Non-League and Academy football writer

I was at the FC Romania versus Shefford Town & Campton FC league match on Wednesday night, at Theobalds Lane. This Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division match started with FC Romania sitting in fifth place in the league, with the visiting side, Shefford Town & Campton, sitting in 19th place in the league. The match finished 3-2 to FC Romania. Not long after Shefford Town & Campton player Conrad Holland hit an effort over the FC Romania goal, from the edge of their penalty area, the home side took the lead in the match. Ridwan Hussein’s low cross into the centre of the away team’s penalty area, wasn’t gathered properly by their goalkeeper, who was unfortunate, but Jesse Friend was on hand to score from close range, as he followed up the chance, 1-0. FC Romania were quickly looking to extend their lead, after the game had been resumed. Tobi Coker had an effort from the edge of the Shefford Town & Campton box, which was deflected just wide of their goal. And after the Shefford Town & Campton player Scott Metcalfe had a good effort from the right hand side of the FC Romania penalty area saved well by goalkeeper Elgi Fejzo, the home side created another chance. With Zenon Stylianides showing some good skill on the ball to progress it up the pitch, before having an effort well saved by Arun Khan.

A good free-kick delivery into the Shefford Town & Campton box, from Zenon Stylianides, found Johan Becka, but the defender saw his volleyed effort on goal saved by Arun Khan. After Tobi Coker had won the ball off of Dempsey Thomas on the right side of the Shefford Town & Campton penalty area, the influential FC Romania player showed some good skill, before hitting a powerful effort towards the goal. However, his fine effort came off the underside of the crossbar, before bouncing up off the line, and then being cleared. Shortly after that chance, FC Romania doubled their lead in the match, in the 24th minute. After goalkeeper Arun Khan had rushed out of his penalty area to clear the ball, his subsequent clearance went to an FC Romania player. The ball was then passed to Zenon Stylianides (by Jesse Friend) who, from distance inside the Shefford Town & Campton half, found the back of the empty goal, 2-0. However, not long after FC Romania had scored their second goal of the match, the away side managed to get their first goal of the match.

After Scott Metcalfe had been found with a lofted pass on the edge of the FC Romania penalty area, Scott Metcalfe managed to lob an effort over the outrushing goalkeeper Elgi Fejzo, with the ball going into the goal, 2-1. From a corner-kick which had been delivered towards the back post of the FC Romania goal, Dempsey Thomas headed an effort just wide of the goal. FC Romania did create the last chance of the first half, however, with Tomas Mendes playing a one, two pass with Jesse Friend on the edge of the Shefford Town & Campton penalty area. Mendes’ following effort was saved by Arun Khan. Early on in the second half, Shefford Town & Campton forward Amir Hadi had an effort on the turn saved by Elgi Fejzo, from the edge of the FC Romania penalty area. A couple of minutes after that chance, FC Romania won a corner-kick at the opposite end of the pitch. Tobi Coker’s ball into the penalty area was headed into the ground and onto the crossbar by Ridwan Hussein, before the ball was cleared away from the box.

Shefford Town & Campton had managed to get back into the game following their goal. And the team from Bedfordshire won a penalty, after Jandir Da Cruz had fouled a Shefford Town & Campton player on the right hand side of the FC Romania box. Tom Cooksley stepped-up to find the right hand corner of the goal, despite Elgi Fejzo managing to get a hand on the ball, 2-2. After Tomas Mendes was found by a long forward pass, the FC Romania forward turned with the ball inside the away team’s box, before having an effort blocked behind for a corner-kick. A couple of minutes later, Tobi Coker thought that he had been fouled by a defender inside the Shefford Town & Campton box, but the referee didn’t see anything in it. However, Jesse Friend, minutes later, would receive the ball on the right hand side of the  Shefford Town & Campton penalty area, and he clinically found the left corner of the goal with a powerful effort, to restore the home team’s lead in the game, 3-2. Tobi Coker had an effort blocked off the line by Dempsey Thomas, before Shefford Town & Campton went forward with the ball. However, their final attempt of the game, from Ola Okeowo, went over the FC Romania goal from distance, with the referee sounding his whistle for full-time soon after.

Shefford Town & Campton were missing nine first team players for this match on Wednesday. However, they still made the game a very competitive one, getting back into it from two goals down. And they can be proud of their performance as a team. And for the home side, FC Romania, they will be happy to have won another game, as they look to continue to secure a play-off spot in the league. With two goals, an assist and a fine all-round performance from FC Romania player Jesse Friend yesterday, he was my player of the match. the Cheshunt player who is on loan at FC Romania, along with Zenon Stylianides and Tobi Coker, made a really good impression on the game for the home side.