Racing Club Fantana 4 - 3 Woodford Hammers

Racing Club Fantana once again proved they are the real deal after winning this keenly constested league game at central park. The winner came in the final minute from Akash Bhuwanee and left Woodford Hammers severly deflated.

On reflection a draw would have been a fairer result with the Hammers having long spells of possesion without really creating any clear cut goal scoring opportunities.

This extraordinary Division 2 game had three second half penalties, a sending off and two bookings as both teams vied for supremacy.

Racing Club Manager Bradley Micallef had to make do without last weeks cup hero Darren Waithe (work), utility man Darren Salmon (ankle ligaments), midfield general Lee Stimpson (Straightening sideburns with GHD's) and long term absentee Double Pack (Fractured Cheekbone and Eye Socket).

Sensing Woodfords threat, Micallef changed his formation to 4-5-1 - Moving himself into the middle with Sack and Maskell and introducing veteran Nigel Collins to defence. James Spicer was to plough a lone furrow up front.

Racing flew out of the traps forcing an early corner on the left hand side. El Capitan Chris Maskell whipped over a beautiful corner which was attacked with power by Spicer - With the ball heading wide, RCF manager Bradley Micallef re-directed it towards goal and beat the flailing Woodford goalkeeper. Fantana had the dream start they were looking for.

1-0

Within ten minutes, Fantana were two up - Maskell drove at the Woodford defence with purpose and pace and unleashed a fierce drive into the corner of the net. It was a sweet reward for the man from Woodford playing against a host of ex team mates.

2-0

It seemed from that moment on, Fantana were on the back foot. Woodford's talented midfield were showing good energy and invention, but their final ball was on the whole, extremely poor. Fantana stayed compact and were defensively solid - Collins and Prati senior seemed to be winning everything.

At times though, RCF were guilty of over playing in dangerous areas - Woodford nearly capitalised on this with their No.12 shooting wide with a couple of efforts. The warning signs were there and seemed to kick start Fantana. Clarke and Leiter were finding it difficult to make headway down the flanks - The one opportunity Leiter did get he whipped over a fantastic driven cross but it lacked the support it deserved.

Racing Club went in at half time 2 nil up - A just reward for some sharp finishing and resolute defending. Woodford would need to up their game in the final third.

HT 2-0

Fantana Manager Bradley Micallef withdrew himself for long term injury victim Simon Field - Terry Prati was drafted into the middle of the park to provide some more energy and Field slotted in at right back.

With Spicer on his own up front, it was imperative the midfield supported him to prevent the ball coming straight back at the greens defence. Woodford were playing with purpose and again dominating possesion for long periods - It has to be said though, Fantana's defence and midfield prevented them creating any real chances.

Woodford got back into the game when substitute Simon Field brought down a Hammers attacker in the area and the visitors were awarded a penalty. There were no real complaints, and it was dispatched expertly by their ginger No. 8. Would Fantana collapse?

2-1

On a rare attack for the RCF, James Spicer picked the ball up on the half way line, nutmegged two players and was chopped down before he could release the ball. He appeared to be in agony and was shrieking "It's burning it's burning! - It's like someones poured hot water on it" - He was carried off and replaced by Peter Pedonomou. A huge blow for the Greens boss. (Not Pete coming on, Spice coming off!)

The boys from Woodford drew level when they were awarded an extremely dubious penalty - Racing Goal keeper Steve Dawes rushed out of his goal to clear the ball - which he did. In doing so, he was pulled back by a Woodford attacker and a free kick was awarded - Dawes seemed to take exception to the afters and pushed their No.11. The Referee then changed his decision to a penalty - Much to the bemusement of the players and everybody watching. Once again, the ginger No. 8 stepped up and slotted home from twelve yards. Fantana were frustrated and on the ropes.

2-2

In typical RCF fashion, they bounced back with both vigour and energy. Stephen Clarke skinned the Woodford left back (No.5 - Clarke had this bloke on toast the whole game). Knowing he had absolutely no chance of catching the flying scotsman he cynically hacked him down. Le Maske strode up to the ball confidently and put a dangerous cross in right at the back post - So dangerous infact that it beat the keeper and drifted into the top corner of the net! As the players celebrated and rushed towards Racing Gaffer Micallef on the touchline, the message was calm - get settled and dig deep.

