Royals Match Report 2005-06

Royals storm through to 2nd round of cup.

Royals 4-2 Onny Plus (Cup 1st Rnd, 2nd leg, 09-10-05)
(Lewis 2, Hearle, OG)

Yet another pleasant Sunday morning saw the return match of the cup first round against Onny Plus. The Royals played exceedingly well in the first leg away at the Burway cricket club, though only winning by 1-0. Onny Plus thus still had a chance to progress in the cup at the expense of the Royals if they could achieve a two goal lead, not an impossible task for a quite talented team. Rain the day before left the pitch wet and the ball zipped off the grass in the early stages of the game. Captain of the day Riley won the toss and elected to play uphill for the first half. There was only the gentlest of breezes. 

The first fifteen minutes of the first half produced some good play by the Royals. But for inaccurate finishing the Royals could have been up by three or four goals half way through the first half. Hearle, Carless-Turland, Lewis and Smith all tried their luck from reasonable positions, without, however, finding the back of the net. In particular from the numerous corners the Royals forced they often failed to control the ball, letting scoring opportunities slip by. 

On the other side Onny did get a few corners and at times the Royals looked vulnerable. But the vast number of goal scoring opportunities went to the Royals. Finally one did go in. After a delightful passing movement the ball ended up at the feet of Hearle in a good shooting position. His shot was a beauty, placed high and to the right of the goal keeper, leaving him with no chance to keep it out. A well deserved 1-0 for the Royals. Some more excellent approach work by the Royals ended with some easy chances being missed because of poor finishing. After 15 minutes the Royals should have been four or even five goals up in stead of only one. The Royals in particular dominated the mid-field, usually winning the ball with ease. Apart from their attempts from corners, Onny at this stage did not have a single shot on goal. 

For the final ten minutes or so of the first half the game changed. Onny scored an equaliser. From a throw-in deep in the Royals' half, confusion reigned in the Royals' defence, allowing an Onny striker to unleash a strong shot which sailed into the Royals' goal beyond the reach of Holtz. Onny took heart from this with two more forceful shots on goal, both saved by Holtz, the second one with a spectacular dive to the right. Onny played their best football during this period and could have scored 3 or 4 goals themselves due to the poor and panic defending by the Royals defence. When the whistle for half time blew the two teams seemed almost evenly balanced. 

Manager Smith during the break praised his team for their excellent play during the first fifteen minutes, but scolded them for a poor last ten minutes which allowed Onny to get back on level terms. After dominating early on, the Royals slackened and allowed Onny back into the game. Somehow the urgency deserted the Royals and the desire to win was no longer apparent. Perhaps the early part of the match was too easy and concentration was lost. For the start of the second half Robinson and Carless-Turland were rested, replaced by Brayne and Groom. 

Manager Smith's exhortations seem to have their desired effect and the Royals started the second half on a much more positive note. Their lead was soon restored. A cross put in by Hearle was inadvertently diverted by an Onny defender into his own goal. Heaping misfortune on misfortune this was followed by a controversial goal. A powerful shot by Lewis from the left hand side appeared to hit the side netting but was next seen in the back of the net. The referee checked for holes in the side netting. When he found none he awarded the goal, to Onny's dismay.  

By now, however, the Royals had again exerted their superiority. They were once more on top, though some untidy passing and poor finishing allowed only one more goal to be scored, again by the bustling Lewis. Though there were some unlucky ones. For instance Smith, peeling away from defenders to the left, hooked the ball back to goal only to hit the upright. A rare attack by Onny brought them another goal, and a very soft one it was. Attacking from the right flank an Onny cross (or was it an under-weighted shot ?) rolled sedately across the Royals goal mouth, somehow eluding Holtz, to trickle in at the left post. 

In the final period Robinson was brought back on for Riley and Carless-Turland back in place of Hearle who was accorded a well deserved rest. Occasionally Onny did get the ball forward, calling for some adept defending by the Royals. But the Royals were really in full control. After the game they received ample praise from Manager Smith for their excellent performance, apart from a poor spell or two.

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