Official Cup

Ursus Magura Buzau
Spectators: 160 (Terracing: 120, Seating: 37, VIP seats: 3) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Hugh Markham kicked off to start the match. Leontin Mareș made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Russ Philips in the 4th minute of play. After 6 played minutes -BZF- Ursus Magura got a freekick which was hit by Costică Răducanu. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th minute, Ken Nicholson managed to get in a good position for a shot. Birstall Bombers's supporters rose to their feet, but Ken Nicholson was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Leontin Mareș breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Hugh Markham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hugh Markham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rufus Morgan made an important save on a dangerous shot by Romeo Păunescu in the 18th minute. After a rather tough play, Birstall Bombers's Miles Turner got a free kick in the 19th minute. 24 minutes into the match, Hugh Markham had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Leontin Mareș. -BZF- Ursus Magura's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Hugh Markham was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. When Romeo Păunescu came up free with the goalie in the 27th minute, the -BZF- Ursus Magura fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Romeo Păunescu couldn't finish the play. Romeo Păunescu kicked a quick shot right in front of the goal in the 30thth minute. Though ot was a great shot Birstall Bombers's keeper Rufus Morgan was sill able to block leaving the score board unchanged. In the 41st minute, Romeo Păunescu got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After having played for 43 minutes, Romeo Păunescu managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. -BZF- Ursus Magura's supporters crossed their fingers, but Romeo Păunescu was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Hugh Markham sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Russ Philips took the ball and in the 48 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Leontin Mareș. Leontin Mareș dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Romeo Păunescu to strike the kick off in the second half. With an all-out effort, Birstall Bombers's Leontin Mareș threw himself towards the right post 58 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Hugh Markham, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 60th minute of the game. One of -BZF- Ursus Magura:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Birstall Bombers:s goal. Ken Nicholson placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! If Russ Philips had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, Birstall Bombers's Brandon Champion got a free kick in the 67th minute. In the 70th minute, Matei Pelin hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Hugh Markham struck a weak shot in the 71st minute. Leontin Mareș didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Birstall Bombers. After a rather tough play, -BZF- Ursus Magura's David Gologan got a free kick in the 72nd minute. Dean Steel hit a great freekick 75 minutes into the match. After 80 minutes of play, -BZF- Ursus Magura's Romeo Păunescu made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Rufus Morgan was left in no man's land by his defense there! In the 85th minute, Hugh Markham hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Leontin Mareș acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 89th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Miles Turner. After a rather tough play, Birstall Bombers's Leo Powell got a free kick in the 89th minute. A collision led to -BZF- Ursus Magura getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Ciprian Bălășescu hit a great ball. 95 minutes into the match, Birstall Bombers's goal looked a bit too open when Victor Baldu came free, but Rufus Morgan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Russ Philips sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 98th minute Hugh Markham shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leontin Mareș saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Russ Philips sent away a hard shot on goal in the 101st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. The Birstall Bombers players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.