Royals Match Report 2005-06

Royals just do enough to earn a point

 Ludlow North 1-1 Royals (League, 06-05-06)
(Carless-Turland) 

A pleasant spring Saturday morning saw the Royals back at the Ludlow Stadium for the return league game against Ludlow North, the final league game of the season. With the Royals already league champions, the match lacked somewhat in intensity. There is, however, a keen rivalry between the two teams, even a touch of animosity, and the Royals have never found it easy to beat Ludlow North. So it proved this time. 

Captain Smith won the toss and decided to play up-field during the first half. Not that there was much in it. The pitch was almost level and there was no wind to speak of. But the pitch was dry and hard with little grass on it. This made it fast and the ball bounced high. Rather different from the Royals' home ground and therefore requiring some getting used to. One reason why the Royals failed to hit the top notes. Another was the strenuous mid-week game in Knighton which resulted in some loss of sharpness. This was the third game in six days. No wonder the players were somewhat jaded. 

The match started brightly enough for the Royals with some good passing movements. But the initial attacks on the Ludlow North goal produced no results. Ludlow North was also not shy in coming forward but failed to penetrate beyond Brayne and Robinson. Some ten minutes into the game the Royals scored. It came from one of Hearle's exquisite crosses. He picked out Carless-Turland who was unmarked. His powerful header gave the Ludlow North keeper no chance. The Royals were deservedly 1-0 ahead. 

Ludlow North responded with some good moves of their own and they seemed quite capable of scoring. But the only moment of real danger came from a header on the Royals' goal by a Ludlow North player. Though saved by Holtz, he was unable to hold on to the ball. It fell loose and a veritable scrum ensued with Ludlow North players various attempts to score blocked but not cleared by the Royals. Eventually Smith managed to get the ball away. The Royals' supporters were longing for another goal or two to give their team a cushion. But it was not to be. The Royals were not at their best. They certainly had the better of the game and various scoring chances. But they could not find the back of the net. Half time came with the score still at 1-0 in the Royals' favour. 

During the interval the Ludlow North team received a serious and lengthy team talk. The Royals were in their positions ready to start the second half, but had to wait quite a while before the Ludlow North manager had finished giving his instructions. Ludlow North certainly started the second half in a determined fashion. But the Royals' defence was up to it. For the most part making timely interventions and denying Ludlow North any actual shots on goal. Some five minutes into the second half Smith was rested, replaced by Groom. 

The Royals at the other side of the pitch created a number of chances. Carless-Turland, Lewis and Hearle all had shots on goal which narrowly missed. Even Brayne had a long range shot which just sailed over the cross bar. With just a bit more luck, or precision, the Royals could have added to their score. Instead it was Ludlow North who equalised. A free kick was awarded to Ludlow North some fifteen yards out from the Royal goal. A well directed shot went in close to the top right corner to make the score 1-1. Riley then replaced Robinson.

The Royals worked hard to regain the initiative and a couple of times came close to scoring. Notably both Carless-Turland and Lewis had excellent scoring chances in the final minutes. But somehow the killer shot eluded them. Too many matches in quick succession. On another day the Royals would have beaten Ludlow North with a handsome score line. 

The Royals were clearly the better side as evidenced by their numerous near misses. Hearle, sprinting down the right side, produced many excellent crosses. Carless-Turland's trickery with the ball often allowed him to bypass one or several defenders. Lewis was his usual bustling self. But the final spark was missing to turn all this endeavour into goals. The Royals defence played well, denying Ludlow North scoring opportunities. Brayne in particular had a good game, intercepting or winning the ball and passing it forward intelligently, usually finding an unmarked team mate.

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