FC ROMANIA 0 HARINGEY BOROUGH 0
Saturday 14th December 2013 – Essex Senior League
Borough will be wondering how they failed to garner all the points in what was definitely “a game of two halves” with Borough controlling the second period from start to finish after an even opening half in which few clear cut chances were created. The home side started in determined fashion with Florin Pelecaci pulling the strings in midfield and it was Borough ‘keeper Austin Byfield who had to produce the better saves of the half as Borough never really tested home custodian Danut Motoc. Borough seemed to have a justified shout for a penalty turned down midway through the half as Dean Fenton was caught by a defender in front of goal but it was probably poetic justice as Anthony McDonald had been well offside when receiving the ball he crossed into the middle. The home sides defensive equilibrium was disturbed when tall central defender Claudiu Vilcu fell awkwardly and hobbled off. Borough had looked a mite casual in the first half but tore into their opponents right from the start of the second and maintained the pressure throughout. Little was now being seen of Romania as an attacking force but Byfield had to be alert to turn a long distance piledriver away from the top corner after a corner had been cleared and did well to thwart Sergiu Pitacu when clean through down the middle in a one-on-one. But it was home ‘keeper Motoc who was now in regular action with his best effort being a dive to his right to tip away a six yard header created by one of many Borough corners. The home defence was getting little relief as their forwards were never able to relieve the pressure for
sustained periods and only some desperate last ditch blocks and interceptions denied Borough who must surely have scored with greater composure in front of goal. Even when the Romanians, whose tackles were often too robust for the referees liking – with Fenton in full flight down the right wing often on the receiving end – were reduced to ten by a second yellow card offence the breakthrough just would not come with Borough winning numerous corners and free kicks, some in dangerous positions, without being able to force the ball home among a plethora of opportunities producing some very near misses. Borough played with ever increasing urgency as the half wore on but it was clearly going to be one of those days that the ball would never enter the net when McDonald accelerated clear to lift it over the advancing ‘keeper in the last minute of normal time only for it to hit the bar and Motoc was just quick enough to turn and grab the bouncing loose ball before McDonald could reach it. Even after that Borough were not finished and further corners were won deep into injury time but all were somehow repelled successfully. It has to be seen as two points dropped rather than one gained given Borough’s second half domination.
Borough squad:- Austin BYFIELD, Charles DOUSE , Cedric LAKOLE
Nick NICOU, Joseph O’CEARUILL, Daniel GUDGEON ,
Daniel WALKER, Lawrence CONSTANTI, Christopher BENJAMIN (Deniz MEHMET),
Dean FENTON, Anthony McDONALD
Unused Substitutes:- Stephen OBENG, Andreas LOIZOU, Stephanos GEORGIOU, Rakim RICHARDS
After entertaining Great Wakering Rovers in the 2nd Round of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy on Tuesday 17th (7.45pm) Borough face two vital home League games against the teams holding 1st and 2nd places in the table. Enfield 1893 on 21st December followed by Great Wakering Rovers on 28th.
