Ramsbury FC win 5-3 away against Lower Stratton FC in a must win game to keep promotion hopes alive! 

Team: Ash (GK) Jake Andy James Mike Briz Skip Aaron Zac Jas (C) Nathan Subs: Joe, Harry

If the 6-0 win against Poulton on Saturday was a Carlsberg of a game. The game against Lower Stratton can only be described as a cocktail of lunacy as Ramsbury lurched from their sublime passing football to mental cruelty for those watching. It was a weird game, but, importantly, Ramsbury won and claimed all 3 points to go 3rd in the table!.

Lower Stratton are big team with a couple of players that could compete with Shaq ONeill and their plan of punt it or throw it long and get a big head on it worked brilliantly as they did just that and scored with a header inside 2 minutes to go 1-0 up. Not a good start for Ramsbury!

The referee who can only be described as overly eager (the best I could legally come up with) then sin binned Briz for appealing for a penalty within 5 minutes, for I guess dissent?, and I genuinely thought it was going to be one of those crazy grass roots mid week matches that makes you question your love of football.

However, much to my surprise and Lower Stratton’s, Ramsbury settled down and kept calm and with 10 players scored two rapid goals to make it 2-1! The first was a fantastic win in midfield by Skip out to Zac who then crossed for Jas to score to make it 1-1. Jas then turned provider as Aaron won the second ball and got it to Zac and onto Jas who rinsed the left back and passed for Nathan to slot it. It was quality football that was sharp, incisive and punished a very slow Lower Stratton defence!

Briz came back on and a bit of chaos then resumed (not because of Briz!) with erratic passing and Ramsbury going for the spectacular over the practical and when the ref gave a penalty for what looked like a great bit of defending by Andy we were back to the bat shit crazy match position. This was made worse by Ash saving the penalty (great save by the way!) and the ref deciding to it being taken again because Ash was off his line! A joke really as there was no goal line marked out and Ash had stood still…..and of course Lower Stratton converted the penalty to go 2-2!

I was infuriated and got a telling off, but the team kept calm and played some absolute quality football to go 5-2 up and take Lower Stratton to the cleaners!

First, the midfield got a grip and won the second ball convincingly and got the ball up the pitch to Jas who slotted a superb pass to Nathan to score his second to go 3-2. Then Zac got the ball to Aaron who provided a great ball to Jas who was chopped down and who got up to score a deserved penalty to go 4-2. Finally, Nathan, who alongside Jas was just too much for the Lower Stratton defence, passed a great ball for Aaron to tap in and make it 5-2. We were back to being off the lunacy cocktail and having that Carlsberg moment as the half ended 5-2 after a Brilliant last 20 minutes that even the Moredon FC boys down watching the game clapped as it was that good.

The second half: It happened, it was poor, the opposition scored a scrappy goal to make it 5-3 and Ramsbury were disjointed and missed a hatful of chances. I can’t really add much more than that other than Joe replaced Jake who had a really good game in the first half at left back and Harry game on for Mike who also had a great game and did all that was asked of him.

The second half did not represent the best of Ramsbury in the first half and James got a yellow card for kicking the ball away when in reality he was still contesting and it was in play and again the referee was a bit too eager as the game didn’t merit a yellow as both teams were there to play football and there were few bad challenges.

It just didn’t click in the second half and the score ended 5-3 to Ramsbury.

The highlights were without doubt the last 20 minutes of the first half and if you could bottle that Ramsbury would have won this league. Ash had a solid game with great kicking and a superb penalty save and James and Andy were a good pairing with James strong in the air and Andy superb as the sweeper. Jake and Mike were excellent on the flanks and the midfield of Skip, Briz and Aaron when it clicked was awesome with Skip having one of his best games and a contender for Man of the Match. Zac was quiet and frustrated at times but showed flashes of quality and Jas and Nathan were outstanding with 2 goals each and terrified the Lower Stratton defence. The opposition are a really good bunch and gave their all and played with real humour and a great team spirit.

Overall, an important win and 3 points and a final game against Spectrum on Saturday who are a very decent team. This will decide who promotes to the Prem. Ramsbury will need to be at their very best to win and more Carlsberg than lunacy cocktail please!

