Non-League and Academy football writer

A big quarter-final tie of the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division Cup, took place on Thursday night at the Peter May Sports Centre, in Walthamstow, between Walthamstow Reserves, and FC Petrocub London. Walthamstow Reserves are currently in tenth place in the Senior Division Standings, after 20 matches played. FC Petrocub London are currently two places above Walthamstow Reserves in the table, after having played 21 league matches so far this season. This step 7 cup match was won 1-0 by FC Petrocub London. After Bilel Benyoucef had hit a very early effort, from the edge of the Petrocub box, into the side-netting of their goal, in the first minute or so of the game, Petrocub would then create a good early chance. As Gheorghe Cucos’ good through-ball pass had found the run of Nicolai Gutu down the right-hand side of the Walthamstow box, but the Petrocub forward’s effort would whistle just wide of Walthamstow goalkeeper Chris Ndala’s right-hand post.

Petrocub were starting to grow into the game, and still in the early stages of the match, the away side were awarded a penalty, after Zidane Bolessa had fouled Gheorghe Cucos, following his run to the left-hand side of the Walthamstow penalty area. However, Chris Ndala would do really well to anticipate Gritcan Dumitru’s low effort to his left, as he gathered the ball really well. Eny Okoro’s Walthamstow Reserves side were playing this match at a good intensity, and they were looking to create more chances as the first half of the game progressed. After a couple of Petrocub efforts had went over the Walthamstow goal (from outside of the box), not long before half-time, and Zidane Bolessa would make an excellently timed and crucial sliding challenge on Gheorghe Cucos, following his run in behind the Walthamstow defence, and to the edge of their box.

After a long spell in the second half where there were hardly any goalscoring chances between these two well organised sides, a free-kick in a really promising position (just inside of the Walthamstow penalty area) had been awarded to Petrocub, after Chris Ndala had handled a back-pass inside of his penalty area. The ball was laid off to Dorin Sirbu, who clinically slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 0-1. Shortly after Walthamstow player Omar Dacas’ whipped effort on the Petrocub goal (from distance) had been gathered by the Petrocub goalkeeper, Vasile Neagu, Petrocub would go on to create a great chance, late on in the game. A long ball from the Petrocub goalkeeper, would fall for a Petrocub forward, on the edge of the Walthamstow box. The ball was then laid off to Gheorghe Cucos, on the right-hand side of the box. But, after taking the ball past the outrushing Walthamstow goalkeeper, his effort would go behind, off the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

Petrocub would defend very deeply during the remaining minutes of this cup-tie. The holders of this competition, Walthamstow Reserves, were however, really trying to push for a very late equalising goal. In the final moments of the game, Walthamstow’s captain, Finlay Sims, would elect to take a free-kick which had been awarded to Walthamstow out on the right-hand side of the pitch, some 30 yards out from Petrocub’s goal. However, Sims’ powerful, whipped effort on goal, would go over. Walthamstow Reserves’ young side really did try their best against Petrocub, to make it into the semi-finals of this competition, on Thursday. However, Petrocub would defend their 1-0 lead well, to make it into the semi-finals of this competition. I thought that Petrocub’s player of the match was forward Gheorghe Cucos, who was once again very good and creative with his movement off the ball, as well as being influential in the final third of the pitch.

My overall player of the match was Walthamstow Reserves’ captain and central-defender, Finlay Sims. He read the game well, was vocal and commanding in his defending, as well as making some good passes out from defence.