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.

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Ramsbury FC lost heavily away to league leaders Blunsdon FC in a one sided match.

Ramsbury FC were far from there best and will need to be much better if they are to compete against 3rd placed DM FC.

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Ramsbury FC win 5-0 at the Recreation Centre against Lower Stratton First in glorious sunshine! 

Team: Ash (GK) Adam Chris (C) James Jonah Aaron Andy Harry Rob Zac Jas Subs:Dan Jake Charlie

With the Ramsbury FC Kray twins away on a prolonged anger management course at the grassroots football correctional institute for misguided players, and a few other players away on Easter egg hunts or something equally less interesting, Sean had to shape the team with the players he had to face a decent Lower Stratton First side who were no push overs.

And so a 4-4-2 was the order of the day with James making such a rare appearance that you are more likely to catch a great crested newt in the Kennet & Avon Canal or get space to sit on Rob’s sofa as he now has as nearly as many sausage dogs as Cruella de Ville had Dalmations…..anyway….it was meant to be 4-4-2 but looked like 4-3-3 most of the time as once the first goal went in by Aaron, courtesy of a Zac assist, everyone wanted a goal and the team shape was an ever changing thing!

That said, Ramsbury FC played some great football in the glorious sunshine and were calm and measured as they used Jas as the target man who was excellent at keeping the Lower Stratton centre halves fixed and which allowed Harry, Aaron, Rob and Zac to exploit the space behind him; and with Andy playing superbly as CDM and a solid back 4 of Jonah, Chris Adam and James it was going to plan…other than the 6 or 7 missed chances that would have killed the game off with Jas, Rob, Zac and Aaron not able to add to the single goal scored that saw the half end 1-0 to Ramsbury even though they had dominated throughout.

The second half started well as Ramsbury scored a second goal settler with another assist by Zac to get Rob on the score sheet and make it 2-0. The goal had been coming as Lower Stratton were pegged back with Ramsbury playing higher up the pitch and getting little change from Chris or James who were winning everything in the air and had Andy Jonah and Adam covering everything on the ground. But key was Jonah and Adam as wing backs getting forward and Andy being disciplined as CDM which gave the team great shape and over matched the Lower Stratton midfield

After more pressure Ramsbury were awarded a stone wall penalty after a clumsy challenge on Jas saw Rob convert to make it 3-0 and Ramsbury were in cruise control.

Ramsbury sustained the pressure with a superb cross than made its way to Andy on the edge of the box and he smashed in a great goal to make it 4-0 and cap off a man of the match performance at CDM.

Sean made some changes with Charlie coming on for Harry, but after a long serious injury it was a little premature as he fell awkwardly and hobbled off to be replaced by Jake who slotted in to the right midfield and who had a good game.

Ramsbury continued to press and Dan on for Jas added more pressure on the Lower Stratton defence who were definitely slowing in the bright sunshine and heavy pitch. Ramsbury went close a couple of times but Rob turned provider to see Zac use all his height to leap like a salmon and head in to make it 5-0 and see Ramsbury finish the game 5-0.

A really decent result that sees Ramsbury move up to 5th with plenty of games still in hand and two big away games up next away to top of the league Blunsdon and tricky customers DM who are always a challenge….both games will need strong teams and decent football to get a result, but on the evidence of today Ramsbury have the players to make every game difficult and get a result.

Great game and great result, but great to see the Lower Stratton lads come back to the Legion for a drink and their players and coach are a credit to their club. Also, Brizz ran the line and although frustrated to not be playing as he is injured, he did a great job and the opposition coach said this and not me…although you did do a great job Brizz….but get fit as it will be great to see you back on the pitch!

Big game next boys!

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Ramsbury FC secured a point in a feisty 2-2 draw against second in the league Moredon FC.

Ill discipline by Ramsbury FC saw them end with 9 on the field and little hope of securing a much needed win.

Moredon FC also had a sending off in a poor game all round.

Here’s to a better home match against Lower Stratton next Saturday.

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