Racing Club Fantana 3 - 2 North Romford

Racing Club Fantana booked their place in the Semi-Final of the Bill Nolan Memorial Trophy with a keenly contested 3-2 victory over Division 2 rivals North Romford.

Fantana Manager Micallef enjoyed the luxury of having 15 players to choose from on a glorious Sunday Morning at mutual home ground Central Park. Simon Field returned from a long term injury to force his way on to the RCF bench. Micallef also welcomed back 1st team goalkeeper Steven Dawes which was a welcome boost for the Fantana faithful.

Eye brows were raised when the team sheets were released - Micallef had dropped three of the team that won 5-3 against Ascot the previous week and replaced them with crowd favourite Chris Tilbury, Peter Pedonomou and Stephen Clarke.

With North Romford third in the table and Fantana second, the scene was set for a real blood and thunder cup tie - Both teams saw it as an opportunity to reach a Cup Final with only Division 2 minnows Lonsdale standing between them and the final.

North Romford started the brighter of the two teams - some neat football and lengthy possession failed to yield any real goal scoring opportunities. Up the other end, Fantana looked dangerous on the counter - Clarke, Leiter, Spicer and Pedonomou all have pace to burn and North Romford looked nervy when the RCF poured forward.

There were some tasty tackles flying in from both teams but at no point did it threaten to boil over. The referee tried to allow the game to flow as well as he could, but it was difficult with both sets of players on his case.

Some neat interchanges saw Pedonomou foiled, Clarke strike into the keepers arms when clean through and Spicer blaze over from 20 yards. Fantana continued to pressurise Romford but could not finish their chances - Romford struck back with a few long range efforts but nothing to trouble Steve Dawes between the RCF sticks.

Half time came with North Romford looking as if they were tiring and Fantana on the front foot - The second half would be an interesting spectacle.

HT: 0-0

Fantana emerged for the second half with Captain Chris Maskell replacing Darren Salmon. He was sporting some of the biggest gloves you are ever likely to see. He took the stick from both sides with aplomb - "I mugged Pascal Chimbonda on the way down here!"

With Racings self confessed inspiration on, you could have been forgiven for thinking Fantana would take the lead - How wrong you would have been. North Romford forced a corner, and after looking dangerous at previous set pieces finally netted the opener - The ball was whipped across the six yard box and as the greens rearguard stood and watched the No.6 bundled the ball home. This sparked sheer delirium from the 2 or so North Romford followers.

0-1

For the second time in a week, Fantana found themselves behind in the second half - Could they perform yet another Houdini-esque escape?

Fantana started to settle and play as much football as they possibly could on a heavy pitch - Leiter and Clarke had swapped wings to try and capitalise on a weak link in the N.Romford back four and Darren Waithe was putting in a super human performance in the middle of the park. Surely they would find a breakthrough?

Chances continued to fall to the RCF strikers, but it looked as though it wasn't going to be their day - Pedonomou - who normally only needs a sniff in front of goal, was not, by his standards having his best of games.

Racing had a corner on the right hand side of the pitch - Maskell renowned for his love of working short plays - encouraged Clarke to come off the post. He passed it into the near post to Clarke, who laid it off to Terry Prati on the edge of the box. Prati then hit a left footed howitzer - This particular missile was flying wide until James Spicer converted the ball with a header reminiscent to that of Trevor Brooking in the 1980-81 FA Cup Final against Arsenal. To say the team and crowd watching went ballistic would be an understatement - Game on!

1-1

Fantana now sensed Romford were there for the taking - The Greek Scuffer was removed for David Sack - Maskell moved to play off of Spicer while Sack provided midfield re-enforcements.

Darren Waithe drove forward his troops at every opportunity and was making some sensational interceptions and tackles. Stephen Clarke who was now playing down the left was terrorising the Romford Right back. Fantanas second came when the Flying Scotsman (Clarke) went bombing down the line and checked back onto his right foot (Heaven forbid he uses his left) - He whipped over a sublime cross which was misjudged by their No.4 - James Spicer brought the ball down on his chest and lashed it underneath the Romford stopper -  Cue the Jurgen Klinsmann celebration and inevitable bundle!!

