Royals Match Report 2005-06

Royals secure important win to get back on track.

 Onny Plus 0-4 Royals (League, 19-02-06)
(Lewis, Hearle, Groom, Riley)

After the Royals' hard-fought draw against Presteigne, another tough game was expected against Onny Plus who actually beat Presteigne a few weeks earlier. But it turned out a tame affair on the pitch of the Burway Cricket Club in Ludlow with Onny Plus not looking a dangerous side, at least on that cold overcast winter morning. The Royals got stuck in straight away and Lewis almost scored with a strong shot. But somehow the Onny keeper managed to stick out a foot and divert the ball for a corner. But the Royals did all the pressing and did score soon after. Hearle put in one of his excellent crosses from the right. The Onny keeper failed to gather the ball. It fell loose. A scramble followed in the goal mouth which ended with Groom poking the ball into the back of the net. 

Probably the best goal of the match followed not long afterwards. Hearle dribbled the ball down the right hand side, slick passing between Hearle, Groom and Lewis confounded the Onny defence. The ball came back to Hearle who made good use of the space created. His powerful shot gave the Onny keeper no chance at all. Within eight minutes the Royals were two goals up. 

It now seemed clear that the Royals were well on top. Attack followed attack. During the first part of the first half Holtz did not have to make a save worthy of the name. Riley and Brayne were effective in nipping in the bud any attacks the Onny strikers succeeded in mounting. The first decent kick on goal by an Onny striker came after 20 minutes, but was easily fielded. The Royals responded with a third goal soon afterwards. Hearle produced one of his superb corner kicks. Lewis was well positioned in front of goal. His first header struck an Onny defender. But he headed the rebound straight back and this time found the back of the net. 

In the final minutes of the first half the Royals became a bit ragged and Onny succeeded in putting some passes together. At times the Royals were not quick enough to the ball. Still, the Royals went into half time with a 3-0 lead and were clearly the superior team. 

A fourth goal came a few minutes into the second half. Once again it originated from a Hearle corner kick. The ball was actually cleared by Onny, but reached Riley standing a short way inside the Onny half. He let loose a powerful low shot which Smith dummied and the distraction meant that the ball found a path through a forest of legs and into the back of the net. The Onny keeper was probably unsighted and had no chance to stop it. 

The Royals now dominated the game, attacking the Onny goal nearly constantly. Onny did, however, launch some attacks. One dangerous looking move was thwarted by the timely intervention of Smith. Another produced a good save by Holtz. Riley was then rested, replaced by Robinson. The game continued to be dominated by the Royals who on occasions produced some excellent passing movements. But some desperate defending by Onny prevented another goal from being scored. Thus the game ended with 0-4 in favour of the Royals. 

It was important that the Royals won this game after the draw against Presteigne. The Royals could have scored more goals. Their performance at times was a little bit scrappy, probably due to lack of match practice, not having played a match for a couple of weeks. But there were signs that the team was getting back to its own self with some good passes being put together. There were some examples of excellent movements. When the Royals pass the ball around there is no team that can touch them. Also of potentially importance is another clean sheet This raises the goal difference in the Royals favour, a factor which could be decisive if there is a tie at the top of the league.

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