Royals Match Report 2006-07

Royals made to battle for their victory
Royals 1-0  (League, 14-01-07)
(Lewis)

Royals entertained Presteigne North in this, their first proper home game of the Division 1 campaign. There had been many exciting games between these two teams over the past few seasons, and this was to be no exception.

The rain clouds had magically disappeared for this match and the sun was shining brightly. The pitch however wore the scars of heavy rains during the week and the players had to cope with the heavy conditions.

Royals won the toss and elected to kick up the slope and into the wind for the first half. Presteigne looked the sharper of the two sides and used the advantage of the wind and slope well. Royal were defending for large periods and it looked a matter of time before Presteigne would take the lead.

The conditions prevented the Royals from playing their normal slick passing game and Presteigne were able to intercept and put together some good moves of their own. They seemed hungrier for the ball, whilst Royals stood watching for much of the time.

Despite Presteigne having the better of the first half, Holtz went largely untroubled in the Royals goal. The rooky defence of Riley, Agnew and Brayne coped well with everything that was thrown at it, and although Presteigne had some pacy forwards, Royals defence relied on their judgement rather than their pace.

Royals did have some chances and but for three wonderful saves by Fowden in the Presteigne would have gone off at half time with a healthy lead. Miles shot from all of 25 yards and was met with a great save, whilst Lewis brought the best out of the keeper in a one on one situation.

In the second half, aided by the slope and the wind, the Royals dominated. Their passing game improved and it looked merely a question of time before a goal came. It did indeed take its time. On a number of occasions the Royals came close to scoring. Finally, when the goal came it was a beauty. Brayne got hold of the ball in his own half. He dribbled it beyond the half way line and then produced a superlative pass to Hearle on the right. He in turn crossed from near the corner flag. The ball cannoned across the goal mouth, hit the far post, came to Lewis who steered into the back of the net. A well deserved goal!

For a while thereafter Presteigne North tried hard to equalise and substitute keeper Keugler was called on to make a couple of saves. But they never really threatened. Good defensive work by the Royals back line held them in check. In midfield Miles was outstanding. But each single player deserves credit for playing hard under difficult conditions. An excellent win for the Royals against a somewhat subdued Presteigne North.

Team: Holtz (Keugler 30), Riley, Agnew, Brayne, Hearle, Green (Groom 42), Miles, Smith, Carless-Turland Bourne, Lewis