Wednesday 3rd December, 2025 | Hackney Wick 4-4 Buckhurst Hill (Buckhurst Hill win 3-0 on Penalties) | Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy | Attendance : 27 Headcount
By Anthony Mercer
Buckhurst Hill FC made it through to the third round of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy, with an enthralling penalty shoot out victory over Hackney Wick, with young 16 year old keeper Lenny Perry the hero.
Manager Mark Williams made four changes to his line up from Saturday’s win over Athletic Newham, with Lenny Perry, Archie Hammond, Josh Banfield and Max Nicholson starting at the expense of Christian North, Ollie Williams, Tyler Dolan and Ollie Fernandez.
The action did start fast and furious and it was Dimitri Nicolaou who saw his curling effort well saved by home keeper Nasim inside 22 minutes. The home side had a good chance 2 minutes later, when Kleinti Loufi fired over from good build up play.
On 27 the home side opened their account when a free kick was condeeded and up stepped Kleinti Loufi who fired into the net.
Minutes later Arthur Massingham crossed for Callum Maltese who went close.
Six minutes before the break, Buckhurst Hill levelled, when Maltese picked up on a wayward ball and from 25 yards, hit home into an empty net.
The home side started well after the break, but it was Buckhurst Hill who then took the lead. On 57 Maltese out on the right crossed on to the head of Harry Lusher to head home. Within 3 minutes the home side were level, when the visitors defence did not clear and the ball fell to Joshua Adeojo to crash home. Buckhurst Hill keeper Lenny Perry was then called upon when Anderson looked to find the top corner, but Perry made a fine save.
It was 2-2 just past the hour.
On 65 it was Buckhurst Hill back in the lead. A Maltese free kick on the right was flicked on by Archie Hammond and the ball fell to Lusher from 5 yards to tap into the net.
Within minutes Massingham had two great chances, both denied by keeper Nasim.
The Stags looked to have sealed the tie on 73, when another cross from Maltese saw Lusher’s effort saved, but he followed up to score and complete a fine 16 minute hattrick.
Buckhurst Hill then made changes, with Nicolaou, Maltese and Lusher replaced by Le Voir, Mengou and Williams.
The home side were not finished and with 2 minutes of normal time left, A cross from the right was met at the back post by Joshua Adeojo for his second of the night.
It wasn’t the last action for Adeojo, as on 90 he lashed out off the ball and saw red.
This did not deter Hackney Wick as they attacked in numbers and the constant pressure paid off in the 5th minute of injury time when a one time Stag, Andre Anderson smashed home from 10 yards to take the game to penalties.
Only 6 penalties were required as Archie Hammond hit into the left hand corner, before Lopate blazed over. Josh Banfield who only has one career goal for the Stags, hit his penalty well, to take a 2-0 lead, before Grappy seeing his penalty saved by Perry. Max Nicholson then hit low into the net, as Loufi stepped up to keep his side in the tie, but Lenny Perry again saved, well to his left and become the hero and see Buckhurst Hill progress 3-0 on penalties and into round 3.
After the game, Manager of the Month for November, Mark Williams commented.
“Having gone to Hackney Wick in the league a few weeks ago, I felt it was de va ju. Hackney Wick have a lot of skill going forward, but I felt they would give us chances with the very open style they play. Despite going one down we then created so many chances. Despite only taking one of them, to go in at halftime at 1-1.
I felt the game was there for the taking. In the final 17 we were 4-1 up, but we had poor game management and let them back in. 4-2 up in 88 minutes, we should have seen the game out. Credit to Hackney Wick they got it back to 4-4.
Penalties are a lottery, but 16 year old debutant Lenny Perry had other ideas, saving 2 of Wicks penalties and sending us through.
TEAM:
Perry 🧤🟨, Foster, Edwards, Hammond, Nicholson, Brown, Massingham, Banfield ©, Lusher,⚽️⚽️⚽️ Maltese ⚽️Nicolaou
SUBS:
Williams (79’ Brown), Le Voir (72’ Nicoloau), Longman, Mengou (74 – Maltese) and North
NEXT MATCH:
Saturday 13th December – Hackney Wick (H) – Essex Senior League – KO 3PM