Non-League and Academy football writer

FC Baresi faced FC Petrocub at Ware’s Wodson Park ground on Saturday afternoon. In what was one of the biggest games in FC Baresi’s history, with the league leaders only needing a point against sixth placed FC Petrocub, to win the Essex Alliance League Senior Division, and earn promotion to step 6 for next season. This league fixture ended with FC Baresi winning the 2023/24 Essex Alliance League Senior Division title, with them winning 3-1 against FC Petrocub, and I was in attendance at Wodson Park. The game started really well for the home side, with them taking a very early lead In the match. As Vitalie Chiriac (I believe that it was the FC Petrocub defender whose unfortunate back pass resulted in FC Baresi taking the lead) would play a pass back to the FC Petrocub goalkeeper, Vasile Turcanu. However, the goalkeeper wasn’t expecting the ball, as it rolled into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. FC Petrocub would respond well to conceding early on in the match, and shortly after FC Baresi had taken the lead in the game, FC Petrocub would draw level. After an effort had been blocked inside the FC Baresi penalty area, the ball came to Ion Braniste on the right-hand side of the box, and his fine, curling effort found the top left-hand corner of the goal, 1-1.

There was a really good pace to the game, at this stage of the first half. After FC Baresi captain Edson Lami had headed wide Marvin Hamilton’s corner-kick into the FC Petrocub box, Noyan Tajbakhsh hit a low effort wide of the FC Petrocub goal, from the left side of their penalty area. And following those two chances for FC Baresi, FC Petrocub would become the better side in the game. FC Baresi goalkeeper Eric Andoh came rushing out of his goal to bravely clear the ball from the feet of FC Petrocub player Ion Spinu, on the edge of his penalty area. A couple of minutes later, Erol Hassan’s attempted clearance inside the FC Baresi penalty area, came to Ion Braniste, but his low effort was really well pushed away by the diving Eric Andoh. Nicolae Gutu would then hit an effort over the FC Baresi goal, from the edge of their penalty area, as FC Petrocub continued to impress. Following an effort from Ion Spinu, which was saved by Eric Andoh, the same player would send a curling effort wide of the FC Baresi goal, a couple of minutes later.

After Ion Spinu had created a good chance for Cristi Ilie on the right-hand side of the FC Baresi penalty area, Cristi Ilie would hit a low effort wide of the goal. Then, a couple of minutes later, Marvin Hamilton hit a decent effort wide of the FC Petrocub goal, from distance. FC Petrocub were pressing well and they would create another good chance in the game, after Cristi Ilie had just managed to get ahead of Romuald Boco, to the ball, he hit a good first time effort from the left side of the penalty area, which was well closed down and saved by Eric Andoh. After that very good chance for the away side, FC Baresi were awarded a penalty, after the referee had pointed to the penalty spot, following a foul on Junior Appiah, inside the FC Petrocub box. After some protests from the FC Petrocub team, the game resumed. With Marvin Hamilton stepping up to calmly place the ball into the right-hand corner of the goal, 2-1. FC Petrocub would respond again, however, with Ion Braniste hitting a powerful effort from distance on the FC Baresi goal, which was pushed behind well by Eric Andoh. Nicolai Cotruta would head an effort wide, from the resulting corner-kick.

Shortly before half-time Murat Karagul headed an effort wide of the FC Petrocub goal, after connecting with a cross into their penalty area from Noyan Tajbakhsh. And in the final moments of the half, Gheorge Belibov hit a powerful effort wide of Eric Andoh’s goal. There were no real chances of note during the early stages of the second half, at least before FC Baresi extended their lead. After Junior Appiah’s effort inside the FC Petrocub penalty area had been blocked, the ball eventually found its way into the path of the clinical Murat Karagul, on the right-hand side of the box. And the former Ware player would powerfully find the goal, via the underside of the crossbar with an emphatic finish, 3-1. The introduction of Raymond Poku was really beneficial for FC Baresi. The highly skilful winger, soon after being introduced to the match, would take the ball past an FC Petrocub defender on the left flank, before whipping a low cross into the away team’s box. Raymond Poku was able to pick out the run of Junior Appiah at the back post, but the experienced winger would see his sliding effort saved by Vasile Turcanu, before the ball was eventually cleared.

FC Petrocub would create two good chances in quick succession, as the second half progressed. First of all an effort from Nicolai Cotruta went just over the FC Baresi goal from close range, before the impressive Ion Spinu (also receiving the ball not very far out from the FC Baresi goal), would hit a low effort just wide of Eric Andoh’s right post. An ambitious long range effort from Murat Karagul was saved by Vasile Turcanu, before FC Petrocub created three late chances. With Valeriu Moraf hitting an effort wide of the FC Baresi goal, minutes before Nicolai Cotruta’s low effort from the right-hand side of FC Baresi’s penalty area, came off the left post before bouncing fortuitously into the arms of Eric Andoh. And just before the celebrations were about to begin for FC Baresi, Sergiu Demcioglo hit a lofted effort wide of Eric Andoh’s goal, with the referee then sounding his whistle for full-time, soon after. The FC Baresi players would celebrate out on the pitch after the whistle, and they deserved to. With the club really deserving of the league title this season, and their promotion to step 6, for next season. This was a very competitive game of football, and although FC Baresi weren’t at their best on the day, they once again showed good game management.

Isioma Richard was crucial in central defence for FC Baresi on Saturday afternoon. He would match the FC Petrocub forwards on the pitch when they got into good positions in and around the penalty area, and he defended very well, and was therefore my player of the match. However, FC Baresi goalkeeper Eric Andoh was also excellent for FC Baresi, making some very important and impressive saves. Congratulations to FC Baresi, their players and coaching staff, on winning the 2023/24 Essex Alliance League Senior Division title. They’ll now be focusing on doing the league and cup double, before the end of this season.