Non-League and Academy football writer

PFC Victoria London faced Rising Ballers Kensington for the second time in the space of a week (they lost 3-2 to Rising Ballers Kensington in the reverse league fixture, last Saturday), when they played them at Spelthorne Sports Club, on Wednesday night. PFC Victoria London started this Combined Counties Football League Division One fixture in 15th place in the league standings, after 35 matches played. Rising Ballers Kensington started this game in 22nd place in the league table, after 34 matches played. This step 6 match was won 2-0 by PFC Victoria. PFC Victoria would start this game well, and they came close to taking the lead in the opening 30 seconds of the game. As Roman Virstiuk went on a surging forward run with the ball, down the left flank. He would then play a low cross into the away team’s penalty area, as the ball bobbled up in front of a teammate. However, Rising Ballers’ goalkeeper, Damien Niemczycki, was able to gather the ball at the crucial moment. 

Following on from that good, early start from PFC Victoria, Rising Ballers were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the home team’s penalty area, but their captain Taurean Roberts’ low curling effort on goal was gathered well by Filip Chałupniczak, at his near post. Then, a couple of minutes after that free-kick effort on the PFC Victoria goal, and with the home side playing some good passing football, Tymoteusz Supernak would get to the Rising Ballers goalkeeper’s clearance, some 30 yards out from goal, and his resulting first time effort (the goalkeeper was out of position) was however, held by Damien Niemczycki. Tymoteusz Supernak had been making a good early impression on this game, and after getting to Roman Virstiuk’s low cross from the left flank, and on the edge of the Rising Ballers Kensington penalty area, his resulting effort on goal would clip the crossbar on its way over. PFC Victoria’s captain Jakub Malczuk would then win the ball, before hitting a low effort on the Rising Ballers goal, from 25 yards out, with Damien Niemczycki being able to gather the ball.

PFC Victoria were still looking the more likely side to score the opening goal of this game. After Tymoteusz Supernak had done well to control and then chest the ball down inside the centre of the Rising Ballers box, under pressure from a defender, his resulting goal-bound effort would deflect over for a corner-kick. The visitors would then enjoy a good spell in this well contested game of football. And after a Rising Ballers player had managed an effort on goal (it was saved and gathered by Filip Chałupniczak) from inside of the PFC Victoria penalty area, Andre Cummings would manage to get to the ball on the edge of the home team’s penalty area. However, on the bounce, his powerful low effort would go wide of Filip Chałupniczak’s right-hand post. Just before the referee had sounded his whistle for half-time, the influential Roman Virstiuk would reach a great lofted ball out to the left-hand side of the pitch, from deep. He would then pass the ball to Wiktor Dabrowski, on the edge of the away team’s penalty area. Wiktor Dabrowski’s resulting low effort on goal would go past the goalkeeper’s left-hand post, only just missing an outstretched teammate, on its way behind for a goal-kick.

PFC Victoria would start the second half in dominant fashion, once again playing their passing game well. In the 62nd minute of the game, the home side would take a deserved lead. Roman Virstiuk’s corner-kick delivery into the Rising Ballers Kensington penalty area, was volleyed up in the air by a teammate, with the ball then falling for Maciej Tajs, on the left-hand side of the box. Maciej Tajs’ resulting and well hit volley would find the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 1-0. After Wiktor Dabrowski had met a pass on the edge of the visitor’s penalty area, his following lofted effort would go just over the goalkeeper’s crossbar. Roman Virstiuk would then turn well with the ball down the left flank, before going forward with it, into the Rising Ballers’ penalty area, but, his powerful effort would go wide of the goalkeeper’s near post.

PFC Victoria were continuing to dominate the game, as they pushed for a second goal. That second goal of the night arrived in the 77th minute of this game. Tymoteusz Supernak’s through-ball pass from in the final third of the pitch, would go beyond two Rising Ballers defenders, as well as their goalkeeper, inside of the box. This allowed Arkadiusz Wilk the time and space needed, as he finished low into the empty goal, 2-0. PFC Victoria substitute Konrad Jendruczko’s late free-kick effort on the Rising Ballers goal (from 25 yards out and on the left-hand side of the pitch), would have to be tipped over his crossbar by Damien Niemczycki, as PFC Victoria went on to win the game 2-0. This was a good and professional performance from PFC Victoria, who much deserved to win the game. They were the better team during the first half, before then going on to dominate the second half of the game, limiting Rising Ballers to very little in terms of goalscoring chances.

For my player of the match award on Wednesday, I’ve decided to name highly creative PFC Victoria winger Roman Virstiuk, as my player of the match. He played a part in PFC Victoria’s first goal of the game. However, he was always looking to receive the ball and go on purposeful and skilful forward runs down the left flank, and he showed a real desire to create chances in the final third. Also, special mentions must go to Wiktor Dabrowkski, and Tymoteusz Supernak, for their fine work in the final third of the pitch. In addition, Arkadiusz Wilk, Maciej Tajs, Damien Kielbasa, and Jakub Matwiejszyn, were other notable performers during this game, in what was a good all-round team performance from PFC Victoria.