Ramsbury FC draw 3-3 against a much changed and stronger Stratton Juniors (Adults) side from the 7-4 win at the Ramsbury Recreation Centre.
Team: Ash (GK) Andy Chris (C) James Adam Zac Skip Aaron Nathan Jas Rob. Subs: Joe Ali Mike Jake Briz
Everyone in football has an opinion on football whether that be tactics, team formation and composition, the pitch, the ref, the weather, the pressure of the ball etc etc etc….and few are seldom right about anything! Brian Clough once said tactics don’t win games, players do and ol big head unlike the rest of us was usually spot on. And so it was that on a bright Spring evening two decent sets of players carved out an entertaining 3-3 draw. But it could have been oh so different as both sides missed glorious chances to win the game and take the three points on offer.
Ramsbury FC took a strong team to play Stratton and it is testament to the depth of the current Squad that Sean had to not include good players and some players were unused subs…tough decisions for any coach and not pleasant to make. In turn Stratton put out probably their strongest team who were much changed from the 7-4 loss at Ramsbury and definitely included more youth, speed and a much stronger defence with their key centre half making Nathan look slight! He was a unit.
From the outset the Stratton tactic was clear to kick it long and with the sun in Ramsbury’s eyes and a very hard pitch after days of sun and wind, the bounce and conditions certainly helped them and made it tough for Ramsbury. It certainly worked for the first 20-30 minutes as Ramsbury were frustrated and did not play their usual passing game with the attacking 4-3-3 formation, which actually at times looked more like a 4-2-4, working in favour for Stratton and was not helped by Ash wearing his best banana boots and slicing the ball out of play! To be fair to Ash the wind was against him and he did adjust to get it right with more patience and concentration.
The game was even but Stratton got a break with a freak deflected pass that awkwardly skimmed pass Chris and James into the Stratton left winger path who struck a good finish past Ash to make it 1-0. Ramsbury didn’t flap and kept to the plan and just before the half a great pass by Skip saw Nathan clip the ball past the Stratton keeper to make it 1-1 and see Ramsbury get the goal they deserved. The first half was a tough physical encounter as both teams wrestled to get the upper hand, but the half ended 1-1.
The second half for 10-15 minutes was all Ramsbury as they went close twice through Jas and Aaron and the passing play was better with Adam and Andy getting higher up the pitch and the 4-3-3 looking more like a 4-3-3 and not a 4-2-4! Aaron, Zac and Skip were dominating the midfield and Rob whipping good balls into Nathan and Jas. But Stratton continued to play it long and a long punt bounced hard and through to the Stratton Centre forward to hit a low shot past Ash to make it 2-1.
Ramsbury continued to play a risky high line with both the midfield and defence and another long punt saw the Stratton centre forward in for a certain goal but to only blast his shot over the bar. A massive let off. Sean replaced Andy and Adam who had both been in the wars and on came Mikey G and Joe.
Ramsbury pressure increased but with good use of the wings, but too many players were committed in the Stratton half and it was another punt up field that led to a free kick and a third goal that put Ramsbury on the back foot and 2 goals adrift.
However, from the kick off Jas popped the ball to Zac who from over 45 yards saw the Stratton keeper off his line and struck a superb strike to fly over the keeper and nestle into the top left corner. It was a contender for goal of the season and certainly embarrassed the Stratton keeper, stunned the crowd and saw Ramsbury back in the match at 3-2 and 1 goal in it. Sean then made a brave move and took off Chris for Ali to make a 3-4-3 and really go for it!
Stratton looked shell shocked as they made a number of subs that offered little as Ramsbury cranked up the pressure as they could sniff an equalizer. Jas went close with a header, then Aaron with a shot over the bar and then Zac with a superb free kick that was inches wide and then Jas again with a shot that was looking like it was going in but to just bobble wide….it was tense, it was frenetic…it was grass roots football at its best and Stratton were suffering!
Then the equalizer came with yet another corner as Zac delivered a great cross for Nathan to nod in to make it 3-3….yes it was Nathan…. and not Rob…. Sean….that is Nathan got 2 goals….not Rob….I hope I have made that clear enough….and not one each for Rob and Nathan but…both for Nathan!!! Glad thats clear then.
Ramsbury for the last 5 minutes ragged Stratton and were far the better team with Mikey and Joe getting stuck in alongside James as the sole centre half and the midfield 4 (finally) winning all the second balls and putting Stratton completely on the back foot. It was a joy to watch and the only thing that was missing was a winning goal.
The match ended in fading light 3-3 and although Ramsbury were the much better team in the second half and should have won the match, the slow and inconsistent first half and some lack of concentration and luck resulted in just a point and not all three.
A final mention that it is players that win matches, but it is equally important to have subs and although Jake and Briz were unused subs they were there and fully supported the team throughout; and so they deserve praise for that as do those players that weren’t selected to play. It is a team sport and everyone is important!
3 games to go and if you win them you get promoted! Poulton up next on Saturday at home and they are not easy and will need a strong team and decent performance to get a win!
Jon
PS this is a pure work of fiction and resembles no reality whatsoever and I take no responsibility if there are similarities in this work that may or may not leave some people to think they have scored more goals than they actually did.
