FC ROMANIA THROUGH TO THE ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Wednesday evening was a great one for FC Romania on two counts. Firstly they qualified for the Essex Senior League Cup Final by beating Burnham Ramblers 3-2 in their Semi-Final match at Theobalds Lane and secondly they would of been very happy at the news that Ilford had beaten their title rival's Bowers and Pitsea 2-0 which as you can see has helped them out at the top of the table.

ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE CURRENT TABLE
TOP FOUR ONLY

POS	TEAM	P	GD	PTS	PP	FORM
1	FC ROMANIA	34	+67	79	97	DDWDWW
2	BASILDON UNITED	33	+45	75	96	WWWWLW
3	BARKING	36	+47	72	84	WWDLWD
4	BOWERS AND PITSEA	28	+52	65	101	WWWWWL

Before the game started there was a fantastic moment which showed how brilliant and quirky non-league football and it's followers can sometimes be - John Adams who is a devoted follower of the club and also doubles as the tannoy person at their games played the Romanian National Anthem as the teams walked out and then to make the Burnham players feel at home he played God Save The Queen. I don't think the players knew what was going on! At every game FCR play you can hear him shouting 'Haidi Lupe' which means 'Go Wolves' in encouragement of the team - They are nicknamed The Wolves.

THE GROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT THEOBALDS LANE CONTINUE AS TWO STANDS HAVE BEEN ADDED BEHIND EACH GOAL.

The match was first plays thirteenth in the table and it went with the form book as the impressive Bogdan Ungureanu scored twice in the first 45 minutes to make it 2-0 at half-time. The score was a little harsh on the visitors who played some good football and put the home defence under lots of pressure. It was 3-0 just after the break when the Burnham keeper was unlucky when making a great save from a free kick with the FC Romania attacker being first to react to score. He had pulled off an amazing save just prior to this as well.

The Ramblers showed they have a good team spirit going by never giving up and scored two late goals to make it a nervy finish but it was too late for them and they bow out of the Essex Senior League Cup.  The result continues the home domination for teams in this competition with only 4 of the 18 ties played ending with an away victory - that's a 77.77% home victory rate. They will play the winners of the Basildon United v Takeley game which is scheduled to be played on Saturday 23rd April. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 



ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE CUP 2015/16

FIRST ROUND
BARKING 3 WALTHAM FOREST 0
BASILDON UNITED 4 NEWHAM 2
ILFORD 2 LONDON BARI 1
SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN 2 HULLBRIDGE SPORTS 0
TAKELEY 2 SPORTING BENGAL UNITED 1

SECOND ROUND
STANSTED 0 BOWERS & PITSEA 1
SOUTHEND MANOR 1 FC ROMANIA 2
BURNHAM RAMBLERS 2 ENFIELD 1893 1
CLAPTON 4 BARKING 0
BASILDON UNITED 2 ETON MANOR1
ILFORD 2 SAWBRIDGEWORTH TOWN 1
TAKELEY 2 GREENHOUSE SPORTS 0
TOWER HAMLETS 3 WADHAM LODGE 5

QUARTER FINAL
BOWERS & PITSEA 0 FC ROMANIA 2
BURNHAM RAMBLERS 3 CLAPTON 2
BASILDON UNITED 3 ILFORD 2
TAKELEY 2 WADHAM LODGE 0

SEMI-FINAL
FC ROMANIA 3 BURNHAM RAMBLERS 2
BASILDON UNITED v TAKELEY

In the race for the title Bowers and Pitsea travel to Sawbridgeworth Town on Saturday with Basildon United hosting Hullbridge Sports. FC Romania travel to the seaside to play Southend Manor. Bowers then host Wadham Lodge on Tuesday evening before a huge game on Thursday at The Len Salmon Stadium when FC Romania visit Bowers and Pitsea. Basildon are at Sawbridgeworth on the same evening.

 

BOWERS AND PITSEA v FC ROMANIA - A HUGE GAME NEXT THURSDAY

For Burnham Ramblers it's been a season for transition following their relegation from the Ryman Divsion One (North) at the end of the 2014/15 campaign. Keith Wilson has returned to the club he guided to promotion in 2013 and is steadily making progress. Expect to see the Ramblers finish higher in the ESL next season than their current 13th position. They host Stansted on Saturday at Leslie Field.