Non-League and Academy football writer

I was at Coles Park, for the second day in a row, on Saturday afternoon to cover this Fenton Cup first route tie between Haringey Borough Reserves and FC Petrocub London. Haringey Borough Reserves are currently in 12th place in the Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division, after six matches played. The away team on Saturday (FC Petrocub London) are currently in first place in the Senior Division standings, having won all six of their league matches so far this season. It was FC Petrocub London who progressed to round two of this seasons Fenton Cup, with a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon.

FC Petrocub London would create the first goalscoring chance of this cup tie. Ion Spinu would get to the ball after Haringey Borough Reserves had lost possession of the ball on the edge of their penalty area. The Petrocub number 33 would hit a powerful low effort, which would hit the outside of the Haringey goalkeeper’s left-hand post, before going behind for a goal-kick. There really weren’t many further chances, during the remainder of the first half, with the exception of a couple of efforts off target from Petrocub, as well as a Haringey free-kick effort which went wide of the away team’s goal. Haringey Borough were compact defensively, making it difficult for Petrocub to get in behind their defence.

During the early stages of the second half Petrocub player Oleh Melnychuk would see his lofted free-kick effort from the edge of the Haringey box, go over their goal. Haringey Borough would then go on to create a good chance. As following Jadon Anderson’s free-kick delivery in to the Petrocub box, from the right-hand side of the pitch, the ball was then headed down by Desmond Yobouet, to Ziya Ahmet, whose effort on the turn was blocked by a Petrocub defender. The ball would then come to Rashid Bangura, whose quickly taken effort was well saved and closed down by the outrushing Petrocub goalkeeper, Vasile Buza.

Following on from that chance for Haringey and a good Petrocub move saw Maxim Bordian’s lofted diagonal pass find the run of Nicolai Gutu, down the left-hand side of the home team’s penalty area. The Petrocub player would play a short pass across to a teammate, whose first time effort went over the goal. A couple of minutes after Rashid Bangura’s effort from distance, following his run from the right-hand side of the pitch, was held by Vasile Buza, Petrocub would go on to create another good chance. This time Vitalii Chiriac would meet a deep cross in to the Haringey box, from the left flank, volleying the ball across to Ghenadie Moisei, who in a bit of space in the centre of the box, would volley the ball over the goal.

Petrocub were continuing to look the more likely side to find the opening goal of the game, as the second half progressed. After Ion Spinu had met a long free-kick to the right-hand side of the Haringey box, the Petrocub player would see his resulting effort well closed down and saved at his near post by the Haringey Borough goalkeeper, Ronnie Lane. From the resulting corner-kick Petrocub would take the lead in the tie. Ion Spinu’s good, whipped delivery was met by Ghenadie Moisei, whose diving powerful header would go in to the goal, off the underside of Ronnie Lane’s crossbar, 0-1. Last seasons Fenton Cup finalists would really make it difficult for Haringey Borough Reserves to create chances during the latter stages of the tie.

Following some good skill from Nicolai Gutu to progress the ball to the left-hand side of the home team’s penalty area, his resulting deflected low effort on goal was kept out by Ronnie Lane. The final effort of the game came from Ion Spinu, whose excellent and powerfully hit low free-kick, from over 40 yards out from the Haringey goal, would hit Ronnie Lane’s right-hand post. During the final moments of the game Petrocub had a player sent off, after he had received his second yellow card of the game, but Petrocub would manage to hold on to their lead, to make it in to round two.

Jamie O’Donoghue’s young Haringey Borough Reserves side showed plenty of endeavour in this cup tie, against a vastly experienced FC Petrocub London side. They defended compactly and well throughout, and they gave their all. In the end it was a brilliant headed goal from Ghenadie Moisei, which won Petrocub the tie. For my Haringey Borough Reserves player of the match, I’m going to award it to their number nine – Rashid Bangura. He did well in the forward areas of the pitch, working hard off the ball, and he came close to giving his team the lead during the early stages of the second half. Haringey defenders Jadon Anderson and Maksym Bobyliak were also contenders. My overall player of the award goes to Petrocub player Ion Spinu, who showed some moments of real quality during the game, and he also provided the assist for the winning goal of the game. Maxim Bordian and Ghenadie Moisei also impressed me, in what was a good team performance from a very well structured Petrocub side.