Racing Club Fantana 5 - 0 SFC Dagenham

Racing Club Fantana made history at the weekend by securing their first victory of what promises to be long and bountiful existence.

SFC Dagenham – One of the Dagenham and District leagues longest serving teams provided the opposition at a sun kissed Central Park. SFC had three big name players missing – Their player manager Derrick Helmet (Holiday), player coach Timothy Diggines (Scared) and centre forward Gavin Brien (Wedding).

Racing Club Manager Bradley Micallef had his pre-match plans thrown into disarray by the late withdrawal of first team goalkeeper Stephen Dawes (Asthma) and substitute stopper Daniel Micallef (DIY). On the plus side, they welcomed back party boys Simon Field and Rikki Prati who had been on an intense fitness program in Ayia Napa.

After last weeks defeat at the hands of Premiership Cambourne Wednesday, Racing were keen to get the first victory of their packed pre-season campaign. RCF strung five across midfield in an attempt to retain the ball for long periods and probe their opposition.

Racing, from the off, imposed themselves on the game and played some truly exceptional football. The interchanges in the middle of the park by Messer’s Maskell, Stimpson and Waife were a wonder to behold. Defensively, Racing were never really under pressure, beginning well, all looking comfortable on the ball – that includes stand in goalkeeper and manager Bradley Micallef!

The first breakthrough came after 10 minutes. A skilful run from midfield by Darren Waife took him passed two defenders and into the area where he finished coolly from 12 yards. Racing had their historic first goal.

SFC couldn’t get a foot hold in the game, with any long balls launched being excellently dealt with by the greens back four. The passing and movement was testament to the pre-season training the RCF had put in. Micallef has always maintained that quality football, passing and moving are of paramount importance.

The crowd didn’t have to wait long for a second goal. Chris Maskell received the ball half way inside Dagenham’s half, turning on a six pence then running at pace towards goal. When presented with the obstacle of a burly centre back, Le Maske offered him the old double lolly pop sending the defender and crowd the wrong way, then slipping in Striker David Day. Day accelerated into the box and finished powerfully leaving the keeper with no chance. 2-0

Three or four dubious offside decisions later Racing led 3-0. Russell Leiter received the ball just inside the right hand touchline from Terry Prati, drifted inside his man, then unleashed a right footed strike which flew into the top left hand corner. A wonderful goal to cap a wonderful half of football from Micallef’s team. When probed at half time whether it was a toe punt, Leiter replied – “It was laces”.

One change was made at the break – Stimpson (bad back) making way for Stephen Clarke. This prompted a shuffle in midfield, with David Sack dropping in to the middle and Clarke replacing him on the left hand side.

SFC really needed to get back into the game and to be fair, the opening 15 mins they gave it a decent crack. The red and blues never created a goal scoring chance, but they strung a few passes together and made some promising breaks.

RCF on the other hand, with manager Bradley Micallef challenging his team not to take their foot off the pedal, did exactly that. The passing seemed to have deteriorated and the movement more slack than in the first half. At times like these though, he will need his players to stand up and be counted and as the half went on, they began to regain control.  

Darren Waife made another of his surging runs into box and was pole axed by centre half Mark Chopper. Needless to say this wasn’t given – this incensed the RCF and it didn’t help matters when the linesman shouted “I’ve seen better dives on a PADI training Course”

As RCF pressed on, the quality of football they had become accustomed to in the first half was returning. Simon Field had a splendid game at left back with some incisive passing and competitive headers.

The rout was continued by the most unlikely of sources. An RCF corner had been cleared, only for the loose ball to be picked up by Darren Waife. He bullied his way into the box and squared the ball to Darren Salmon who had stayed up after the corner. His first touch took him past one, delicate feet took him past another and then calm as a coma stroked the ball in the corner of the net.

