Ramsbury FC recorded an impressive 4-2 home win against a well organised and motivated Paragon FC side. Both teams played good football in blustery conditions and on a hard pitch.
Ramsbury got off to a flyer with Macca grabbing a cracking goal and saying Ali who?…..as he looked the part playing up front on his own and never gave the opposition centre backs any time on the ball. Ramsbury were on the front foot with Zac going close and Rob scoring direct from a corner to make it 2-0 and see Ramsbury take control of the game with Will, Chris (first game and played really well) and Skips dominating the midfield and using the wings superbly with Zac and Rob
working so well with Adam and Leigh as wing backs. It was all Ramsbury.
Paragon responded well and upped their game and pressed much better at 2-0 down and had Ramsbury on the back foot with a succession of set piece deliveries that tested Ash in goal and needed some big clearances by Chris and Ben in the centre of defence. But the pressure told as another swinging ball cut through the defence and was bundled in at the back post to make it 2-1. A poor goal to concede!
What was good to see was there was no panic by Ramsbury as they continued to attack at will with both Zac and Macca going close. Rob was a constant threat on the left and after another enthusiastic challenge by Chris, that earned him a yellow, Paragon failed to convert the free kick and a great clearance by Ben saw Ramsbury counter at speed and put the opposition on the back foot. Skips clipped a great pass to Zac who whipped a ball into Macca but it went over his head to Rob who took a neat touch and with his back to goal turned and belted the ball into the top left hand corner of the goal to make it 3-1. A fully deserved score line that stayed like that until half time.
The second half saw Paragon launch everyone forward in an attempt to reduce the deficit. Ramsbury soaked up the pressure and kept their shape and composure and continued to pass the ball well and use the width of the pitch to get out of trouble. The match was end to end with Macca going so close after great work by Rob and Zac on the flanks and some absolute class tackles and headers by Will, Chris and Skips in the middle. Welsh Joe Wicks and Adam on the flanks were awesome as their pace cut out opposition attacks and Leigh produced some wild sliced shot or passes, no one really knew, that kept the crowd entertained!
Ramsbury kept composed and with the wind against them the defence and Ash managed the Paragon attackers well and rarely looked in trouble. However, a lack of concentration resulted in a Welsh Joe Wicks own goal to make it 3-2 and see the Welsh Wonder earn the Shirt of Shame from Sean.
Again, Ramsbury didn’t panic and continued to play great passing football and using the width of the pitch. Macca took a yellow for the team as he prevented a counter attack and was vey unlucky to go in the book…..but he did keep his head…… just!!
Paragon looked dead on their feet for the last 15 and Seano brought on Adam and Ash B for Chris and Macca as fresh legs. It was just what was needed as Paragon lost a player with a pulled hamstring and Ramsbury pressed for the fourth goal. Zac should have scored and went close with a free kick, but it was another great ball clipped in by Skips after good work by Adam on the right that saw Ash burst forward (and he nearly did burst) through the opposition defence and provide a top assist for Rob to tuck away his hat trick and the fourth goal to see Ramsbury go 4-2 up. The restart saw the ref blow the whistle for full time and the match ended with another top performance and another win for the Rams!
Brilliant hat trick by Rob who deservedly got man of the match and not far behind him was Chris in midfield and Ben in defence and Ash in goal. A superb all round team effort and a great win. Nice touch was Seano getting everyone a beer at the end and it was brilliant to sit in the sun and reflect on a very good win.
AFC Swindon next and they are a tough team, so we will need a strong team to get a result. See you all TUESDAY!!!!
Jon
Sean has Macca’s training top and an adidas water bottle that was left!
