THIS WAS A RIP ROARING CUP TIE

Our loyal supporters had to endure a mid-week trip along the M25 to the smart Theobald Lane Stadium home of Cheshunt FC where FC Romania ground share. The trek was well worth it because they were treated to a classic cup tie where the fortunes swayed one way then the other and the final outcome was not settled until deep into added time at the end of the game.

This was the 3rd cup game that we have played on the trot and we have one more to come on Saturday when we travel to Essex for an FA Vase encounter with Saffron Waldren. So far the tally is won 2 lost 1 (on pens) so lets hope we can make it a hat-trick of victories at the weekend.

The quality of the football was high from the start with both teams playing possession football on a very good surface but the real excitement came in the second half when both teams piled on the goals. The only goal in the first half came in the 33rd minute and was set up by Harry Jones for Jack Harvey to finish from close range. Score 0-1.

We probably had the better chances during the first period with Harry Shepherd shooting over in the 29th minute after being picked out by Bailey Osborne and then Bailey himself was denied just before the break by the keeper who saved his shot with his legs.

Our hosts possessed a lot of highly skilful players but they hardly troubled new signing Bradley Shaw in goal although their leading scorer and talisman Zenon Stylianides was through on goal in the 39th minute but surprisingly the former Spurs and QPR player lost the ball through a poor touch.

So an entertaining first half ended with us holding a slim lead although we had opportunities to have added to that lead. HT Score 0-1.

Not sure what was added to the half time cuppa’s because our opponents came out fired up for the 2nd half and we failed to touch the ball for about 5 minutes. It was perhaps no surprise when FC Romania equalised in the 54th minute through substitute Sefan Balev. Score 1-1.

We responded by going close twice with Benji setting up Harry Shepherd who was denied by a superb save from the keeper and then Shep returned the favour with a sumptuous cross which Benji headed over from close range.

The game was wide open and it was clear that there were further goals to follow with our opponents taking the opportunity to take the lead for the first time with a goal from Narcis-Florin Filip in the 71st minute. Score 2-1.

Despite the set back we are not a side to buckle and Shep score his 9th of the season with a lovely finish to level the scores in the 75th minute. Two minutes Kieran Turner, making a welcome return to the Club, nodded in a super cross from Harry Jones to retake the lead. Score 2-3.

Both sides had further chances with Shep just wide with a shot and Stylianides heading a good chance over. Time was running out but there were more goals to follow with Zhechko Zhelyazkov scoring the equaliser in the 86th minute. Score 3-3.

There was still more drama to follow as 6 minutes into added time Greg Deer grabbed the winner following a long throw from Harry Jones (for his 3rd assist of the night) to avoid another penalty shoot out and take us through to the 2nd Round of the Gladwish Trophy where we will travel to either Baldock Town or Winslow United who are scheduled to meet on 12 November.

A cracking cup tie and commiserations to FC Romania. We now focus on our trip to Saffron Waldren on Saturday for an FA Vase game. Fortunately we didn’t appear to add to our long list of injured players so we should go with some confidence that we can put on a good performance. We certainly demonstrated in this game against a very good FC Romania side and in other recent games that we are a competitive side that keeps going and importantly we are scoring goals with 26 in our last 7 games.

Team:

TA: Bradley Shaw, Harry Jones, George Carbery (Capt), Greg Deer, Adam Sawyer (James Sales 74), Jack Harvey, Harry Beaumont (Mason Clarke 74), Frankie Hercules (Noah Butler 69), Harry Shepherd, Bailey Osborne, Ben Kakembo (Kieran Turner 69). Sub not used: Dave O’Connor.

Scorers:

FCR: Balev (54), Zhelyazkov (71), Filip (86)

TA: Harvey (33), Shepherd (75), Turner (77), Deer (90+6)

Crowd: 56