Thurlow Nunn Division 1 South - Friday 26th September

NW London 2-2 May & Baker

Reon George 22' (May & Baker)
Quincy Warner 27' (May & Baker)
Emmanuel Okoko 35' (NW London)
Hocine Krouchi 85' (NW London)

As has often been the case this season, NW London were involved in another pulsating contest, this time sharing the points at home in a 2–2 draw with May & Baker.

The Gorillas went into the game just three days after their dramatic late win at Hoddesdon. Hocine Krouchi returned to central defence, with Thulio Soares rested.

NWL started brightly, creating the early openings. Gherardo Lucchesini went close twice, the second effort clipping the crossbar as the hosts pressed for an opener.

However, against the run of play, May & Baker struck first. A corner was only partially cleared, and a volley from the edge of the box was flicked past goalkeeper Will Barker. The visitors, set up to defend deep, then doubled their lead from another corner — Barker made a fine initial save, but the rebound was driven in.

NWL kept their composure and continued to push forward. Their persistence was rewarded shortly before the interval when captain Emmanuel Okoko unleashed a powerful strike from distance that skidded into the bottom corner to halve the deficit.

The second half saw relentless pressure from the hosts. They were twice denied by the woodwork — first when Hussein Farhat headed against the bar from close range, and then when Ariant Krasniqi's superb first-time volley crashed off the top of the frame. CJ Eseka also saw two penalty appeals waved away as the Gorillas pushed for a leveller.

With just under ten minutes to play, the breakthrough finally came. Wesley Cafe delivered a dangerous cross, Eseka's effort was saved at close range by the goalkeeper's outstretched foot, but Krouchi reacted quickest to smash in the rebound to make it 2–2.

There was still time for late drama. Deep into stoppage time, a long ball forward from Ashiqur Rahman sent Krasniqi clear with only the goalkeeper to beat, but his finish drifted agonisingly wide of the post.

In the end, NW London were left to rue missed chances. While they showed character to fight back from two goals down and claim a point, they created enough opportunities to have taken all three.