Stow 6-0 FC Romania
After almost two months without a home game, Stow returned with a bang against an FC Romania side who had been under new management since just a couple of days before the game.
This meant that only a couple of players remained from the two sides’ 0-0 draw earlier this season, and a group of 14 players was scrabbled together, mostly on a dual-registration with Cheshunt.
Romania’s lack of coherence was highlighted just ten seconds in, when Norris Ichim miscontrolled a pass straight from kick off. This allowed Stow to pounce and regain the ball on the edge of the Romania box, but Ichim atoned for his error, blocking Callum Ibe’s shot.
It didn’t take long for Stow to make the most of their early dominance though, as in the second minute Kieran Turner was bundled over on the edge of the penalty area by Ernold Haxhiu. Duncan Culley made no mistake, lashing the resulting spot-kick home.
Romania did threaten, albeit briefly, when Kai Davis and Jack Green got in a tangle at the back, but Carlos Lyon’s shot was well wide. In truth, that was the end of Romania’s attacking intent, save for a couple of wasted corners; they clearly just a side trying to get through this game.
There was talk that Romania keeper Luke Daley was a late addition to the playing squad, and he turned out to be at fault for Stow’s next two goals. He first scuffed a clearance out for a corner, from which Culley headed home unmarked. Then in the 37th minute he shanked a goal kick straight to Culley, who he then took out as he approached goal, giving Stow’s forward the opportunity to score a first half hattrick from the spot; a chance he wouldn’t turn down.
The second half progressed in much the same way as the first; Stow having most of the ball and seemingly picking their chances at will. Ibe headed just over after Romania failed to clear Bilal Sayoud’s freekick, which proved to be something of a sighter as in the 66th minute Sayoud curled a delicious free kick into the far corner for his third goal in two games.
Culley was then fouled for a second time in the box, but this time handed the ball over to skipper Jordan Watson who nonchalantly stroked the ball home from the spot.
There was still time for Ichim’s afternoon to go from bad to worse, as he diverted Dante McIntosh’s cross past his own keeper.
For Stow, it was good to get back to playing, and win convincingly ahead of an away trip to fourth-placed Didcot Town, and the visit of sixth-placed AFC Dunstable.
