A very confident and accomplished 7-1 win over a newly formed Abbeymeads Purple side who could have seen an even bigger score if it wasn’t for their exceptional keeper who made at least 5 or 6 top class saves. A great result for the team in their first competitive match as Ramsbury FC U16s. Well done.

MATCH REPORT: The first 10 minutes was a nervy affair for both teams as they aimed to settle down and get some sort of rhythm to their game. After a few close chances it was one of our new joiners Jez who skipped past 3 opposition defenders and curled the ball into the bottom right hand corner to make it 1-0. Freddie playing at centre forward and Euan as CAM should have scored before Freddie got a bit of luck as he connected with a fine cross to nutmeg the opposition keeper and make it 2-0. For the next 10 minutes Ramsbury were in complete control with Ben B, who was Captain for the game, and Josh and Hayden rock solid in defence and providing great support to Ben P in goal. But the key difference was the two CDMs Oli and Byron supporting a midfield 4 of Reece, Euan, Jez and Barney who remained calm, worked well as a unit and importantly won plenty of tackles and first and second balls. Euan as CAM supported Fred up front really well and with 5 minutes of the half left Ramsbury should have been 3 or 4-0 up. However, a slightly over exuberant tackle by Hayden led to an Abbeymeads indirect free kick that floated over the defence and off Ben’s gloves into the goal to make it 2-1. Geoff made a few changes with Liam on for Fred and another new joiner Owen on for Jez and John on for Barney. It was inspired changes by Geoff as Liam went close on 3 occasions before getting a superb assist from Euan to hammer in his shot to make it 3-1 at half time. The football by Ramsbury was excellent and the score could have been much more.

The second half was all Ramsbury as fitness and having a couple more subs made the difference and the opposition faced an onslaught of attacks. Byron and Reece were at the centre of everything and dominated the midfield. AJ went in goal for 20 minutes and Geoff made rotated the 6 subs across the team to good effect including Seb on for Hayden who had one of his best games in a Ramsbury shirt for some time. Oli also played some great stuff and it was great to see new joiner Owen get involved and make some terrific headers. Ben P up front along with Liam and AJ terrorised the opposition defence and after another two close efforts by Liam it was Ben P who slotted in to make it 4-1. The opposition didn’t give up to their credit and hit the post with a fine shot and tried to contain the constant attacks by Ramsbury. Liam made it 5-1 with more break up play in midfield and a fine strike that gave the keeper no chance and Fred made it 6-1 after he pounced on a mistake by the opposition left back and sprinted into the box and fired a rocket into the bottom left hand corner. Only just before this Ben B had powered a superb shot off the cross bar from 30 yards just after sprinting 30-40 yards and putting in a superb cross that deserved a goal. Jez was also on fire with his corners and Liam had more time that he realised as he met a superb corner and just headed over the bar. Ramsbury were relentless and scored their final goal with a siege of the opposition goal saw the ball fall to Barney and he calmly tucked it into the bottom right corner to make it 7-1. The score did not reflect the dominance of Ramsbury in the second half as John in goal for AJ and Josh and Ben B had very little to do and allowed Seb to wander up front and see if he could also score…..but unfortunately it was not to be!

In sum, a great performance by the team with some very good contributions by Jez, Owen and Liam who will hopefully join as well and some outstanding individual performances by Hayden, Oli, Byron, Reece, Euan and Fred and a very solid pairing in defence by Josh and Ben B. Jez gets moment of the match for his superb individual goal with player of the match going to Byron for his calm, efficient and measured game as CDM. However, the most pleasing thing was the team effort, the attitude and the fitness and improved skill level that has resulted from quality training. A great start by the squad and lets have the same again next week against Purton FC U16s.

See you at training next Saturday and at the match next Sunday.

Geoff & Andy

 

 

Geoff, Andy and Jon