MICKLEOVER RBL 2-3 MICKLEOVER ROYALS: match report by The Mowdog...

Difficult Derby Day Deals Disorder and Discomfort

Mickleover RBL 2 Mickleover Royals 3

Hugs for the Legionaries...

Looks like Royal number 11 has had his head twisted round...

Royals began this derby game with several regulars missing for one reason or another and RBL were certainly up for it, utilising the aerial power of striker Daz Rushton and the considerable aerial strength of defender and skipper Karl Reynolds to frustrate their guests. Each team seemed to take it in turns to press, almost like in a Rugby League game, resulting in short periods of offense, generally originating from free-kicks and corners (all five goals stemmed from set-plays) but in truth, creative play was at a premium and whereas Rushton often caused the Royals’ defence some jitters, the visitors’ Steve O’Connell rarely dragged more than a passing yawn from the dominant Reynolds and despite his effort and running, Nashan Wilson was also mostly held in check by Scott Bednall. Indeed, Royals were totally unable to hold up the ball in attack, something that RBL often did better, occasionally bringing midfielder Sam Blount and fleet-footed right-winger Rob Selby into the action. Had it not been for two fine saves by Royals’ Ash Warner in the opening stages of the second-half, this result could have been quite different. The visitors netted twice late on and although RBL’s penalty offered some promise of a point at the death, the final two minutes were successfully negotiated by the fretting league-leaders and all three points were gained.

Hmm...

An early Danny Martin drive was blocked, as the guests began better and then Adam Birch combined with O’Connell but Birch’s near post effort was lifted behind the goal-frame. Peter Aliguma headed clear a couple of times as the hosts began to feature but the only shot was that from dead-ball expert Charles Salloway, whose 23 yard effort was off target. Shaun Roberts’ left flank corner for Royals was attacked at the near upright by Chris Martin but with home goalie Daz Keeling flapping his arms like a giant bat, the ball bounced wide. Rushton should have benefited from a weak Ash Lynch back-pass (Lynch was doomed to endure an eventful match) but his right-footer from 20 yards was off target, as Warner looked on in horror. A left-footer might just have brought a better reward for the RBL forward. Birch won the ball from Reynolds and fed O’Connell but the big striker’s shot was wayward from 15 yards then he lob-headed Roberts’ corner from 16 yards, an effort which dropped over the roof of the RBL net. Then the visitors scored, after a right-wing corner by Danny Martin had been cleared for a second flag-kick; this time, the in-swinger was bundled home by Lynch from a couple of yards, after the near post posse had failed to connect with the Royals skipper’s well-delivered ball. 

0-1 to Royals...

The ball in the air? How unusual...

Immediately, the Legion responded and won a corner of their own on the right; Salloway curled it across and there was Rushton to head powerfully and downwards into the Royals’ net from about 5 yards, near the front post. Two defenders failed to mark the striker with any real care and parity had been secured straight away by the scrapping hosts.

Rushton has equalised for RBL...

After Aliguma had sliced a clearance vertically, like he was firing up a rocket on November 5th to concede a corner as Ben Stockley threatened, the big Royals defender then made an offensive run, after O’Connell had been dispossessed and raced forward to push a pass for Birch to move onto at inside-left but Keeling advanced to smother the winger’s effort. The hosts survived two more corners and the play moved to the other end again, where Rob Lowrie, who had allowed the ball to run beneath his boot twice to concede throws already, shielded the ball well but Salloway couldn’t keep his clipped delivery down as he moved onto his colleague’s feed. Stockley won a corner on the RBL left but this time Rushton’s soaring header, amongst poor defensive marking again, drifted well over the Royals’ crossbar. A final chance of the half fell to the visitors, when persistence on the right by the busy Wilson led to a cross and a head-down, as O’Connell challenged Reynolds, which fell for Ryan Thompson, whose major contribution for Royals had been in defence if the truth be told, but he lifted his shot above the right angle of bar and post from a really good position.

Lynch gets a grip...

Half-time arrived, the substitutes ran about a bit, players’ mobile phones and cigarettes were interestingly visible, then the second period began with a wasteful shot by O’Connell and murmurings were heard about perhaps changing the game for Royals by utilising their substitutes. Sam Blount, constantly blunting the Royals midfield with his effort and strength, suddenly ran forward and threaded a pass for Lowrie at inside-right but he was unable to turn the ball onto the target as Warner raced out, with the ‘keeper doing really well not to trip the RBL winger. A clash between Lynch and Rushton, which looked as though both players had slid into each other, left the RBL man writhing like a hunted snake in Needwood Forest but despite a firm talking-to by the lenient referee, Lynch escaped a caution and Rushton rushed to his feet and carried on like a miracle cure had been administered by a witch doctor. It’s what we all do…   

 

The Incredible Leaping Man...

Rushton is apparently in pain, Lynch is spoken to and the others discuss which pub they're drinking in tonight...