2-1

Romford looked leggy and downhearted after the goal went in. A couple of substitutions were made in an attempt to freshen things up and the promised second wind never came until it was too late.

Racing Club were finding so much space going forward - They continued to create chances and had it not been for the NR goalkeeper, the game could have been well over with 30 mins left to play.

Fantana  finally booked their place in the semi final when the effervescent Clarke once again got down the left - He delivered another great cross which was put under pressure by No.15 Maskell - The ball dropped to Leiter who drilled a shot into a brave defender - Spicer was the second the take a bite at the cherry and again, the shot was charged down. It finally fell to Racing's Man of the match Darren Waithe who fizzed the ball into the back of the net and put the tie beyond the men from Romford. Chaos ensued!

3-1

Russell Leiter was removed for Lee Stimpson on the right hand side of Midfield.

With only ten minutes left to play, Romford went for broke sending three men forward to test Fantana's resolve. They worked a couple of openings and won a host of free kicks - it was just unfortunate they couldn't find a way through Racings stubborn defence - That is until their No.11 ran at Fantana Manager Bradley Micallef and was scythed down by the veteran just inside the box - A penalty was given under very little protest and was dispatched expertly by their lively No.9.

3-2

Was there to be another twist in this tale of Bill Nolan Cup Drama?

Fantana were firmly on the back foot as Romford searched in vain for the equaliser - A long throw found it's way to the RCF back post where the N.Romford No.3 was 5 yards from goal - It was hearts in mouths time for Racing as the guilty player did everything you shouldn't when attempting a half volley (Stretching, Leaning back and getting under it) - The No.3 blazed over the bar and Racing were safe.

Surely their couldn't be anymore action? In Romfords desperate attempt to find an equaliser, their GK who had saved them on no less than 8 occasions was found miles out of his goal. Clarke tore forward with Spicer in support - He rolled the ball to Spicer who was clearly onside and smashed the ball home. The flag had stayed down yet the referee opted to rule it out - This melee ended with a booking for the goal happy centre forward.

The whistle was blown not before one last crunching tackle from the Romford right back - I don't believe it was malicious, to be fair, it was the closest he'd got to the ball all game.

Racing Club Fantana now face a Semi Final which, on paper makes them firm favourites to book their place at Thurrock in April.

I managed to snatch a few words with Racing Player Manager Bradley Micallef when he emerged from the dressing rooms;

OC: Bradley - What a game - It was a real old fashioned cup tie - You were under pressure at the end?

BM: That was a fantastic advert for the Corinthian League Ollie. Two top teams going hell for leather. Both hungry to make it to a cup final. All credit to Romford - They worked us bloody hard. It was touch and go at times. They were actually better than what I thought they would be and their league position is more than just. Infact they're probably the best team we've been up against this term.

OC: You gave a penalty away at the end - nervy times?

BM: I was tired Ollie! It was a tired lunge and an awful attempt to win the ball. I'd have never forgiven myself had they got the equaliser. To be fair though, I felt the back five limited them to very few chances.

OC: What about Darren Waithe?

BM: Awesome - There aren't enough superlatives to describe that boy. He carried us through. One minute he's saving one on the line with his testicles - the next he's firing the winner home from 16 yards. Brilliant.

OC: Fancy doing the double?

BM: Why not? You have to be in it to win - We're in the driving seat in the league and are in the Semi-Final of the cup. We'll see what happens. We never take anything for granted here at Fantana.


OC: Good Luck Brad, well done

BM: Cheers fella, I'm off for a well earned beer down the Uniprawn!


Racing Club Fantana: Dawes, T.Prati, Tilbury, R.Prati, Micallef, Waithe, Salmon (Maskell 45), Leiter (Stimpson 78), Clarke, Spicer, Pedonomou (Sack 60)

Goals: Spicer (55, 65) Waithe (77)

Attendance: 16  

Read North Romford's view of the game here.