CHIPSTEAD PICK UP A VALUABLE THREE POINTS IN THE RACE FOR THE PLAY-OFFS

Both sides were in need of points for different reasons at Theobalds Lane yesterday. The league table shows that FC Romania need to pick up wins to keep off the bottom of the table - Chipstead are in with a shout of finishing in the top five and with it a place in the end of season play-offs. 

Prior to kick off the hosts were three points from the bottom of the table and in a battle with Northwood, Ashford Town, Staines Town and Hertford Town to avoid the drop to step five for the 2020/21 campaign. Chipstead were in 10th place just four points off of Uxbridge who were in fifth. 

The visitors got off to the best start possible when they scored in the first minute via Tom Collins who calmly slotted home from inside the box. The home side came back into things and had a few chances to score with Oliver Pain in the Chipstead goal making a number of solid saves. 

After half time it was the clinical Collins made it 0-2 on 59 minutes with another close range goal sweeping the ball into the net after a cross from the left hand side.  

Late in the game the home side had Andrei Baciu sent off and Chipstead who made it 0-3 when Ollie Tanner scored on 87 minutes to wrap up an important win for his side. 

Baciu's red card was the eleventh sending off for FCR this season - Brazlian centre back Hernany Macedo Marques made two apperances for the club on 26th and 28th December against Hertford Town and Ware. He was sent off in both games. He had played in Ireland for St Patricks Athletic and Northern Ireland for Warrenpoint Town. He also made 14 appearances for London Tigers in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division last season. 

FC ROMANIA RED CARDS FOR 2019/20

PLAYER	OPPONENTS
CHRISTI IACOB	HARLOW TOWN
FELIX LUPU	WARE
MIHAI BOTOSAN	MARLOW
CHRISTI IACOB	WARE (FAC)
GELU LUPU	CHERTSEY TOWN
MARIUS COSMIN PATRU	HANWELL TOWN (VT)
RADU FLORIN STOICA	HANWELL TOWN (VT)
MACEDO HERNANY	CHIPSTEAD
HERNANY MARQUES	HERTFORD TOWN
HERNANY MARQUES	WARE
ANDERI BACIU	CHIPSTEAD

For FCR it's been a difficult season so far with just four leagues wins so far (at home v Northwood, South Park and Ashford Town and away at Barking) with over 80 players used in their games!  Yesterday just Adrian Darabant, Christi Iacob, Gabriel Ghinea, Sergiu Maximov and Lawrence Neuruba reamined in the starting XI from the season opener at Harlow Town. 

FCR's next two games are away at Westfield next Saturday and then at home to Chertsey Town on Saturday 22nd February. 

The Chips have two home games against Ashford Town next Saturday and then on Tuesday 18th February Chertsey Town visit. 

The crowd was announced as 49 people. 

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 



GOAL HIGHLIGHTS