Non-League and Academy football writer

After the leaders of the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division (Philip United) had lost 3-0 to Woodford Town Reserves on Tuesday night, second placed Lymore Gardens had the opportunity to move up to the top of the Senior Division table, on Friday night. Lymore Gardens faced FC Petrocub London (they started this match in ninth place in the league table, after 27 matches played), at The Techsoc Stadium. This match was won 2-0 by FC Petrocub London, however. Lymore Gardens player Tyrique Peters’ early corner-kick in the opening minutes of the game, would hit the inside of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post, before Dylan Roberts had an effort on target, a couple of minutes later, for Lymore Gardens. As Roberts turned well with the ball beyond a Petrocub defender on the right-hand side of their penalty area, before hitting an effort on goal, which was gathered by the Petrocub goalkeeper, Vasile Neagu. 

After a decent start to the game from Lymore Gardens, Petrocub would start to be very creative with the ball. They would take the lead, still quite early on in the game, after a curling cross from the right-hand side of the home team’s penalty area, was headed into the roof of the goal (at the back post), despite the best efforts of Sidhant Nayar, by Petrocub player Nicolai Gutu, who was in a bit of space, 0-1. Then very soon after, the away side would double their lead. As their centre-forward Ion Spinu would get to a long lofted forward pass through the middle of the pitch, and towards the edge of the Lymore Gardens penalty area, before the goalkeeper. Following a rebound off the outrushing goalkeeper, Ion Spinu would manage to take the ball into the box, and with only a Lymore Gardens defender on the goal-line, he would finish low into the goal, 0-2. Soon after Gheorghe Belibov had hit a powerful effort on the Lymore Gardens goal (from 25 yards out), which was held by Sidhant Nayar, Petrocub would go close to extending their lead.

That fine chance that was created following an outstanding pass from midfield, would find a Petrocub forward in a bit of space, and on the right-hand side of the Lymore Gardens penalty area. But, the resulting powerful low effort on goal, was well saved with his feet, by Sidhant Nayar, who did well to stop Petrocub making it 3-0. And just before half-time the Petrocub goalkeeper (Vasile Neagu) would make a good low save at his near post, following a powerful effort on goal from the edge of the penalty area. During the early stages of the second half, Lymore Gardens player Alex Coster would head an effort narrowly over the Petrocub goal, after meeting Munnir Saad’s corner-kick into the penalty area. A couple of minutes later, and after Igor Boiciuc’s curling effort on the Lymore Gardens goal (from the edge of the penalty area) had been gathered by Sidhant Nayar, Lymore Gardens would go forward with the ball. As David Gillespie played a pass across from the left flank, to Alex Coster, on the edge of the Petrocub penalty area. His effort on the turn, would go just over the goal, however.

Petrocub were now defending very deep, making it very difficult for Lymore Gardens to create chances. After the impressive Vasile Neagu had done really well to save and then gather a volleyed effort from inside of his penalty area, as the result of a Lymore Gardens corner-kick, hardworking Petrocub forward Ion Spinu would win the ball well in the final third of Lymore Gardens’ half of the pitch, before going forward with the ball to the edge of their penalty area. However, his resulting powerful effort would go wide of the goalkeeper’s right-hand post. Soon after that decent chance, Petrocub player Valentin Siciov’s good lofted forward pass would find the run of Nicolai Gutu, who was now through on goal down the right-hand side of the home team’s penalty area. However, Nicolai Gutu’s effort on goal was well kept out by Sidhant Nayar. And then from a Petrocub corner-kick, a good header on the Lymore Gardens goal, was well cleared off the goal-line, by a defender.

Very late on in this match, and for the third time in the game, Lymore Gardens would hit the woodwork from a corner-kick. This time the corner-kick was delivered towards goal by Dylan Roberts. Petrocub defended extremely well against Lymore Gardens, throughout this match. After having scored those two quick goals during the first half, they defended really deeply, as they looked to play on the counter. Petrocub managed this game very well, making it very difficult for Lymore Gardens to break down their defence, despite their best efforts. Lymore Gardens will obviously be hugely disappointed with the result on Friday, but FC Petrocub London will be very pleased with their performance as a team, as they look forward to two cup finals, next month.

I thought that Lymore Gardens’ goalkeeper, Sidhant Nayar, was their player of the match against Petrocub, after making a string of good saves. For my overall player of the match, and despite competition from Sergiu Demciogolo, and Vasile Neagu, my player of the match award goes to Petrocub’s forward Ion Spinu, who led the line really well, and who also scored a well taken goal.