Diamond Academy V AFC Birmingham (Division Three)

Diamond Academy were looking to keep their momentum going against AFC Birmingham yesterday at Sandwell Falcons Football Club. It’s been an encouraging few weeks for the hosts who had won three of their last four matches to climb up to 9th in the league.

They are a new addition to division three this season and have adapted well to the challenge of step eight football so far in the opening few months of the campaign. Standout results include the eye catching 5-2 home win over Coventry Dunlop and the 4-2 away win at BNJS.     

AFC Birmingham have been a competitive side in division three with consecutive top six finishes over the last two seasons. The visitors were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-0 home loss to Solihull Youth Academy and build a run of form to move up the table over the next few weeks.

It’s been an intriguing start to the season for the visitors who notably beat Walsall Wood 1-0 away from home a few weeks back. There also through to the second round of the LJ cup following a 3-2 win over division two side Lane Head.

If they can get a run of results going their more than capable of competing near the top of the league. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Diamond Academy included Ricardo Jarrett starting in goal and Rio Grant captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Josh Deng playing up front and being supported by Kaylen Rowe and Cam Bailey on the wings.

There were five changes from their match against Gornal last weekend with Rayan Hussairy coming into the team and playing in the number ten role behind Josh Deng.

The starting line up for AFC Birmingham included Louis Stokes starting in goal and Scott Mancell captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Vezemba Tjiuoro and Harley Baker being supported by Cameron Walker from attacking midfield.

There were seven changes from their match against Solihull Youth Academy last weekend with Kwesi Nyarko coming into the team and playing as part of a back three alongside Declan Hesson and Tom Gould. 

First Half

Diamond Academy got off to a promising start inside the opening fifteen minutes and were looking to take the game to AFC Birmingham. They looked like a side in form and were causing problems up front with Josh Deng helping to hold up the play and bring players into the game.

Their best chance to take an early lead came when Khye Darlington broke free in the box from a throw in before sending his header wide of the left-hand post on 10 minutes.

AFC Birmingham gradually grew into the game as the first half went on and looked well organised off the ball with Scott Mancell helping to break up the play from holding midfield.

They created a good chance to take the lead from a corner delivered into the box. Vezemba Tjiuoro made a promising run to the back post before just missing the ball to get it on target on 26 minutes.

Diamond Academy looked a threat up front throughout the first half and created some notable chances in the final third. Cam Bailey looked a threat down the left-hand side for the hosts. He took a few players on before cutting inside and having a shot well saved by Louis Stokes on 27 minutes.    

It was clicking up front for Diamond Academy, and they were building some momentum in the final third. Rayan Hussairy impressed from attacking midfield and played some brilliant balls down the channels to start off attacks.

The hosts couldn’t find the breakthrough though and were ruthlessly punished a few minutes before half time. AFC Birmingham capitalised on a free kick from the edge of the box with Igli Bohushi having a deflected strike find the bottom left corner on 43 minutes.

​Second Half

The opening stages of the second half were mainly scrappy with not much happening in front of goal.

A lot of this was down to how both sides were set up off the ball with each working hard to cancel each other out for large spells.

The back three of Declan Hesson, Kwesi Nyarko and Tom Gould impressed for AFC Birmingham and did a good job of reading the danger at the back.  

Rohan Willis also had a good game for Diamond Academy at the back and was constantly clearing promising attacks from the visitors.

Most of the chances came in the final fifteen minutes of the second half with Diamond Academy searching for an equaliser late on.

Rayan Hussairy made a brilliant run off the shoulder down the left-hand side and was through on goal. He ran into the box before having a shot well saved by Louis Stokes at the front post in the 80th minute.   

Diamond Academy were able to find an equaliser to make it 1-1 late on when substitute Josh Apaapore reacted quickest to a rebound in the box before calmly finishing into the bottom left corner on 85 minutes.

Just as it looked like the hosts had done enough to rescue a point, they were hit with a moment of quality from the visitors deep into injury time.

AFC Birmingham capitalised on a late set piece before finding Cameron Winters on the right-hand side with a bit of space. The midfielder made an inspired run down the channel before cutting inside and running to the edge of the box. He created a bit of space before firing into the bottom right corner for a late winner in the 94th minute.

It felt like a big moment within AFC Birmingham’s season so far and could be the spark they need to go on a run of form over the next few months.

It was tough on Diamond Academy who competed well with AFC Birmingham throughout the match and looked like getting a point.

None the less, there was plenty to be encouraged about with a lot of players stepping up and having an impact yesterday despite the result.      

Upcoming fixtures

Diamond Academy’s upcoming matches include a run of away games against Solihull Youth Academy (Next Saturday) and league leaders Coventry Colliery (Saturday 18th October).

There next home game is against Solihull Youth Academy on Saturday 25th October.

AFC Birmingham have a busy run of fixtures coming up which includes playing Coventry Colliery at home in the LJ cup next Saturday.

The visitors then have a run of league matches against BNJS (Home, Saturday 11th October), AFC Balsall (Away, Saturday 18th October) and Continental Star (Away, Saturday 25th October).                

FT score: Diamond Academy 1-2 AFC Birmingham

Man of the match: Kwesi Nyarko (AFC Birmingham)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League