddesdon Town on Tuesday night, marking their second consecutive loss despite a lively performance full of chances.
The Gorillas were boosted by the return of top scorer CJ Eseka and midfielder Hugo Javaloyes, who had missed the previous game with a thigh issue. Former Arsenal academy defender Elijah Sontan was handed his first league start after impressing on debut.
From the outset, NW London settled into their trademark rhythm of possession and sharp attacking play. Early on, Rocco Montorio was sent through by a delightful Javaloyes pass, only to fire over when more composure might have paid off.
Eseka twice went close shortly after—first beating the goalkeeper but finding only the side netting from a tight angle, and then failing to bring a through ball under control, again narrowing the shooting angle.
There was a strong penalty shout when Javaloyes appeared to be tripped inside the box, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Hoddesdon struggled to contain NWL's fluid attacks for much of the half, though they created a moment of danger when a slip from Javaloyes allowed a breakaway, only for Fernando Turriel to save well with his right foot. In the final moments of the half, Montorio unleashed a fierce half-volley that was brilliantly clawed away by the Hoddesdon goalkeeper.
At half-time, Javaloyes was withdrawn as his thigh injury reoccurred, forcing NW London into an unwanted change.
A huge opportunity came early in the second half when Montorio jinked inside and curled an effort narrowly wide from inside the box. It proved costly, as Hoddesdon delivered a sucker punch moments later—winning the ball high before a low cross was finished smartly from a tight angle to make it 1–0.
NWL responded well and eventually levelled when Montorio turned provider, cutting the ball back for the equaliser. Before that, Turriel had produced another big save when two Hoddesdon attackers were played through with time and space.
After pulling level, Eseka once again went close but fired wide, while Valentin Burcea forced a good stop from close range.
However, Hoddesdon struck again, breaking from a throw-in and finishing low into the bottom corner, leaving Turriel with no chance.
NW London pushed desperately for a second equaliser, and Montorio was inches away from rescuing a point when his low strike beat the goalkeeper but agonisingly hit the inside of the post and rolled across the face of goal.
Despite an energetic and chance-filled display, the Gorillas ended the night empty-handed and will surely rue the number of opportunities created but not converted.