Non-League and Academy football writer

In the final of this seasons’ 2025/26 Fenton Cup, two fine Essex Alliance Football League Senior Division sides, in Chadwell Heath Spartans and FC Petrocub London, met at Dagenham & Redbridge FC’s Victoria Road ground on Saturday evening, for the second year running. After a late winner was scored by FC Petrocub London, it was the Senior Division runners-up who won this seasons’ Fenton Cup, courtesy of a 1-0 win, in very warm conditions.

Following an even enough start to this cup final, it was the Spartans who would create the first chance of note in this contest, around 15 minutes into the game. As Billy Gipp’s curling free-kick delivery from out on the right flank, was headed narrowly wide at the back post by the unmarked Joshua George. However, FC Petrocub London would start to grow into the game, despite it still being quite even, as the first half progressed. And after Oleh Melnychuk had got to the ball following a long throw-in, just inside of the Spartans box, his powerful first time effort would be excellently turned behind by the alert Jacob Byerley.

Two more chances for Petrocub would arrive, just before half-time. Firstly, Nicolai Cotruta’s flick on from a Petrocub corner-kick delivery into the Spartans box, was met by Ghenadie Moisei, whose diving header would hit Byerley’s crossbar. And then, a couple of minutes before half-time, Dumitru Gritcan’s side-footed volley at the back post of the Spartans goal (following a deep cross) would see Jacob Byerley make another superb reflex save to stop Petrocub from taking the lead.

The first chance of the second half took quite a while to arrive, and it came the way of the Spartans. As substitute Raymond Hunwicks did well to take the ball beyond a Petrocub defender down the right-hand side of their penalty area, before then doing well to play the ball across to Billy Mucheri, who was well closed down by goalkeeper Vasile Buza, who made a good stop. 

Next in the game, and as we approached the latter stages of this contest, Petrocub would start to create some additional goalscoring chances. First of all, Mykhailo Sadvinyk would run onto a lofted ball over the top of the Spartans defence. Through on goal and inside of the penalty area, he was well and bravely stopped by the outrushing Jacob Byerley, who got a good hand to the ball. And then in what proved to be the winning goal of the cup final, Ghenadie Moisei would receive the ball following a low cross into the Spartans box. In a bit of space, he would finish really well, with a powerful low effort across goal into the bottom left-hand corner, 0-1.

The Spartans would really try to get a late equaliser, but Petrocub’s defence would stand strong. Aaron Hunwicks’ side did manage to create one more chance before  the end, however. As Drey Johnson powered an effort wide, under pressure and down the right-hand side of the Petrocub box, after receiving Billy Gipp’s short pass. Congratulations to FC Petrocub London on their Fenton Cup win, today. There wasn’t a lot between the sides on Saturday, but Petrocub did create more chances on the day. For my overall player of the match award, I’m going to name Petrocub defender Vitalii Chiriac as my player of the match. For the Spartans, I thought that their player of the match was their goalkeeper, Jacob Byerley.