Royals Match Report 2006-07

Royals punished as mistakes cost them the game
Ludlow North 5-3 Royals (League, 29-10-06)
(Hearle, Carless-Turland, Bourne)

Royals travelled to the SBS stadium to take on league leaders Ludlow North in what was expected to be the toughest match of the campaign so far. Royals were without the injured Smith, but all others were available. It proved to be a difficult match which the Royals lost, though it was a more close run thing than the 5-3 score line suggests. Particularly in the second half the Royals had quite a few chances which could easily have brought a draw, even a win. The Royals defence played well up field and Ludlow North was adept at playing the ball over their heads. Early in the game Ludlow North was often caught off-side. But as the match wore on they timed their breaks better and scored most of their goals that way. Once the Royals defence was breached Ludlow North's nippy attackers proved hard to catch. 

Royals were not at their best, particularly in the first half. Often the ball was cleared any old way, rather than controlling it and looking to pass to a team mate. Nor were the Royals that quick to the ball. Ludlow North appeared more eager, were prepared to fight harder. Their strength were their forwards who were quick and adept at passing the ball into space into which a team mate would then run. At the other end the Royals' front line still does not link up as well as it could (and will once they have more games under their belt). Nor was the midfield good at securing possession and making that penetrating pass forward. The unfortunate Riley was replaced by Agnew after just 12 minutes after a knee injury.

Ludlow North scored first, but the Royals gradually got more of the ball and some promising attacks materialised. Hearle levelled the score when Ludlow North failed to clear properly from a goal mouth scramble. The ball came to him and he chipped it beyond the Ludlow North keeper's grasp. The first half thus ended with the match quite evenly balanced.  

The second half started with Bourne temporarily withdrawn because of a sore hip. He was replaced by Carless-Turland who scored a beautiful goal within the first few minutes, the end product of an excellent passing movement by the Royals. But their lead proved short lived. Ludlow North scored three goals in the ensuing period. Each time their forwards breached the Royals' shallow defence and were then too fast to catch. Bourne was then brought back on and Green rested. Michael Weynberg and Craig Keugler subsequently replaced Luke Miles and Ed Groom. During the final period the Royals worked hard and had a number of scoring opportunities. But only one shot, by Bourne, went in, leaving the Royals still two goals adrift.

This was the Royals' second consecutive defeat. The new formation does not yet function as well as it could. The midfield too was unconvincing and mistakes were made at the back which got punished. As in other matches the Royals played better in the second half than in the first. But overall their performance still lags their potential. They are quite capable of beating Ludlow North, and a second encounter in the latter half of the season may see the tables being turned.

Team: Cameron Holtz, Simon Riley, Jacob Allan, Michael Brayne, Dominic Robinson, Joe Hearle, Ed Groom, Luke Miles, Sam Green, Will Bourne, Tom Lewis
Subs: Rory Smith, Harvey Carless-Turland, Michael Weynberg, Jack Agnew, Craig Keugler