Royals Match Report 2003-04

Magpies blown off course by Onny.

 Church Stretton 4-5 Onny
(Hearle 3, Smith) (League - 21-03-04)

Magpies impressive 10 week unbeaten run narrowly came to an end after a tense match against league leaders Onny. Magpies named an unchanged team for this tough league match and having lost in both previous encounters, Magpies were hoping to improve on their earlier results. Another blustery morning at St Lawrence's School, and the wind was to play its role in the game, making it very difficult to play creative football.

Captain for the day Simon Riley won the toss and elected to play up the slope, into the wind in the first half. Joe Hearle was given strict instructions to stick with Onny's leading goal scorer Liam Moffat, who was expected to be a major threat.

As expected Onny started the stronger side, full of strength and confidence. Magpies found it difficult to get a grip on the game in the swirling wind and after only 5 minutes Onny made the breakthrough after a poor throw in was intercepted half way inside the Magpies half. A long ball through the middle found an unmarked striker who shot past Groom in goal to make the score 1-0.

Just 4 minutes later Onny doubled their lead, after a corner was failed to be cleared and fell at the feet of the Onny striker who only had to tap the ball home.

This stirred the home supporters up and they tried their hardest to motivate the players, encouraging them to get back into the game. However there was more disappointment after 12 minutes when Onny once again broke from their own half and a 3 against 1 situation saw them further increase their lead to 3-0.

Two minutes later a free kick was awarded for a foul on Carless-Turland, just outside the Onny penalty area. Riley stepped up to shoot inches over the bar.

On 15 minutes Brayne replaced Carless-Turland, to allow Hearle to push forward and put more pressure on the Onny defence. This tactical change paid dividends two minutes later, when Hearle sent a cross over towards the goal. Smith was able to pounce on the ball and steer his shot towards the goal. A defection off an Onny defender sent the keeper the wrong way and the score was 1-3.

The teams went in at half time with the score at 1-3, knowing that in the second half, they would have the wind behind them. Magpies were told to test the keeper and not to be afraid to try long shots against him.

Just 5 minutes into the second half Magpies efforts paid off when a cross from Brayne found Hearle in some space. After taking the ball wide of the last Onny defender, and with only the keeper to beat, he smashed the ball into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.

Magpies now believed that they could get something out of this game, and started to put together some much better moves, than in the first half. They had more of the possession and shots by Brayne, Smith and Riley all went close.

Then against the run of play, a fine headed goal by Onny's Liam Moffat stunned Magpies, just when they were close to getting back on level terms. Magpies did not stop trying though, and this goal spurred them on even more.

After 16 minutes Hearle made the score 3-4, with an almost identical goal to his first, this time Riley supplying the pass.

With just 2 minutes of normal time remaining a long range shot cruelly deflected off Riley's boot and found it's way into Groom's goal, giving him no chance of saving it.

The match now looked beyond saving, as the final whistle was approaching. However Magpies had the last word though with a finely struck goal after a Smith pass found Hearle down the right hand side. Hearle cut inside an Onny defender and struck a sweet shot into the top corner of the net. To make the score 4-5.

With barely time for the re-start referee Tim Lewis blew the final whistle to end an exciting game, which although they lost, showed just how far Magpies have come on this season.

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