Match Report: Reserves vs Preston Manor Royals

The Reserves played their first league game at their highest level ever at home. The pitch was green again after the recent rain but still hard & it was a beautiful albeit hot, day at the rec!

A fast start was called for & for the team to play their possession football. The lads did not disappoint as quick incisive passing from Craig King released George Boynton. His turn & pace left his marker floundering, his cross was perfection, & Jacob Prince thundered his header into the net to give the greens the perfect start on 5mins.

Boynton was a constant threat & when Prince showed great skill to wriggle clear his cross could have seen the lead doubled but Boynton was blocked.

Then as the half progressed the visitors came more into the game. Injuries to Prince & Sean Bristow disrupted the home side, nevertheless they showed great determination as they defended resolutely. Jack Birdsall was at his disruptive best, Mike Peevor industrious & both full backs, Craig King & Will Sutton, remained both focused defensively against clever movement & tried to instigate attacks. Stand in goalkeeper Lewis Bowen was a mountainous influence for the greens flying off his line to thwart attacks, commanding aerially, essential against opposition who towered over the seemingly diminutive greens, & demonstrating surprising leadership skills as well as a howitzer of a right boot!

However the greens conceded as the half entered the final throes. A poorly delivered corner was ineffectively dealt with & when the second attempt was delivered more dangerously Bowen flapped & the loose ball was fired home to restore parity. A lesser character than “big Lew” would have crumbled but his second half display was a great example of how just getting on with it to give your best could become the mantra for this season. It was important to note that the only two big errors made all match were punished.

A couple of technical tweaks at half time & the greens came out for the second half better organised to nullify the visitors game plan.

The Royals were now dominant both in terms of territory & possession, but clear chances were scarce as especially skipper Owen Ridley & Jack “check my passport for my age” D were superb. Blocks, tackles, headers, challenges & even a few fouls were affectionately applauded by the bench. Substitutions aplenty were made given the backs to the wall performance & when needed big Lew came flying off his line to save brilliantly when a goal looked to some to be inevitable.

Ultimately the lads were applauded for their gargantuan effort in a performance that demonstrated that grit, character & a team ethic to support your mates gets you a long way in football. Total positivity on the bench from substitutes & substituted was so pleasing as not a murmur of negativity was heard, unusual in modern egotistical footballers!

Whilst 6 different players were nominated by their peers for Player of the match, it was a clear victory for Jack “check my passport to prove I am not 40” Birdsall who just did the basics but at a level much better than anyone else.

A great point that deserves to be enjoyed but plenty to work on both in training & subsequent games.

Squad

Bowen, King, Ridley, Jack D, Sutton, Bristow, Alexander, Birdsall, Prince, Zabadne, Boynton

Subs used

Wilson, Peevor, Holman, Thomas, Clibbens