Royals Match Report 2003-04

Away Day Joy for Magpies as Craven Arms wobble.

Craven Arms 3-5 Church Stretton
(Hearle 2, Carless-Turland , Smith, OG) (League - 29-02-04)

The South Shropshire U8 league has been thrown wide open again, with even the Magpies in with an outside chance of clinching the title. After a superb 1-1 draw 3 weeks ago against Craven Arms, Magpies took it one stage further this time with a 5-3 victory. However things did not start off according to plan and at one stage it looked as though a defeat would be the order of the day.

Magpies won the toss and elected to play into the wind in the first half. Although not that strong, it clearly had an effect, and allowed Craven Arms to find their natural rhythm right from the opening minutes. After only 5 minutes they made it 1-0, after winning the ball in midfield and their striker blasting a stunning shot past Ed Groom in the Magpies goal.

Magpies just couldn't get their game together in the first half and seemed to lack passion and motivation. Craven Arms were getting to the ball first and playing to their strengths, whilst Magpies really were not helping themselves and almost looked disinterested.

After 9 minutes Craven Arms scored their second goal, after a mis-timed defensive header from a long kick out fell at the feet of the Craven Arms striker who again had the simplest of jobs in scoring their second goal.

On 15 minutes Magpies pulled a goal back, after a characteristically strong run by Joe Hearle from the half way line, saw him take the ball round 2 defenders and with only the keeper to beat, he shot low and hard into the corner of the goal.

This gave Magpies some belief and they started to pass the ball about better and spend more time in the Craven Arms half. However on 18 minutes a sudden clearance by Craven Arms caught Magpies napping and with 2 attackers bearing down on Ed Groom's goal, Magpies were unable to prevent a third goal from being scored.

Half time saw no changes in the line up, and a stern talking to seemed to have the desired effect. It took just 3 minutes for Joe Hearle to score an almost identical individual goal, again from a surging run on the right side of the pitch. Support was there from Harvey Carless-Turland, but he wasn't needed and Joe blasted into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

It now seemed that Magpies believed they could go all the way and just 3 minutes later after Simon Riley found some space on the edge of the area, Rory Smith was able to intercept a shot and angle it home from 5 yards.

After the equaliser, there was only one team that were going to win this match. Magpies were back to their old selves, passing well and working for each other. Except for some Bartez like goalkeeping antics by Ed Groom who came out his goal and took on 2 Craven Arms attackers, in a heart stopping moment, Magpies were never again in danger.

On 10 minutes Michael Brayne replaced Rory Smith, who had taken a knock to the head and he soon found his stride. On 15 minutes some great play between Michael with Simon Riley gave Simon the opportunity to have a long range shot which struck a Craven Arms defender and sent the unfortunate keeper the wrong way for an own goal.

With 3 minutes to go, Harvey Carless-Turland found the ball at his feet after a poor clearance from one of his own corners, and shot from the narrowest of angles to see the ball being turned into his goal by the goalkeeper.

This has to be the best result of the season so far, with the team showing that they can raise their game when they need to when the odds are stacked against them.

Team: Ed Groom, Simon Riley, Joe Hearle, Rory Smith , Harvey Carless-Turland. Subs: Michael Brayne, Dominic Robinson.