MATCH REPORT: RIDGEWOOD

Rotherfield Reserves entertained Ridgewood, the early high flyers in Division 2 South, in their first home game of this season.

The visitors were in the ascendency from the kick off with Kieran Sumner pulling off two superb saves. Slowly the Greens worked their way into the game with passing creating opportunities in the wide areas. The early introduction of Richard Fothergill provided a much needed striking fulcrum with his physicality holding the ball superbly allowing others to support whilst at the back Richard Clibbens & Craig King came to terms with the clever movement of the Ridgewood attackers.

The half ended in stalemate.

The second half commenced with a brilliantly powerful run by the impressive George Boynton for Rotherfield & his even more impressive shot from 25 yards that just went wide with the visitors keeper a spectator. Rotherfield were now the better side but went behind from a shot from the edge of the box that eluded Sumner who seemed to stumble as the shot was taken. The visitors then doubled their advantage before Rotherfield halved the deficit. Again it was a powerful run from Boynton & this time his rocket of a shot from 25 yards was perfectly placed, nestling into the net off the inside of the far post.

Ridgewood continued to impress with their well crafted passing but despite dominating possession Sumner had little to do such was the tenacious effort from Jack Birdsall & Rich Holman in midfield & the Worldly-wise defence of Mike Hodges, Clibbens, King & the excellent Will Sutton.

Then with a few minutes remaining a foul on Boynton in a wide right position presented Sutton the opportunity to deliver an in-swinging free kick with pace. First contact was a defensive header but the ball cannoned into the back of the head of another defender before falling to Clibbens who made no mistake from 3 yards out.

Boynton had a further opportunity to score but his shot went wide & then Harry McInulty worked himself a glorious chance to win the game but with just the keeper to beat he shot agonisingly wide.

However to secure a point against a strong side having been two goals down was testament to a tenacious display full of character by Rotherfield.

Squad: Sumner, Hodges, Clibbens, King, Sutton, Brazier, Holman, Birdsall, Bristow S, McInulty, Evans

Subs used: Fothergill, Boynton, Bristow L, Lelliott.

Player of the match: Boynton for a number of moments of brilliance.