Racing then suffered a massive blow. Chris Maskell was sold a short pass by Clarke and this resulted in a career threatening tackle by the SFC central midfielder wearing no.12. He had been likened to Bambi on ice earlier in the game, going to ground quicker than a granny on wet lino. This also went unpunished and resulted in Maskell limping off and Stimpson limping back on. Fair play to Stimpson who had earlier substituted himself with a bad back – it proves the camaraderie in the camp is flourishing beautifully.

The fifth and final goal was a little bit special. A smashing move from the left to right ended with the ball at Leiter’s feet. He crossed a deep ball to the back stick where Stephen Clarke arrived and drilled a sweet half volley into the roof of the net. The finish was emphatic – GK Spooner would have lost a hand had he got anywhere near it. Clarke wheeled away, looking almost embarrassed to have scored against his former club. A wonderful end, to a genuinely wonderful performance.

RCF won’t get carried away with this result and will be fully aware that the teams in their league will hold a more significant challenge. Take nothing away though, they played some truly breathtaking football, and with more games under their belt, could turn out to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

I caught up with RCF Manager Bradley Micallef after the game;

OC: Bradley, must be pleased with that – first win?

BM: Big time. We passed the ball well, our movement was splendid and our finishing was of a very high standard. I wasn’t having any sleepless nights about not having a win under our belt. I knew it would come and so did the players.

OC: Happy to get one over on your old team mates?

BM: Not really. I don’t take pleasure in beating my old team mates. I take pleasure in the performance. We played well. I enjoyed what I saw. I thought the SFC guys gave everything and were a credit to Derrick.

OC: Will five across the middle become a permanent fixture?

BM: We’ll have to wait and see. Worked well today. It helped us retain possession and impose ourselves on the game. My only concern is the amount of chances we’re creating. Leaving Dave up on his own leaves him with a lot of work to do. One thing we need to work on is our service to the front man.

OC: How did you find being between the sticks?

BM: End of the day, we were short. I am happy to go in goal for the good of the team. It’s all about sticking together and digging in when the chips are down. I had fantastic belief in my defence that they would leave me with very little to do – I was proud of them.

OC: Any special performances?

BM: The whole team. From back to front they were superb. In hot difficult conditions, we outplayed the opposition. When they had the ball, we shut down, harried and tackled. I take as much satisfaction from the ugly aspects as I do in some of the art we produced today.

OC: Should it have been 7-0?

BM: I’ve had my fingers burnt before by criticising referees and linesman so I’ll choose my words carefully. I thought the ref had a good game on the whole. A dodgy lino will always make the ref’s job more difficult. We scored a perfectly legitimate goal in the first half which was chalked off. Players get fined at my club when they are caught offside. I coach the players to give 5 yards to the defender before making their run. If they are going to get penalised for being nowhere near off, we may as well all pack up and go home.

OC: And the penalty?

BM: Dizzy’s nearly lost a limb. The guys cleaned him out and got nowhere near the ball. He’s not a cheat, he always tries to stay on his feet. In fact, I fine players at my club if they don’t go down when touched in the box.  

OC: How about Stevie Clarke’s belter?

BM: Well it’s just a fantastic strike isn’t it? What else can you say? I fine players at my club if they don’t get over the ball when volleying it – that finish was a testament to a very disciplinarian approach.

OC: And Chris Maskell – how’s the ankle?

BM: As you would expect after a horrific tackle. It was a disgrace. I’m all for competing, but that was nothing short of GBH. Yes Chris is over dramatic. Yes Chris likes to talk up his injuries and Yes Chris is probably the most unpopular member of the team. But we all felt for him. He went to hospital as a precaution – he’s been told two to three weeks. It’s disappointing.

OC: Thanks for your time Brad, send Le Maske my regards.

BM: Will do, take care mate. We must meet up for that bottle of Rioja.

Report by Oliver Codpiece

Racing Club Fantana: Micallef, T Prati, Field, Salmon, R Prati, Sack, Stimpson (Clarke 45), Waife, Maskell (Stimpson 80), Leiter, Day.

Goals: Waife 10 mins, Day 21, Leiter 40, Salmon 70 & Clarke 81.