The Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy Round One
Venue: Southchurch Park
Attendance: 60
2017-18 Season – Match 25
Wednesday 27th September 2017 7.45pm KO
Southend Manor: Yellow Shirts, Yellow Shorts, Black Shorts
FC Romania: Sky Blue Shirts, Sky Blue Shorts, Sky Blue Socks
Scott W reporting (Twitter: @ScottMHC14)
On a wet, damp evening at Southchurch Park, Southend Manor welcomed FC Romania in another Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy First Round tie.
The match didn’t exactly roar into life unfortunately and Manor had to make an early change as Charlie Barlow had to be substituted after only eight minutes, being replaced by Hamid Zemani and the early sub Zemani had a shot on goal that brought a save out of visiting goalkeeper Georgian Bordeanu. To be fair, FCR midfielder Ionut Jugaru sent a drive whistling past the left-side post.
For Manor, winger Rhys Fatt was looking useful down the right with his pace and running though the game lacked clear-cut chances. On 21 minutes, Jacob Cleaver’s header was saved by Bordeanu though the assistant referee was flagging for offside anyway. With ten minutes to play until half-time, midfielder Joe Skeels fizzed a 35-yard effort at goal and it went just over the bar.
Cleaver was pretty much the focal point of the home side’s forward line though with three minutes to go until the break, he had another header which Bordeanu saved. Soon after, FCR winger Kelemen Attila powered a 25-yard drive just over the bar. It was that sort of match that needed something perhaps speculative to kick it into life. All square at the break.
Half-Time: Southend Manor 0 – 0 FC Romania
The second half began as the rain lashed down which was an added inconvience for the players. Zemani had another pop at goal ten minutes into the second-half though Bordeanu saved well. In a match that was still starved of chances and arguably had more talking points elsewhere, Cleaver twice couldn’t beat ‘keeper Bordeanu. Into the last ten minutes of normal time and the FC Romania goalkeeper did well to gather forward Bayley Newell’s right-wing centre with Cleaver waiting in the wings just behind him.
FC Romania, while not at their best, did so flashes of good passing and movement though you sensed they were looking to go on the counter-attack rather than push forward with any great urgency. In truth, the ‘urgency’ or high-tempo was lacking by both sides here as it looked ominous that spot-kicks would be needed to settle this tie.
FCR substitute Sergiu Maximov was denied by home goalkeeper Liam Pitts as the 90-minute mark approached. Just into added time, Manor substitute Micky Hopkins’ shot was tipped wide by Bordeanu, though again the linesman was flagging for offside.
Though there was a late sting in the tail as in three minutes into added-time, FCR substitute Mihai Botosan was in the right place at the right time as with Manor stretched at the back, the forward lashed home from near point-blank range and wheeled away in delight as the visitors edged into the next round.
You could argue that the hosts edged the match in terms of play and chances created though you could also say that both sides were below-par tonight. Manor will now turn their attention back to the ESL on Saturday (30th Sept) where they entertain Waltham Forest while FC Romania travel to Great Wakering Rovers on Saturday (30th Sept).
Full-Time: Southend Manor 0 – 1 FC Romania
Botosan 90’ +3
|
Teams: *=Denotes came on as Sub & ^ denotes player going off |
|
| Southend Manor
Manager: Stuart Marshall |
FC Romania Assistant Manager: Dragos Ciolca (Manager Ion Vintila was away) |
| 1 Liam Pitts (GK) | 27 Georgian Bordeanu (GK) |
| 2 Ross Johnson | 2 Florea Ionut |
| 3 Alfie Lindfield^ | 3 Vladut Andries |
| 4 Lee Delf (C) | 4 Paul Grigoras |
| 5 Scott Keys | 5 Felix Lupu (C)^ |
| 6 Charlie Barlow^ | 6 Mihai Circiumaru |
| 7 Rhys Fatt | 7 Kelemen Attila |
| 8 Callum Jex | 8 Ionut Jugaru |
| 9 Jacob Cleaver | 9 Sergiu Pitaru |
| 10 Bayley Newell^ | 10 Laurentiu Balosu |
| 11 Joe Skeels | 11 Victor Bogos |
|
Substitutes: |
|
| 12 Micky Hopkins* | 12 George Stroe |
| 14 Finlay Dopson | 15 Sergiu Maximov* |
| 15 Hamid Zamani* | 16 Gabriel Ghinea |
| 16 Luke Winter* | 17 Dinu Barcari |
| 17 Jamie Alexandrou | 19 Mihai Botosan* |
|
Referee: |
Paul Humphries |
| Assistant Referees: |
Michael Iddenden-Smith Joe Burgess |
| Booked: Lindfield, Jex | Booked: Bordeanu, Andries, Circiumaru |
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