Royals Match Report 2005-06

Royals 21 match unbeaten run comes to an end.

 Craven Arms 2-0 Royals (League, 05-04-06)

The match was played mid-week in the late afternoon's brilliant sunshine. As the Royals had beaten Craven Arms handsomely earlier in the season, and as Craven Arms was in the middle of the league table, a comfortable win was expected. Unfortunately that was not how it turned out. The Royals played way below their best while Craven Arms played exceptionally well. Thus the Royals suffered their first defeat in 22 games. And it was not undeserved. On that afternoon nothing seemed to work for the Royals. Craven Arms had only a few scoring chances, but made them count. The Royals had many more shots on goal than Craven Arms, but failed to convert any of them, faced by a determined defence. Craven Arms defended deep and well. 

In the early part of the game the Royals tackled so poorly and passed the ball around so awkwardly that Manager Smith, well before the whistle for the end of the first half, replaced Robinson by Brayne in defence while Groom was replaced by Smith and Lewis was moved to centre forward. But this did not change things much. Towards the end of the first half Craven Arms was increasingly on top as the Royals continued, uncharacteristically, to make many errors. It was thus no great surprise, but still quite a shock, when Craven Arms scored in stoppage time at the end of the first half. A Craven Arms striker was allowed to dribble through the Royal defence, beating three or four players. He was then able to unleash a strong shot on which Holtz only managed to get a bit of boot, not enough to divert it. 

During half time Manager Smith must have read his players the riot act. For they came out in the second half determined to claw back the deficit. Moreover they had now the setting sun at their backs. Now it was Craven Arms who had to cope with the sun shining in their eyes. But nothing seemed to work. Craven Arms continued defending deep, there always seemed to be a legion of players to block the Royals' road to goal. They were very determined, quick to the ball, pressurising the Royals. And when they got hold of the ball they passed it forward quickly launching attacks with only two strikers. As the Royals midfield had moved forward, they at times found themselves in acres of space. This was how the second goal eventually resulted. 

The Royals did have various scoring opportunities which, with a little more luck, could have gone in. Early in the game Carless-Turland skillfully intercepted a goal kick, he passed the ball to Lewis who made a powerful shot on goal that only just sailed over the cross bar. Had that one gone in it may have changed the course of the game. A little later Carless-Turland himself had a strong shot on goal, however it went straight into the goal keeper's arms. In the second half Hearle had a good shot at goal but from quite far out and the ball sailed past the right upright. Carless-Turland headed just wide from a Hearle corner. A free kick taken by Riley landed at the feet of the Craven Arms goal keeper. A magnificent shot by Lewis was diverted by the goal keeper on to his left upright, probably the best chance of the game. It could so easily have gone in. Craven Arms certainly made things difficult for the Royals. They defended in numbers and at times there was a forest of legs blocking the way. But the Royals' passes often went astray.  

When Craven Arms scored their second goal late in the second half a mood of dejection spread. A Craven Arms striker passed the ball from the left to the right corner of the Royals' penalty box to an unmarked player. He shot the ball past the out coming Holtz. 

The Royals now knew that their long run of victories had come to an end. Well, the best teams in the Premiership have their off days when they get beaten by a team well below them in the league. That's football. It is now for the Royals to put that behind them and get back to their usual selves. Craven Arms played with great passion, and on the day, fully deserved their victory. They were the underdogs in this match and had clearly resolved to get revenge for an earlier defeat. They played with supreme determination, were very fast to the ball and very focused. As they played their confidence grew. For the Royals it was the reverse. All considered, the Royals are a better team than Craven Arms, just they had an off day.

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