Jon

Even though I was an honest bystander watching the game, all that has been reported is a work of pure fiction and not to be given any credibility whatsoever!

Ramsbury play out last home game of the season in style with a comprehensive 6-0 win over Poulton FC at the Ramsbury Recreation Centre.

Team: Ash (GK) Andy Chris (C) Adam Jonah Briz Skip Aaron Zac Jas Nathan Subs: Mike Jake

If Carlsberg sponsored a last home game of the season, they would have sponsored this one. It was that good! The sun was out, the pitch was pretty good, we had a decent referee, a strong team and an opposition who want to play football and not just scrap….oh yeah and Ramsbury had a good formation, stuck to the plan and knocked in 6 goals, kept a clean sheet and entertained a decent crowd! It was a Carlsberg type of game…..even if you hate lager!

Sean set the team up with what looked like a 4-4-2 but could have been a 4-2-1-3 with a solid back four and Adam alongside Chris at centre half focussed on countering Poulton’s rapid striker and their quick break; and with Andy and Jonah providing great protection at left and right back. Briz back in the team alongside skip and Aaron worked really well and gave added protection with Zac forward supporting Jas and Nathan. It worked really well and although lacking width proved decisive in the first half as Zac first set up Aaron to make it 1-0 and then set up Jas with a superb ball that Jas hit first time on the volley to make it 2-0 to Ramsbury.

The second half was all Ramsbury with a sprinkles of excitement from Poulton as they accelerated up the pitch but to only fire high and wide and not really challenge Ash that much. Ramsbury kept calm and it was good to hear Briz being vocal in the CDM role; and although there was some interesting clearances affected by the wind and hard pitch surface (I am trying to help you out here Andy!) with the best being Andy’s pass that was slice slice baby as it looked like a cross between Stevie Wonder and Michel Flattely playing a pass on a trampoline….anyway it was good enough to get the shirt of shame from Sean!

But there was no laughing at Chris as he claimed his 3rd goal of the season! After a succession of corners and sustained Ramsbury pressure. Another great corner was spilled and Chris was there to pounce on the loose ball and make it 3-0. It was perfect timing as although Ramsbury were 2-0 up and were dominating, their shape had gone as they pushed for the third goal and Poulton were exploiting the gaps to good effect and the next goal by either team would prove decisive.

However, once the it went 3-0 to Ramsbury the Poulton heads dropped and Ramsbury smelling blood went on full attack mode and a superb ball from skip found Nathan who raced ahead of the Poulton back line and crossed for Zac to tap in at the back post to make it 4-0. Ramsbury kept the pressure up and Briz and Skip were bossing the midfield and winning everything and this allowed Aaron to play higher up the pitch with Zac to cause Poulton huge problems, And after both Jas and Aaron went close, a foul on the edge of the area gave Zac the opportunity to fire in a great free kick to make it 5-0..

Briz took a well earned rest and Mikey came on and replaced Andy at right back and went into the CDM position and later Jake came on for Aaron in midfield and great to see Jake fire a shot in on goal as his confidence is growing! Both slotted in really well and Poulton were completely on the back foot. A superb long goal clearance by Ash saw Nathan flick on for Jas who had timed his run perfectly and completely rinsed the centre half and raced ahead to slot in his second goal and make it 6-0. It was game over and the match ended 6-0 not long after.

It was a superb display by Ramsbury who could have scored more but importantly kept a really good shape, defended really well, kept a clean sheet and won more second balls and headers to keep Poulton on the back foot. Chris was man of the match for his goal and all round display, but there were great performances all round the pitch with Jas and Zac getting two goals each, Aaron scoring and Nathan getting two assists. Al of the defence was superb and Adam, Jonah and Andy kept the Poulton forwards quiet and the midfield combination of Briz, Skip and Aaron worked a treat.

Like I said earlier….if Carlsberg sponsored a last home game of the season then this would have been it. Great performance and a great result!

Jon

PS. This is a complete work of fiction and no one with any decent footballing brain should pay attention to what has been written!

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.

Ramsbury FC drew 2-2 with 3rd placed DM FC in a closely contested game.

A goal by Jas Walsh and a penalty by Aaron Pressley secured the point that sees Ramsbury FC remain 5th in the league with 4 games to go.

Club Sec