Non-League and Academy football writer

In an important Thurlow Nunn League First Division South fixture in relation to the battle to avoid finishing in the relegation zone, FC Romania faced FC Baresi at Theobalds Lane on Wednesday night. FC Romania started this match in 16th place in the league standings, after 32 matches played. FC Baresi started this game in 18th place in the league table, just above the relegation zone, after 33 matches played. This step 6 match was won 2-1 by FC Baresi, courtesy of a late winner.

This game got off to a great start for FC Baresi, who took the lead in the first minute of the game. A clipped forward pass from kick-off by Sajid Aziz, towards the right-hand side of the FC Romania penalty area wasn’t cleared away in time, as Baresi player Bryn Byworth managed to do well to get to a rebound inside of the penalty area. From there he would show some good composure under pressure, to finish well into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, beyond the goalkeeper, 0-1. 

After a good early pace to this game, which had seen a couple of decent openings for FC Baresi early on, FC Romania would start to create a number of decent goalscoring chances as the first half progressed. Not very long after Samir Sedaoui had curled an effort over FC Baresi goalkeeper Razvan Marcu’s crossbar, from the edge of the penalty area, FC Romania would go very close to drawing level. After Cameron Thompson had progressed the ball well to the edge of the FC Baresi box, he would whip a fine effort against Razvan Marcu’s crossbar. On the follow-up, FC Baresi defender Erol Hassan would do really well to put off an opposing team’s player, as his low effort went wide of the goal.

Towards the end of the first half, with FC Romania really pushing for a leveller, Cameron Thompson would volley an effort wide of the FC Baresi goal, at their back post, after meeting Samir Sedaoui’s lofted free-kick delivery into the penalty area. The first chance of the second half was created by the home team, FC Romania. Substitute Ekow Amaquandoh would get to the ball following a rebound inside of the FC Baresi penalty area, and his effort across goal and on the bounce, would go narrowly wide of the goal. Soon after that chance for FC Romania, and following a short and quickly taken corner-kick from FC Baresi, Erol Hassan would hit a powerful effort, from 20 yards out, narrowly over the FC Romania goal.

FC Romania did manage to draw level, still relatively early on in the second half. Following a short pass back to the FC Baresi goalkeeper, Razvan Marcu, the ball was met by Ekow Amaquandoh, inside of the penalty area. From a tight angle close to the byline, Ekow Amaquandoh would finish really well across the goal, into the bottom left-hand corner, 1-1. FC Baresi would show real character as a team, as they responded positively to that goal which they had conceded. Battling well as a team, FC Baresi midfielder Sertan Kirman’s volleyed pass forwards was well contested by Bryn Byworth, who had managed to get in behind the home team’s defence. Into the penalty area and one versus one with the goalkeeper, Byworth thought that he had been fouled by a recovering defender, but no penalty was awarded, with Junior Appiah hitting a low effort into the side-netting, on the follow-up.

FC Baresi would make some positive substitutions late on in the game, as they went for the win. And in approximately the 87th minute of the game, they scored what turned out to be the winning goal of this good contest. Stefan McKie’s pass down the left flank would find FC Baresi substitute Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, who progressed the ball really well to the left-hand side of the FC Romania box, under pressure. The FC Baresi youngster would then quickly play the ball across to Kishawn James, who was in the centre of the busy penalty area, and from where  he finished low and well into the goal, prompting a lot of celebrations from the FC Baresi players, 1-2.

FC Baresi would see out the remaining minutes of the game well, as a team, to record a hugely important three points. Overall it was quite an even and well contested game of football, but FC Baresi, who showed great character as a team, would show that quality in the final third to win the game late on. And I thought that FC Baresi’s substitutes, Kuba Vermont Ollivierre, Omosheni Oshodi-Atinmo and Ali Shikheey, all really played their part in this win.

For FC Romania, I thought that their goalscorer, Ekow Amaquandoh, was their player of the match, in my opinion. For my overall player of the match award, it was a difficult decision. For FC Baresi, young midfielder Bryn Byworth put in a good and battling performance which saw him score the opening goal of the game, and Baresi forward and match winner, Kishawn James, caused the opposing team a lot of problems. However, for a very solid, well balanced and relentless performance at right-back from experienced FC Baresi defender Erol Hassan, on Wednesday he won my player of the match award.