Royals Match Report 2006-07

Royals close in on second spot
Ludlow North 4-7 Royals (League, 15-04-07)

A hot summer's day at the SBS Stadium made for a lovely outing for the spectators but an exhausting game for the players. Manager Smith advised them to pass the ball around and not to tire themselves out by excessive running: "let the ball do the work". But it was exhausting nonetheless with some players not fit enough able to withstand the physical exertion required in these conditions. 

The Royals dominated the first half, scoring six goals. Ludlow North was able to produce only a few unthreatening shots on goal. They in fact started the game with one player short which did not help. The Royals played a 4-5-1 formation which worked splendidly. The game started with some attacking movements by the Royals. Both Lewis and Bourne shot narrowly wide. Bourne then missed a sitter right in front of goal. But he made amends minutes later. After dribbling past a number of defenders Hearle produced a great cross from close to the right corner flag. Bourne latched on to the cross and although the Ludlow North goal keeper got hands to Bourne's shot he was unable to hold on to it and the ball crossed the line to make it 1-0. Ludlow North responded with a number of dangerous breaks towards the Royals goal, but failed to use their chances. 

Back on the attack the Royals were awarded a free kick taken by Green. The ball bounced in front of the Ludlow goal and Bourne was first to it and steered it into the back of the net. He completed his hat trick a few minutes later with a superb shot over the head of the Ludlow goal keeper. This time Lewis was the provider. Lewis then scored himself after a poor goal kick by the Ludlow keeper was intercepted by Bourne and passed on to Lewis. The roles were then again reversed. Lewis dribbled through the Ludlow defence, his shot on goal was parried by the Ludlow goal keeper but the ball fell loose, Bourne was once again on hand to pounce on it and find the back of the net for the fourth time in twenty minutes. The best goal came in the final minutes of the first half. Lewis again dribbled through the Ludlow defence and from 15 yards let loose a thunderbolt of a shot which gave the Ludlow goal keeper no chance at all. 

With six goals to the good Manager Smith replaced Bourne and Brayne by Groom and Holtz and changed the formation to a 3-5-2. But the second half belonged to Ludlow North who suddenly played with great heart, passing the ball around effectively. Now at full strength, they succeeded in pulling no less than four goals back. The Royals attack now lacked punch. Brayne was badly missed in defence and Bourne in attack. It was thus no surprise that both were put back on in the course of the second half. In the closing stages Bourne scored his fifth goal and the match ended 7-4. 

It was thus very much a match of two halves. The first half the Royals were rampant scoring six goals without conceding any. The second half belonged to Ludlow, although not enough to overtake the Royals. As so often Bourne was again the Royals' star performer, scoring five of the Royals seven goals, and as so often the changes made at half time caused the balance of the team to become disrupted.

Team: Keugler, Riley, Agnew, Brayne, Green, Hearle, Weynberg, Miles, Smith, Bourne, Lewis. Subs: Groom, Holtz