MacDevitt Maintains UEL’s Football Top Spot

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A winning performance keeps UEL 1st  at the top of the Southern Division, as Moses Kaddu reports…

The University of East London 1st continued their impressive start to the season with their fourth straight win, after a 2-1 home victory over the University of Kent 1st.

Liam MacDevitt’s brace secured the three points for UEL, to pile the pressure on the chasing Universities for the title.

UEL Coach Yassain Abidou had played match winner MacDevitt as a right back in their previous four games, but his decision to push him further up field with his blistering pace was key to winning the game for UEL.

MacDevitt put UEL ahead just ten minutes into the game, as Mohamed Sheiknoor’s cross to the far post was put on a plate for the unmarked MacDevitt to convert from close range.

Nervy Moments

In the second half, Kent pressed for an equaliser and eventually got it through an unlikely source. UEL failed to clear their lines from a cross which resulted in Nnamdi Harold-Egole knocking the ball into his own net.

With UEL running out of time, it looked like they would have to settle for the draw until MacDevitt grabbed the all-important winner, as he controlled and volleyed Michael Ogboin’s cross to give UEL the lead.

UEL were not their usual fluent selves, as they struggled to gain control of the game despite their advantage. Kent looked the better team but credit to UEL’s defence who stood strong when needed as they denied the visitors an equaliser.

Kent created wave after wave of attacks in the final third of the match, but UEL keeper Richie Robins was on top form as he prevented a late Kent strike to hold on for three points.

Abidou was pleased with the victory and is already looking toward the next fixture: “Next week we have the University of St Marys in the reverse fixture from the first game of the season where we lost our only game 2-1. So, we’ll be looking to avenge that defeat and continue where we’ve been the last four games”.

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