Jolof Sports 0 FC Petrocub 5

Essex Alliance League Senior Division, Friday 12th August

I was over at Mayesbrook Park on Friday evening as the Essex Alliance 2022/23 season got underway and saw FC Petrocub hit five as they got their Senior Division campaign off to a great start against Jolof Sports in Barking.

Sports had finished their 2021/22 season in a respectable fourth place in the Senior Division, whereas FC Petrocub had finished in mid table (7th) some thirteen points behind tonight's opponents, but this was a new season so nobody really knew what to expect, although the majority felt the hosts would probably grab victory here. The visitors though had not read the script, more on that later.

On arriving at the ground I was handed a laminated team sheet for the contest by Sports boss Dan Brissett, which was a pleasant surprise, and in fact every supporter who attended were handed one at the gate, a very nice touch and in theory should have been very useful when blogging/reporting on the game.

Sadly it seems the numbers on the sheets didn't entirely match up to what was actually on the pitch, the visitors squad list only went up to twenty, and they had a thirty-three and a ninety-seven on the pitch, so it was kind of unhelpful to say the least, at least Dan sent me his actual team sheet meaning at least I had the hosts correct line up!!! Always makes for a challenging evening that's for sure. I guess as long as the official ones are correct then that's all that matters.

Anyway back to the game, and it started very well for the visitors, who were awarded a spot kick after a pull back in the box when the visitors were about to shoot, and that number 33 stepped up to emphatically dispatch the penalty and give his side the lead in just the fourth minute, and twenty minutes later the visitors were awarded another penalty.

This was after the linesman on the near side had spotted an infringement inside the box which the referee had not spotted, and after discussion with his assistant awarded the penalty, and that number 33 stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way once again and gave his side a two goal cushion to take into the half time break.

And it was a lead that was to increase further still just before the hour mark when a mistake at the back allowed Cristie Ilie (I think, he was down as 17 on the sheet after all) to steal in and fire past the keeper, before late goals from Gheorghe Belibov (again assuming it was he who was wearing the number that the sheets suggested) and that number 33, who completed his hat-trick.

Belibov was the recipient of more charitable play from the hosts, the keeper losing the ball to the visitors player before he slotted home, and then the final goal came when that illusive number 33 fired home a decent effort from acute angle to complete his treble and cap a decent nights work for the visiting side.  

The score line suggested a one sided contest, but it certainly was not this, Jolof had several openings themselves but their mistakes at the back were punished to the max by the visiting side, not the result most expected but Jolof will have to pick themselves up and go again next weekend.

Full time Jolof Sports 0 FC Petrocub 5