3-2

Woodford Hammers then struck back with the most controversial decision of the match. Dave Sack went in with his feet up just inside the Fantana half and was rightly booked. The Hammers No.8 lifted the ball into the box and the lively No.12 flicked the ball backwards and over the advancing Steve Dawes. With the ball dipping under the bar, Nigel Collins touched it on to the woodwork - He remains adament it was with his head, while Referee Marsh judged him to have handled it. Another penalty was awarded and Collins sent off - A double blow for Fantana.

Once again - Now becoming used to the pressure and rigours of penalty taking, the ginger assasin slammed it home off the post. Dawes had got close to it, but to be fair, the guy was clinical.

3-3

Hammers sensed victory against ten man Fantana and you could tell they really fancied themselves. Micallef substituted Chris Tilbury for Akash Bhuwanee with ten minutes remaining and Fantana looked there for the taking.

In the most unlikely of finales, Fantana sent the home fans into delirium. Simon Field launched a deep cross into the box from the half way line which caused absolute havoc - Woodford failed to clear the ball and it fell to Stephen Clarke who released Racing Captain and No.10 Chris Maskell down the right hand side - He whipped over a sublime cross which was headed home by a bucaneering Bhuwanee and he was swamped in Green.

It was an unbelievable end to an entertaining game of football between two of Divison 2's better teams. Woodford will feel agrieved they didn't take anything from the game after dominating for long periods, but take nothing away from RCF, they showed a never say die attitude and got their just desserts in the end.

I had a quick chat with the Greens Gaffer Bradley Micallef when he emerged from the home teams dressing room.


OC: What a finish - You must be ecstatic?

BM: That is without doubt our biggest result of the season - Put the cup to one side, getting promotion out of this Division is our main aim. It was by no means a vintage performance, but we showed unparallelld commitment and resolve and got our reward in the end for never giving up.

OC: What did you think of Woodford?

BM: I thought they were excellent to be honest. The last three weeks have given us our three stiffest tests - Thankfully we've come through them all unscathed. I saw this as a potential banana skin and changed my tactics accordingly. They have tremendous ball players in the middle of the park - in particular the No.2 and 8. I thought Dave, Terry and Chris did a fantastic job of stopping the supply to the front man who was a handful.

OC: You popped up with the first - Pleased to notch a goal in such an important game?

BM: Irrelevant really who scores the goals - I only re-directed Spicer's powerful header. It was the ball in and the knock down that made it.

OC: Unlike previous weeks, you flew out of the traps - were you conscious that you had been going behind in recent games?

BM: Obviously going behind isn't part of our game plan - I made a point in my team talk that we need to try and start well. The boys reacted and gave us an excellent platform to build on. It was a nice cushion to go in with at the break - especially against the wind.

OC: Were their any individual performances you enjoyed?

BM: We're a team Ollie. We attack as a team, defend as a team. Lose as a team, win as a team. We're a very together group of players who dig deep for each other. Spice held the ball up well - He was isolated for long periods but still did a great job. Nigel came in for me and was a colossus - Absolutely massive - All eleven were awesome - In terms of the ugly stuff. Really pleased for Akash too, fantastic winner.

OC: Any opinions on the penalties?

BM: The ref's there to do a job - A couple of his decisions frustrated me but I'm not willing to talk about them now - That result was about us, not the referee.

OC: Your attacking both competitions with real verve and determination - Can you see positive outcomes?

BM: Only time will tell - As it stands we're still well behind the top team in the league - Albeit with a couple of games in hand. On the cup front, we've got a tricky semi-final tie with Lonsdale. We take each game as it comes. I just hope all the hard work we've put in isn't for nothing.

OC: Thanks for your time

BM: Thanks for yours mate.


Racing Club Fantana:- Dawes, T.Prati, Tilbury (Bhuwanee 80mins), Collins, R.Prati, Sack, Micallef (Field 45mins), Maskell, Clarke, Spicer (Pedonomou 55mins), Leiter

Referee: George Marsh

Goals: Micallef (2mins), Maskell (15mins, 65mins), Bhuwanee (90mins)

Booked - Sack (Foul play), Bhuwanee (Time wasting)

Sent off - Collins (Handball)

Attendence: 9