Royals Match Report 2005-06

Royals back on song as place in cup final is booked

 Royals 7-1 Ludlow West (Division 1 Cup Semi Final, 09-04-06)

After the shock defeat against Craven Arms in mid-week, the Sunday morning game against Ludlow West was a return to normality. In this game Royals displayed their free flowing passing game and scored goal after goal. In contrast to Craven Arms who defended deep and in numbers, Ludlow West's defence was more dispersed, leaving open spaces for the Royals to operate in. No hang-over from mid-week was apparent. The Royals played superb, open and aggressive football. 

The game, however, started on an ominous note when an attempted clearance by Riley bounced off a Ludlow West attacker and came back towards the Royals' goal. In an attempt to clear a threatening situation Robinson inadvertently kicked the ball into the back of the net. But thereafter Ludlow West threatened the Royals' goal only once more. This occurred late in he game from an excellent corner taken by Ludlow West. The ball swerved in to the top right corner of the Royals' goal, but Holtz was able to tip it over the bar. 

Starting from a deficit of one goal, the Royals proceeded to work their way back into the game. Though playing uphill and against the breeze they were near constantly on the attack. They in particular dominated the mid field. Ludlow West thus found it difficult to get out of their own half. Their goal kicks lacked power and were more often than not intercepted by a Royals player. The first goal came from Lewis after such a passing movement. The ball flowed from Smith to Hearle to Lewis who blasted it in. Soon afterwards Lewis scored a second goal. The Ludlow West goal keeper was unable to hold on to the ball. It rolled free and Lewis stormed in to score. The teams went in at half time with the score at 2-1 to the Royals. 

In the second half another sweet passing movement produced the third goal. The move again started on the left where Smith was enjoying his new position on the left wing. He passed the ball to Lewis, who dispatched it to Hearle who shot home from close range to make the score 3-1. Lewis then produced probably the best goal of the game. A long kick forward by Hearle found Lewis who dribbled it forward, passed a defender and shot the ball beyond the out coming Ludlow West goal keeper to make it 4-1. The fifth goal was also scored by Lewis in much the same fashion from a long ball kicked forward. The Royals were now well on top, playing their freely flowing game to which Ludlow West had no answer. Defenders Riley and Robinson were then taken off, replaced by Brayne and Carless-Turland. Carless-Turland soon made his presence felt. A long ball forward by him found Hearle in front of goal who placed a powerful shot passed a helpless keeper to make it 6-1. At this point Groom became injured and was replaced by Riley in mid field. Carless-Turland again shone. He dribbled the ball well forward down the left side, passed the ball to Smith who produced a superb and powerful kick high into the Ludlow West goal. The whistle blew shortly afterwards for full time. 

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