Waltham Forest 2-3 FC Romania
It was 4th against 3rd in the League in East London today and the home side were coming into this one unbeaten in eight league matches whilst the Romanians had drawn one and lost one in the week leading up to this game, so a close and exciting attacking match was anticipated.
From the first minute it was clear that both sides were set up in an attacking sense and the first shot was from the visitors after a minute when Vasile’s long range effort was tipped wide by keeper Hunt.
FCR were having the shots early on and on 7 minutes Bugiu had a sight of goal from distance but could only drag his shot wide. A minute later and another effort from distance, this time from FCR’s Romaru, went straight at Hunt. Then Forest broke down the other end and a long ball over the top released Ofori but FCR keeper Banica came out and won the ball off Ofori before clearing the danger.
On 11 minutes the dangerous Vasile set up another FCR attack with a direct run at the defence before he lifted a pass over the back four into the path of Brown who struck against the post although he had been flagged for offside anyway. Forest then won a corner as the action swung up the other end and Ofori’s corner came back off the post and away from danger, then a minute later H Traore got down the right hand side and with the goal in his sights he could only drag his shot wide of the near post.
Forest thought they had taken the lead on 17 minutes when Callaghan found himself in on goal and he lobbed Banica to score although the flag had gone up for offside. It did look a tight call though. On 20 minutes a great run from FCR’s Rincon saw him burst into the box and force a save from Hunt and the rebound came out to Pitaru and instead of burying the follow up he blasted way over. It should of been a goal. FCR continued to attack and on 25 minutes good play down the right between Brown and Vasile ended with the ball being laid across to Bugiu but his effort flew over the bar.
Forest’s most dangerous player Ofori did well to control and turn his marker on 27 minutes but sadly his finish went miles wide of the target. A minute later and FCR were on the attack and the ball broke to Pitaru on the penalty spot but as he was about to pick his spot his effort was deflected wide. The only thing lacking in this contest was a goal and on 32 minutes a great ball from Forest full back Shikheey released Ofori who burst into the box and struck an effort across goal but it came back off the post.
A minute later we had a goal at last when Forest attacked again and Kamissoko got the ball on the edge of the area and curled a fine effort past Banica into the top corner. FCR should of been level four minutes however as they missed another guilt edged chance when a cross from Tincu eventually found its way to Romaru who took a touch but could only fire wide of the target.
On 42 minutes another attack from FCR broke to Vasile whose shot almost ended up going for a throw on and then two minutes later Forest’s Ofori almost got on the end of a through ball but Banica came out and claimed the ball. The last chance of the half fell to Forest as H Traore’s free kick came back off the wall to Kamissoko whose effort went just wide. It was a breathless half of football. Half time: Waltham Forest 1 FC Romania 0.
FCR would of felt hard done by going in a goal down at the break but it took them only six minutes of the second half to level things up when a ball forward by Vasile was missed by a defender allowing Pitaru in behind and he finished past Hunt well and it was 1-1. It was a poor goal from Forest’s point of view.
Three minutes later Forest should have regained the lead though as a through ball from Ifil found both Callaghan and Ofori bearing down on Banica but Callaghan had the effort on goal and it was saved. FCR were screaming for offside but it didn’t come so it was a big let off.
On 56 minutes Forest backed off Vasile as he made another run towards their box and he cut inside but his left footed effort lacked power and Hunt made an easy save down to his right. The same man tried another long range effort six minutes later but this went straight down Hunt’s throat. FCR were turning the screw again and on 64 minutes they should of took the lead when Vasile’s cross found Brown and his downward header was brilliantly saved by Hunt. However their pressure finally told on 66 minutes when their captain Bugiu whipped in a wonderful cross for Brown to poke past Hunt to give the visitors the lead. Forest won a free kick in a decent position on 69 minutes but Ifil’s delivery was overhit and out for a goal kick. Very poor indeed.
FCR continued to knock on the door of Forest’s defence and on 72 minutes great play between Vasile and Rincon ended with the latters cross being headed over the bar by a defender as Forest’s backline were being tested to the limit. Some of Forest’s general play in the second half was sloppy as they were being tested by their Romanian opponents. On 75 minutes a wonderful passage of football by the visitors almost resulted in a goal when Rincon’s cross was volleyed at goal by Idrissou but keeper Hunt was equal to it and pushed it away. It would have been one of the great goals had it gone in, such was the brilliance in the build up.
Forest almost grabbed an equaliser on 76 minutes when Ofori got a sight of goal but a defender manage to get back to bloke the effort and from the corner Banica dropped the ball and the clerance went inches wide of the post.
Suddenly Forest were attacking again and a cross found H Traore all alone inside the penalty area but he seemed as surprised as anyone else and headed the ball straight at Banica. With ten minutes to go Forest did find an equaliser though. FCR attacked and put Brown in on goal and he struck the bar although offside had been given. Forest launched an attack from this and stuck Ofori through on goal and this time he rounded Banica and slotted home to make it 2-2 and game on for the final few minutes of a pulsating contest.
On 84 minutes a Forest corner taken by Ifil was headed up into the air towards goal by Ezrouki and Banica made a right meal of collecting the ball and was lucky to see it go out for an eventual goal kick. Forest attacked again on 86 minutes when great play down the left by Ofori resulted in his cut back finding Ifil but his shot was sliced well wide and almost went out for a throw.
Then came the moment when FCR scored what proved to be the winning goal. Another attack down the right resulted in the ball coming out to Romaru who from the edge of the area curled a lovely effort beyond Hunt and in off the post to put the vistors ahead once again in this titanic battle.
Into stoppage time we went and Forest launched another attack and the ball broke to Ifil whose effort was brilliantly blocked then two minutes later a deep cross into the FCR area resulted in keeper Banica and Forest centre back Salmon clashing while going up to challenge for the ball. The keeper won the free kick although Salmon came off worse and had to receive some treatment, but was ok. FCR won a free kick some twenty yards out five minutes into stoppage time and Bugiu blasted it way over the stand and out the ground, maybe to waste time, who knows??
Anyway that was the final piece of action as the referee brought to an end a fantastic game of football. Both sides looked to attack when they could and this made for great entertainment. FC Romania probably deserved their win although Forest pushed them close.
