Royals Match Report 2005-06

Scrappy Royals just do enough.
Royals 2-0 Knighton (Div 1 Cup, 26-02-06)
(Riley, OG)

Back on home ground after the previous week's visit to Onny, the Royals faced a team they had not yet played against, Knighton, with Groom replacing the dropped Carless-Turland on the left wing. The game started with a flourish as Groom attempted to dribble past three Knighton defenders. He almost managed it too, the ball being finally put out for a corner by the last of the three. The pattern for the game was thus set early on. The Royals were near constantly on the attack but actual goals were hard to come by. Knighton defended deep and in numbers, making for a crowded area around the Knighton goal which the Royals found particularly difficult to broach. But it was not for want of trying. The Knighton defenders regularly had to kick the ball out of touch or out behind their own goal line. Hearle was called on to take a string of corners, from the right as well as from the left. Many presented scoring opportunities. For instance one of them was nearly headed in by Lewis. But the Knighton keeper was in the right place at the right time.

The Royals were slow in getting their passing game going, often dwelling too long on the ball. Or passing weakly and inaccurately, allowing defenders to intercept. In mitigation it has to be said that Knighton did not give the Royals much space in front of goal. At times they had all their players behind the ball. Not all the time though. On the odd occasion Knighton passed the ball rapidly forward. Their two strikers then found themselves in acres of space and promising bursts towards the Royals' goal followed. But Robinson on the left proved a tough obstacle to overcome. He invariably got the better of a tussle for the ball. Riley was his normal competent self on the right. 

Generally the Royal players were a year older, stronger and faster, making it difficult for the Knighton players to gain or keep possession. The Royals dominated the midfield. Goal kicks by Knighton were more often than not intercepted by the Royals. 

With the goal area filled with Knighton defenders it was perhaps not surprising that the Royals' first goal came from a shot from outside the box. After a corner taken by Hearle the Knighton defence failed to clear the ball beyond Riley who had come forward. Still well outside the Knighton box he let loose a strong shot which a Knighton defender attempted to head clear but only managed to divert into the top corner of the Knighton goal. It was certainly a well deserved goal and might have gone in even without the diversion. 

The second goal scored by the Royals came when another excellent cross by Hearle, which Lewis met with his head and the resulting header hit a Knighton defender in the face and bounced into goal.

During the second half Knighton came more into the game. They had a number of good attacking movements. But the Royals remained very much on top, but somehow further goals eluded them. Some eight minutes into the second half Robinson who had had an excellent game was rested, replaced by Brayne. The second half ended with no further goals scored.

For the last 15 minutes Groom swapped positions with the only other natural left footer in the team, Smith. This proved to be an effective tactical switch, as Royals benefited from some menacing runs down the left wing.

With 2 minutes to go Groom could have made it 3-0, but for what has to be one of the best saves of the season by the Knighton keeper.

The Royals are through to the semi-finals. But it was not one of their better performances. Though there was some good football played, but it was spasmodic and it proved hard work trying to penetrate Knighton's massed defence. Passing was at times poor. The killer shots so often produced by Lewis and Hearle were this time not on view.

Team: Cameron Holtz, Simon Riley (c), Dominic Robinson, Joe Hearle, Rory Smith, Ed Groom, Tom Lewis. Sub: Michael Brayne