chris@tmseurope.co.u
10-06-2008, 08:45 PM
5th October 2008
Rawmarsh 2 Abbey Lane 3
Scorers
Ashden Morley
James Halliday
Ben Pond
On beautiful sunny day away at Rawmarsh, the pitch was in fine condition despite a couple of days of heavy rainfall, both sets of supporters anticipated a tight but competitive game of football. Abbey Lane once again supported by an impressive away following.
Abbey Lane started with a new formation playing a 4-5-1 with Oliver Ledger up front on his own with anticipated support from the flanks from James Halliday and Liam Pashley with Ben Pond pushing forward from midfield. This new formation was intended to enable the team to defend in numbers but attack with pace.
The early stages were dominated by Abbey Lane with good football, a series of early throw-ins and corners failed to test the Rawmarsh defence. Abbey Lane restricted Rawmarsh to a couple of long range shots which were comfortably saved by Chris Marshall in the Abbey Lane goal.
Abbey Lane continued to press forward and went close with long range shots from Brad Gledhill, Ash Milnes and Ben Pond. They should have taken the lead when Oliver Ledger had one to one with the keeper but the shot was scuffed straight into the keepers arms.
Abbey Lane deservedly took the lead when Ashden Morley found space on the right side, ran a few yards with the ball and clinically finished with a shot pass the keeper into the corner of the net.
A rare but welcome half-time lead came with Abbey Lane 1-0 to the good. One change was made at half-time with Chris Davis Smith replacing Oliver Ledger.
With Abbey Lane in front and controlling the game the next 10 minutes saw Rawmarsh take an unbelievable 2-1 lead, totally against the run of play. The first Rawmarsh goal was a well taken free-kick from just outside the Abbey Lane penalty area. The second was a speclulative forward ball which carried into the top corner of the net. Only minutes earlier Abbey had a golden opportunity to retain the lead when Ben Pond hit his shot direct against the keeper.
Chris Howe replaced Sam Beech at left back and Abbey Lane pressed forward. The equaliser finally came after a scramble in the Rawmarsh penalty area after a Chris Davis-Smith shot, the goalkeeper parried the ball passed the post, it seemed to heading out for a corner when James Halliday, from an acute angle, flicked the ball over the keeper into the corner of the net. A goal just like his dad use to score on a regular basis.
Abbey Lane pressed forward in search of the winner and once again the character of the side proved to much for Rawmarsh when the lead was once again restored after a fine turn and shot from Ben Pond. Ben was able to hook the ball from just inside the area on the spin, with time to let the ball run down the whole of his leg before shin looping the ball into the top left hand corner.
Abbey Lane repalced James Halliday with Oliver Ledger for the last 10 minutes and had to withstand a late surge of pressure from Rawmarsh, but it would have been an absolute travesty if they'd had taken anything from the game.
A first win for Abbey Lane in three games, this will hopefully kick-start the season and enable the team to push for that top three finish that their skill, tenacity and endeavour fully deserve.
Rawmarsh 2 Abbey Lane 3
Scorers
Ashden Morley
James Halliday
Ben Pond
On beautiful sunny day away at Rawmarsh, the pitch was in fine condition despite a couple of days of heavy rainfall, both sets of supporters anticipated a tight but competitive game of football. Abbey Lane once again supported by an impressive away following.
Abbey Lane started with a new formation playing a 4-5-1 with Oliver Ledger up front on his own with anticipated support from the flanks from James Halliday and Liam Pashley with Ben Pond pushing forward from midfield. This new formation was intended to enable the team to defend in numbers but attack with pace.
The early stages were dominated by Abbey Lane with good football, a series of early throw-ins and corners failed to test the Rawmarsh defence. Abbey Lane restricted Rawmarsh to a couple of long range shots which were comfortably saved by Chris Marshall in the Abbey Lane goal.
Abbey Lane continued to press forward and went close with long range shots from Brad Gledhill, Ash Milnes and Ben Pond. They should have taken the lead when Oliver Ledger had one to one with the keeper but the shot was scuffed straight into the keepers arms.
Abbey Lane deservedly took the lead when Ashden Morley found space on the right side, ran a few yards with the ball and clinically finished with a shot pass the keeper into the corner of the net.
A rare but welcome half-time lead came with Abbey Lane 1-0 to the good. One change was made at half-time with Chris Davis Smith replacing Oliver Ledger.
With Abbey Lane in front and controlling the game the next 10 minutes saw Rawmarsh take an unbelievable 2-1 lead, totally against the run of play. The first Rawmarsh goal was a well taken free-kick from just outside the Abbey Lane penalty area. The second was a speclulative forward ball which carried into the top corner of the net. Only minutes earlier Abbey had a golden opportunity to retain the lead when Ben Pond hit his shot direct against the keeper.
Chris Howe replaced Sam Beech at left back and Abbey Lane pressed forward. The equaliser finally came after a scramble in the Rawmarsh penalty area after a Chris Davis-Smith shot, the goalkeeper parried the ball passed the post, it seemed to heading out for a corner when James Halliday, from an acute angle, flicked the ball over the keeper into the corner of the net. A goal just like his dad use to score on a regular basis.
Abbey Lane pressed forward in search of the winner and once again the character of the side proved to much for Rawmarsh when the lead was once again restored after a fine turn and shot from Ben Pond. Ben was able to hook the ball from just inside the area on the spin, with time to let the ball run down the whole of his leg before shin looping the ball into the top left hand corner.
Abbey Lane repalced James Halliday with Oliver Ledger for the last 10 minutes and had to withstand a late surge of pressure from Rawmarsh, but it would have been an absolute travesty if they'd had taken anything from the game.
A first win for Abbey Lane in three games, this will hopefully kick-start the season and enable the team to push for that top three finish that their skill, tenacity and endeavour fully deserve.