Harrow | Bannisters – Friday – 16th Oct 26 – 7pm-8pm

Hat-trick

The Sky Blues had this one wrapped up before the half-hour mark. Porfirio Delgado scored inside the first minute, the lead was six by the 36th, and although the Oranges found four goals late on, the clock had long since beaten them. Sky Bibs 7, Orange Bibs 4 at Bannisters on Friday night.

Delgado set the tone almost from the kick-off, taking Maz Pan's pass and beating the keeper from long range before the Oranges had settled. On five minutes JC Maranan slid a lovely through ball to his near-namesake Jaycee Gibbons, who rounded the keeper and finished. Three minutes later Delgado turned provider and Pan made it 3–0.

Six without reply

Delgado added his second on 17, set up by Wayne Goddard. On 22 a corner was spilled in the goalmouth and Pan was the calmest man in the box, volleying the loose ball home for his second. Nikolas Charalambous, credited with the assist there, got on the scoresheet himself on 36. Six–nil, and the Oranges could barely get near the ball.

The pick of the bunch

The Oranges finally broke through on 39 when Rhyce Boisson, fed by Shaquille James, drove a powerful low shot in from distance. It barely registered. Three minutes later Scott Gilzean produced some brilliant wing play and crossed, and Delgado met it with an incredible volley to complete his hat-trick. 7–1.

A late charge

What followed was the Oranges' best spell of the night. Gulzer Khan scored on 43, and Abdirisaq Abdulle made it 7–3 two minutes later from Giulio Mascolo's pass. On 51 James threaded another through ball for Korosh Rad, who went one-on-one and nutmegged the keeper. Four goals in twelve minutes showed plenty of spirit, but the fightback started far too late.

Delgado's three goals and an assist made him the clear player of the match, with Pan's two goals and an assist not far behind. The Sky Blues were the sharper side for forty minutes, and that was more than enough.

1. 1'Porfirio DelgadoAssist: Maz Pan1–0
2. 5'Jaycee GibbonsAssist: JC Maranan2–0
3. 8'Maz PanAssist: Porfirio Delgado3–0
4. 17'Porfirio DelgadoAssist: Wayne Goddard4–0
5. 22'Maz PanAssist: Nikolas Charalambous5–0
6. 36'Nikolas Charalambous6–0
7. 39'Rhyce BoissonAssist: Shaquille James6–1
8. 42'Porfirio DelgadoAssist: Scott Gilzean7–1
9. 43'Gulzer Khan7–2
10. 45'Abdirisaq AbdulleAssist: Giulio Mascolo7–3
11. 51'Korosh RadAssist: Shaquille James7–4

Man of the match

Porfirio Delgado

Three goals and an assist, capped by an incredible volley from Scott Gilzean's cross to complete the hat-trick.

Also in the frame

Maz Pan Sky Bibs

Two goals and the assist for the opener, including a calm volley in the goalmouth scramble on 22.

Shaquille James Orange Bibs

Two assists for the Oranges, including the through ball that sent Korosh Rad clear on 51.

Scott Gilzean Sky Bibs

Brilliant wing play and the cross for the volley of the night on 42.

Nikolas Charalambous Sky Bibs

Set up Pan's second goal and scored the sixth himself on 36.

The verdict

A dominant forty minutes from the Sky Blues let them cruise to victory. The Oranges fought back late on, but with far too little time left to change the result.

The win was not without its whispers, mind. Murmurs around Bannisters of dodgy dealings and inflated revenues had some suggesting the Sky Blues enjoyed a convenient advantage at team selection. No charges have been brought. Yet.