Racing Club Fantana 4 - 0 Toby

When it comes to big cup competitions, you can guarantee that there will be one historic giant killing in any given season.  But not even the most biased RCF supporter (Stan Day), could have ever dreamed what would happen in the Corinthian Cup First round against Toby FC.  Toby are the reigning Corinthian League champions and 3 divisions above RCF. In fact, after the mauling RCF suffered last week at home to North Romford, one could have been forgiven for thinking a cricket score was on the cards.  How wrong they would have been....

Manager Bradley Micallef, who for once, was left speechless after last week, rang the changes, bringing back three players who would grace the spine of any side in the league.  "The Enforcer" Collins was back in the heart of the defence.  Waithe was back in the middle, with his Rolls Royce-like engine, and Maskell, the mercurial skipper was given licence to operate just in front of the middle two, to weave his creative wand.

RCF started very cautiously, but after 10 minutes without threat, they hit Toby with a couple of crisp counter attacks, which seemed to boost their confidence ten fold. Defending  from the front, and putting the opposition under intense pressure, the attackers began to exploit the gaps that were appearing.  Spicer and Leiter cut an opening and when clean through, Spicer rolled the ball to Clarke, whose effort was ruled out for offside, despite him being behind the ball when it was played.  Leiter and Waithe could have finished off great team moves, but there efforts missed the target, and Maskell had an effort blocked after ghosting past two defenders. 

RCF could have gone on to rue these missed chances as Toby wasted a great opportunity at the other end.  Their number 8 hooked a chance high and wide from 5 yards. However, the phenomenal work rate from Leiter, Sack and Waithe was paying huge dividends, and Maskell and Clarke were terrorising the left back on regular occurrences. After half an hour, it was this combination, so often a thorn in the side of defences this season, which combined to carve out the first goal.  A back heel found Clarke, and his cross caused chaos in the Toby box. It finally fell to Leiter, who had an open goal.......surely......no.....he missed, and it fell in the path of Spicer, who finished emphatically from a yard.

The free flowing football continued, and Racing grabbed a deserved second right on half time.  A wonderful ball from Prati Junior released Clarke on the right, he cut in, and as Spicer and Maskell pulled away for the cut back, Clarke squared the ball.  The chance seemed to be gone, but the Toby centre half absolutely sh*t the bed, and back heeled the ball into his own net.

Half time 2-0

There must have been big questions asked from both gaffers at the break.  Toby were having their character tested, and Micallef must have wondered whether Racing could continue playing with the same tempo and rhythm before burning out. He would have been delighted with the answer. 

With time on the clock, a goal back for Toby could have been crucial, but the RCF back four were not giving the forwards an inch, and the midfield were flying into tackles with great tenacity and hunger. It was Racing who looked likely to get the next goal, and chances came by the truckload.

Waithe is said to be considering donating his nickname "Dizzy" to the Toby left back after he was twined inside out by Clarke.  Another interchange with Maskell and Prati Junior, left him to cut into the box and pull the ball smartly back to the edge to Maskell, who placed his shot towards the far corner. It cannoned back off the post, and fell to Spicer who scuffed his attempt straight to the keeper.

Another Maskell effort endangered the corner flag, and yet another Clarke Cross, was met powerfully by Spicer, but smacked against the crossbar.

"The Greek Scuffer" Pedonomou came on for Spicer with 15 minutes remaining, and was straight into the action.  A long ball into the box was misjudged by the keeper and defender, and Pedros nipped in to tuck it through the keepers legs for 3-0.

The game was all but over, there was still time for the left back to be embarrassed one more time.  His insistence at diving in at everything had been a major hindrance to the Toby backline, and a trademark Maskell trickery was met with laughter as the left back missed the ball, the man, and his trip home on the ruined.com tour bus.

"The Scuffer" completed his cameo with a second goal in the final moments. A through ball from Waithe found Pedonomou, who was at least 3 yards offside, and the only outfield player in the Toby half.  He ran through and drilled home through the keepers legs, who probably

just wanted to go for nice cup of tea at that point.

Mitchell and Butlers are a UK blue chip parent company with a long and rich association with RCF.  You have Stephen Clarke, who is a regular user of their hotel chain, Express Hy holiday Inn.  Then there is Simon Field.  The Field family are well known in their local Harvester, and often take advantage of the Early bird menu for a Friday Fish Supper.  But today will go down as the day when the entire Racing Club Fantana squad opened up a brand new Toby Carvary in Fairlop, Essex.

4-0 was the final score.  It is difficult to write an impartial match report, when a game is this one sided.  Apparently Toby had players missing, but this really showed that there isn't a huge gulf in class between divisions, and Racing can now look forward to a tie against Division 1 team Sungate.

Manager Micallef had the following to say to at the end of the game.

Bradley, as a manager how pleasing was it to beat a Senior division team?
Great result - I knew if we played to our full capacity we'd beat any team in the Corinthian League. They probably had players missing, but when you play the way we did they still wouldn't have got near us. It should have been 7 or 8.

Sack and Leiter seemed to respond to the calls to lay off the booze this week, and played with a ferocious determination often seen by the likes of Rino Gattuso. Would you say that the critics points have been proven?

Yes and No. Some people play well under the influence, others dont. The difference this week was we all had points to prove. Not only the two players mentioned, but the other 12 had their best games for some time.

You brought back the big guns this week. Collins, Waithe and Maskell all bring experience, abilty and a winning mentality to the team. Do you think that they were the difference between this weeks performance and last weeks?

Not really - Winning is a great habit to have, but sometimes you can become complacent. That's what happened last week and to be honest, had been on the cards for the previous 3 weeks. We showed our true colours Sunday. Our passing game returned. Our determination to win was there.

The Scuffer once again had his shooting boots on at the end, how do you deal with these selections headaches?
These are headaches I can deal with. Both my forwards were exceptional - Spice opened up the way for Pete to help himself to a brace. I think by the time Pete came on, Toby were defeated men - That type of clinical finishing is what is required of our centre forwards.

After last weeks performance, there was some unrest in sections of the crowd. It must be nice to respond with such a big win?

I took my fair share of criticism after last weeks performance - Some justified, some not so. I've got broad enough shoulders to be able deal with this sort of rubbish though. I've always maintained that the players control their own destiny - not the manager. All I can do is give a team talk and impose tactics I feel will win us the game. Once they step over the white line, there is very little I can do. I'm not the type of person to say I told you so.

Next week, your up against May & Bakers, in what is the most crucial league game of the season. A win will make the championship yours to lose, how will you prepare for such a big game?

Same as last week. Biggest game of the season. Just hope we turn up. I'm sure we will.
Toby 0 - 4 Racing Club Fantana
Spicer 31, O.G. 42, Pedonomou 77, 88

Team: Dawes, T. Prati, Collins, R. Prati, Tilbury, Clarke, Sack, Waithe, Leiter (Field 65), Maskell (Salmon 85), Spicer (Pedonomou 72)

Attendance 17