Non-League and Academy football writer

I was at Noak Hill Sports Complex on Wednesday night, to watch FC Petrocub London face Kulture FC, in an Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division fixture. FC Petrocub London had lost their opening league match of the season, 2-1 on Saturday, to Fairlop Rovers. Kulture FC recorded an excellent 3-3 draw with Lymore Gardens, on Friday night. It was a clinical FC Petrocub London side, who won this particular match 3-1. Kulture would go very close to taking a very early lead in the match. Centre-forward Butrint Lecaj had pressed a Petrocub defender well inside of their penalty area, as the ball came over to Landry Gogoa, whose resulting effort from the centre of the box, would go over the goal. After that god chance for Kenneth Boateng’s side, the ball would run through (following a lofted ball) to Landry Gogoa, this time on the left side of the Petrocub penalty area. However, the forward’s powerful effort on goal was saved behind, off the Petrocub goalkeeper Gheorghe Martiniuc.

After a fairly even start to the match, with the exception of those two chances for the away side, it was Petrocub who would take the lead during the opening stages of the match. Ion Spinu had an effort blocked by a defender, on the edge of the Kulture penalty area. However, Spinu would get a bit of fortune on the rebound, before surging forward down the left-hand side of the penalty area, and then cleverly finishing with his right foot, into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. After Kulture player Mohammed Bhayet had a low effort from the edge of the Petrocub penalty area which was pushed behind by Martiniuc at his near post, Petrocub player Ion Bojii would hit an effort over the Kulture goal, at the opposite end of the pitch. Following an effort from Dumitru Gritcan on the edge of the Kulture box, which had went over, Petrocub would then go onto create another chance. 

Nicolae Cotruta’s well delivered low cross from the right flank, was left by a forward for Ion Bojii, on the left-hand side of the Kulture penalty area. However, his first time effort went over the goal. In the resulting five minutes of the game Kulture forward Landry Gogoa would have a headed effort on goal (from inside of the Petrocub box) which was gathered by Gheorghe Martiniuc, after meeting Adam Priest’s cross. Not long after Ion Spinu had squared the ball from the left side of the Kulture box across to Ion Bojii, with the forward’s powerful effort being pushed away by goalkeeper Luke Adams, Petrocub would double their lead. The impressive movement and pace of Gicu Cucos would see him get to a forward ball, in behind the Kulture defence. The forward would then take the ball just inside of the Kulture penalty area, before finding the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, in clinical fashion, despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts, 2-0.

After Nicolae Cotruta had a curling effort (from the edge of the Kulture box) which was held by Luke Adams, the tricky and highly skilful Gicu Cucos, would almost make it 3-0. After getting to a long ball on the right-hand side of the away team’s penalty area, Gicu Cucos would twist and turn his way around a defender, before having an effort on goal which was pushed behind by Luke Adams. Shortly before half-time, Petrocub would extend their lead in the match further. Another good lofted ball in behind the Kulture defence would find the run of Gicu Cucos, who took the ball into the penalty area, and then rounded the goalkeeper, before finishing low into the centre of the goal, from close range, 3-0. 

Early on in the second half, Dumitru Gritcan would hit an effort some 20 yards out from Luke Adams’ goal, wide, on the bounce. A couple of minutes later a free-kick was awarded to Kulture, 25 yards out from the Petrocub goal. However, Butrint Lecaj’s curling effort around the wall, went wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. However, Kulture would soon get a goal back in the game, as Leo Defreitas’ whipped free-kick delivery from out out on the right flank, was nodded into the goal by Sam McNally, in front of the Petrocub goalkeeper, 3-1. And after Ion Bojii had managed to get to the ball on the edge of the Kulture box, he would hit an effort wide of the goal, with a good move from the home side following. This good passing move ended with Ion Bojii curling an effort wide of goal, from the edge of the Kulture  box.

Kulture were really trying to get an all important second goal. After Sahid Nallo had picked out the run of Reon Reid on the left-hand side of the Petrocub box, Reid would take the ball to the centre of the penalty area, before seeing his low effort on goal be excellently cleared off the goal-line by a defender. Petrocub would then go forward with the ball, in the resulting minutes. With Gicu Cucos having a low effort from the edge of the Kulture box, which was gathered by Luke Adams. A good cross into the path of Butrint Lecaj inside (he was off balance) the centre of the Petrocub box, would result in the forward hitting a first time effort over the goal. After Gicu Cucos had done well to get to the ball on the right-hand side of the Kulture penalty area, the ball would then come to Nicolae Cotruta, whose powerful effort on goal was pushed behind Luke Adams, at his near post.

Late on in the game a skilful run from Reon Reid to the centre of the Petrocub penalty area, would result in him being fouled, as the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Butrint Lecaj’s powerful resulting penalty kick was well saved to his left by Gheorghe Martiniuc, who was then able to gather Lecaj’s header on the follow-up in superb fashion. The final effort of this game also came from Butrint Lecaj, who after getting to a long ball on the left flank, would lob the ball over the goalkeeper, and over the Petrocub goal. This was an intelligent performance from Petrocub, as they used the ball very well and they were also clinical in front of goal. Kulture were unable to take some of their chances unfortunately for them, and they were frustrated by the Petrocub defence for most of the second half. 

Gicu Cucos’ leading of the line for most of Wednesday’s match, was outstanding. His pace, trickery and movement off the ball, in addition to both of his well taken goals, was admirable. Also, for the home side I thought that Dumitru Gritcan was very good in midfield, and as was goalkeeper Gheorghe Martiniuc, in his goal. For Kulture, I thought that Tyrese Sibanda and Reon Reid were in my opinion, their most influential players on Wednesday.