Royals Match Report 2006-07

Royals earn point in game of controversy
Onny Eagles 1-1 Royals (League, 28-01-07)
(Bourne)

Royals made the trip to the Burway sports ground for this top of the table clash against Onny Eagles. Last time the two teams had met Onny had come out the victors by three goals to two.

The game was expected to be a difficult one with Onny topping the pre-Christmas league table, having won all their ten games. They started the game strongly and with their players a year older, the Royals players were often beaten to the ball and out muscled for possession. Royals found it difficult to fall into a rhythm and often hoofed the ball forward with little regard whether it was going to a team mate. Onny had the better of the first half and the best piece of work by the Royals in this part of the game came from Keugler. Diving athletically to his right he saved a powerful shot on goal by an Onny striker. 

Towards the end of the first half it was the turn of the Royals to have a good spell. Two outstanding moves could even have put them ahead. In the first one the ball was passed forward from the back to Smith who cleverly flicked it on to Bourne on the left. He raced towards goal and only just failed to beat the keeper. Minutes later Bourne crossed the ball into the box for Lewis but the Onny keeper just managed to get to the ball first. The first half thus ended on a high note for the Royals. Had the Royals scored it would have been somewhat against the run of play. It was nonetheless to the great credit of the Royals defence that they did not concede a goal. A 0-0 at half time was an excellent result. 

It turned out to be Onny who raised their game. During a long period in the second half Onny launched one attack after the other on the Royals goal. They missed at least one easy chance to score. But Onny kept up the pressure and did eventually score, albeit a controversial goal. From an Onny corner the Royals failed to clear the ball. It went to and fro before finally being lobbed into the Royals goal by an Onny player. The linesman signalled off side and all the Royals players were also adamant that the Onny scorer was offside. But the referee awarded the goal. Unjust as it appeared, on the run of play Onny deserved to be ahead.

Shortly afterwards Carless-Turland replaced Smith. Battling hard for the ball and combining with Bourne on the left, Carless-Turland provided fresh impetus. A number of attacks were launched by the Royals from the left, providing Onny with some anxious moments. First was a free kick awarded to the Royals a few yards outside the Onny penalty box. Allen produced a fierce kick but the ball curled just a little too far, shaving the left upright. This was followed by a dangerous move by the Royals. Again down the left side Bourne crossed into the centre and Lewis just missed heading it into goal. But Onny was now on the back foot. With four minutes to go Bourne latched on to ball in the Onny half, eluded a number of Onny defenders with excellent ball control to keep possession and then calmly lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net to make the score 1-1. A brilliant individual effort. The Royals kept attacking in the final minutes of the game and appeared to be on their way to score another with both Lewis and Green coming close.

An excellent result for the Royals against a team older and hence stronger and faster.

Team: Keugler, Riley, Agnew, Allan, Robinson, Hearle, Green, Miles, Smith (Carless-Turland 45), Bourne , Lewis
Subs Not Used: Holtz, Weynberg