Royals Match Report 2004-05

Battling Magpies Earn Place in Final

Ludlow West 1-2 Church Stretton (Smith, Riley) (Cup 24/04/05)

The Magpies returned to the Coors Stadium, one of their favourite hunting grounds for this important cup semi final against Ludlow West. The last time the two teams had met at the Coors, Magpies had come away 10-2 victors. Today was different; today was a cup game, and anything could happen.

As the game commenced Ludlow soon showed that they were not going to lie down like lambs to the slaughter. They played with a newly injected passion, not seen before in the previous encounters.

Magpies found it difficult to get going and the efficient closing down of the players by Ludlow meant that their normal free flowing football couldn't get started. This lead for a scrappy first 15 minutes with neither team playing the dominant role.

On 16 minutes Ludlow broke free out of defence and a through ball into the Magpies penalty area should have been easily picked up by goalkeeper Holtz. With one eye on the advancing striker, Holtz failed to gather the ball cleanly and the Ludlow striker had the easiest task to tap the ball into the net to make the score 0-1.

5 minutes later Magpies put together their best chance of the first half, when Lewis narrowly missed, with the ball rebounding off the Ludlow crossbar, with the keeper well beaten.

With the first half drawing to a close, Magpies frustration at not being able to control the game was beginning to show. Carless-Turland battled hard on the left hand side of the pitch but for little reward. The usually dynamic Hearle looked surprisingly jaded, with little opportunity to use his pace down the right hand side.

Half time came and Brayne was introduced at the back for Robinson, whilst Case replaced Carless-Turland on the left wing.

This seemed to have the desired effect and Magpies stepped up the tempo, perhaps thinking that a place in the final was in jeopardy. This resulted them in having by far the majority of the possession. Several attacks were forthcoming, with Hearle and Lewis both coming close.

Eight minutes into the second half, one of these attacks saw Magpies force a corner. Hearle whipped over an in-swinging kick which was met by Smith who sent a beautifully guided header right into the top corner of the goal to make the score 1-1, much to the delight and relief of the Magpies supporters.

This goal inspired the Magpies and they quickly took control of the game. It was a question of beavering away and being patient. The addition of Brayne in defence at half time added an extra security at the back allowing the outstanding Riley to get forward more.

With 10 minutes remaining Groom replaced Smith, who had taken a knock, in the centre of midfield.

Although Magpies were now dominant, they were unable to capitalise and whilst Hearle and Lewis both came close that second goal would not materialise.

Then with 8 minutes remaining Magpies earned another corner. Again Hearle sent over a penetrating cross which the Ludlow defence just managed to scramble clear. The ball came out to Riley, who after sizing up the situation, fired home a powerful shot from 12 yards out to make the score 2-1.

The last few minutes lasted an eternity, and instead of sitting back defending, Magpies continued to attack. Indeed they could have scored a third, with Groom just firing wide from close range.

After 2 minutes of stoppage time, the referee blew the final whistle and the Magpies celebrated their deserved win. It wasn't an easy victory by any means but the team showed a new maturity, in having the patience to build attack after attack waiting for the goals to happen.

Team: Cameron Holtz, Simon Riley, Dominic Robinson, Joe Hearle, Rory Smith, Harvey Carless-Turland, Tom Lewis. Subs used: Jack Case, Ed Groom, Michael Brayne