Team: Proccy, Mike, Chris(C), Adam, Rob, Max, Macca, Will, Zac, Dan, Kavan. Subs: Leigh, Arun (3-5-2 formation)
Another friendly against tough Swindon opposition, but this time against one of the Premiership top teams. Ruby Removals convincingly beat us in the Cup last season and are well known for their overly enthusiastic physical and vocal approach. Like the last game, the opposition didn’t disappoint and brought with them a small posse that keep Monster energy drinks and cheap lager in business; are adept at challenging every decision the referee makes and have a veritable thesaurus of profanities that would make Charles Manson blush and tattoos that would shame Prison Break inmates. A great bunch!
No matter how rough and ready the opposition were, there was no doubt that they could play football and in the early stages were more confident on the ball and quicker at winning the first and second balls. Ramsbury competed well but were often second best with the back three of Mike, Chris and Adam getting stretched and needing Max and Rob as wing backs to help out. Macca unfortunately had to go off with a minor injury and Arun came on to replace him and help Kavan up front. Both sides went close with Proccy stopping a couple of good efforts and after 20 minutes Ramsbury settled and started to play some neat passing football. A sublime corner by Rob saw his effort fly directly into the top left corner and stun the opposition and see Ramsbury go 1-0 up. The opposition were rocked by this and Ramsbury took the initiative with some superb battling by Will as CDM and some great running and touches by Zac and Dan in midfield that provided a number of scoring opportunities. However, a superb cross by the opposition left wing was too good for Proccy, who struggled to get across the goal mouth with his ankle injury, and the ball just beat him and Adam to be headed deftly into the top right hand corner to make it 1-1. The half ended 1-1 and all to play for.
The second half was better by Ramsbury with quicker tackling and passing, more possession and the midfield creating more opportunities for the strikers to score. The opposition upped the tempo, and vocal chat, and had a good period of sustained pressure that saw them capitalise with a well taken goal to make it 2-1.
Ramsbury, if I am honest, were too quiet and introverted and allowed the opposition to boss the play and for 10 minutes or so struggled to control the ball, keep their composure and make a telling pass when it was needed. Leigh came on to bolster the midfield and his energy and input was well timed and allowed Arun and Zac to push further forward. It worked really well and Ramsbury regained control and the initiative with Max and Rob making great runs into the box and Kavan and Arun both going close to getting an equaliser. And it was a superb cross by Max that was missed by both the opposition defence (and our forwards) that fell kindly to Adam and who calmly slotted home to make it 2-2. Kavan then had a shot saved and Zac nearly got the winner with a gret free kick that required a finger tip save by the opposition keeper. The opposition were probably the happier when the ref blew for full time and the game ended as a 2-2 draw.
It wasn’t pretty at times, and the opposition were not the team of last season, but it was a good result against a tough premiership side with much more positives than negatives. Man of the Match went to Mikey G for his battling defensive display with Chris and Will not far behind.
Finally, well done Chris and Sean for organising the new training tops which look very good as modelled by Zac, Sean and Adam:
You have to earn these boys, so lets see more at training and matches! See you all next Tuesday at training 6.30-8pm.
Jon