The resulting free-kick led to a flying header at the Royals’ goal, which was well saved by the flying Warner, who turned the ball away to his left, but he was called upon again from the subsequent corner, which eventually fell at a Legionary’s feet and the goalie was forced to drop left to make a reaction save on his goal-line. Again, set-pieces were causing some real marking problems for the visitors and Aliguma, Jordan Simpson and Lynch simply could not stop the hosts from threatening at these situations. Rushton, following another set-piece attack by RBL, completely miscued a volley from a good position then Aliguma barged into Blount like he was in a dodgem car and didn’t like the bloke in the car in front very much. Aliguma was cautioned but Salloway’s 24 yard free-kick was clipped over the crossbar. Then it was Royals’ turn to spend a short while in the RBL defensive zone, almost as if it had been agreed; Keeling did well to tip on a Danny Martin corner, as Wilson leapt like a salmon but still RBL seemed to get to the ball first in the majority of cases in midfield, the forwards often held up the ball up better and the midfielders often supported the attackers better than their guests.

Finally, Roberts broke onto the ball through the centre and passed through inside-right for Wilson to run onto but the striker was off balance as he attempted to pass across the penalty-box and the hosts cleared with ease. O’Connell and Wilson then challenged for a high Aliguma cross from the Royals’ right but the latter’s shot on the turn was blocked to Birch, left side, 8 yards out and the wide-man’s shot was saved by the outstretched boot of Keeling and a corner was conceded. This flag-kick came to nought but soon, a deep free-kick on the left by Danny Martin was beautifully swung across the penalty-area and although the tall people couldn’t get to it, Wilson did, at the far stick and his header beat the helpless Keeling. 

Wilson has scored for Royals...

Almost immediately, Birch won possession and released Wilson at inside-left but the goalscorer attempted to screw an awkward right-footed shot and messed up big-time, seeing his effort roll badly wide of the near upright, with the words of his coaching staff ringing around the ground: “LEFT foot!” O’Connell won a headed duel but his corkscrewed effort spiralled way too high then Kirk Francis replaced the hard-working forward. Decent passing for once by Royals led to a Wilson centre being deflected behind for a corner, Matt Richards replaced the tireless Birch for Royals and Wilson’s far post header from Roberts’ delivery was saved by Keeling this time. RBL then enjoyed their next agreed offensive period and Lynch and Simpson were forced to hack ball away several times from crosses. Joe Brockley replaced Roberts for the guests and Danny James replaced Lowrie for the home team but with a good chance from a free-kick, left-side, James’ delivery was way off line.

A fine run by Francis was halted by Bednall’s splendid tackle but the right-side corner would lead to another Royals goal. Reynolds headed the ball clear and Brockley, some 30 yards out, back to goal, shovelled a fine pass wide again to corner-taker Danny Martin and the skipper’s first-time left-foot centre fell beautifully for Chris Martin, all alone in the middle but he miscued the ball to the right from 7 yards, leaving the predatory Francis totally onside to gleefully ram the ball into the RBL net. His celebration involved a run, lots of hugging and some loud noises.

Hugs and Francis enjoys his moment...

Still happy...

Thomson inexplicably failed to try to head a fine Simpson free-kick, as it zoomed towards him, but all the hosts could manage in response was a long ball forward for Rushton to head towards Stockley, who drove badly off target. However, with a couple of minutes to play, another break by RBL led to the tricky Selby cutting inside from the right and it just had to be Lynch who felled him; Lynch’s back-pass had nearly caused an earlier goal, he had scored one, had nearly been cautioned for the challenge with Rushton, had not been close enough to Rushton when RBL had equalised and now he had conceded a penalty… Perhaps he wished he’d been playing bowls instead… Stockley tucked a low spot-kick to the right side of goal, as Warner fell the opposite way.

Francis and Wilson: threats near the end...

Stockley has netted his penalty...

Danny Martin, displeased by the award of the penalty, had been booked and it only remained for Royals to break and some neat skill by Richards ended with a strange cross-field delivery, backwards and a perfect pass to an opponent but Aliguma broke up the play and passed right for Wilson and he HAD to square the ball for Francis but as the substitute entered the penalty-box, the ball struck his arm and he lost control. The victory was Royals’ and they confirmed their position at the top of the league but in all honesty they had been given a tough match by their neighbours and Warner had kept them in the game at a vital time. Bednall and Reynolds were excellent for the hosts, Selby was certainly elusive on occasions and Rushton was aerially strong but although Danny Martin’s left foot was a worthy extremity for Royals, Wilson worked hard with little service and Warner did well in goals, the introduction of Francis certainly added the dimension of ‘danger’ for the ailing visitors. And they had Lynch, the lynchpin of the team…

Legion defeated...

Time for a pint...

I saw the bowlers through a window eating their high teas in the clubhouse and smiled to myself as drove home to a sausage casserole, NOT eggs and chips as usual… It’s what I sometimes do…

Teams:

RBL:  Daz Keeling, Dave Coe, Charles Salloway; Karl Reynolds (Capt), Scott Bednall, Stuart Poynter; Rob Selby, Sam Blount, Ben Stockley, Daz Rushton, Rob Lowrie.

Subs: Danny James, Michael Meehan, Ross Lloyd, Jacob Yeomans.

Royals:  Ash Warner, Chris Martin, Ash Lynch; Jordan Simpson, Peter Aliguma, Danny Martin (Capt); Ryan Thompson, Shaun Roberts, Nashan Wilson, Steve O’Connell, Adam Birch.

Subs: Oli Buxton, Joe Brockley, Matt Richards, Sam Bartram, Kirk Francis.