Ridgewood First 0 vs 1 Preston Manor Royals

Preston Manor Royals travelled to Victoria Pleasure Ground in Uckfield on 12 September 2026 for their cup tie against Ridgewood First, kicking off at 2:00pm. In a tightly contested 96-minute encounter, Preston Manor Royals emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of a late first-half goal. The Royals’ defensive resilience and moments of attacking promise proved decisive in this low-scoring affair.

Preston Manor Royals lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, deploying Ryan Thompson in goal to marshal the defence. The back four consisted of Sam Copeland at right back, Michael Russell and Dominic Hewitt as central defenders, and Gillan Williams on the left flank. Tyler Banting operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and recycling possession. Ahead of him, Daniel Clark took up the right attacking midfield role, while Valery Jingwa occupied the left attacking midfield position, both expected to support the front three. The forward line featured Tipu Miah on the right wing, Jordan Rudwick leading the line as the central striker, and Gary Valaydon on the left wing. The substitutes named were Harvey Cagney and Marwan Mandor.

The match began with Preston Manor Royals probing for openings, and it was Valery Jingwa who came closest in the first half. At the 28th minute mark, Jingwa’s effort rattled the crossbar, a cruel near miss that was quickly followed by another attempt a minute later, which was comfortably saved by the Ridgewood goalkeeper. Ridgewood First responded with pressure of their own, but Ryan Thompson was alert to parry a dangerous shot in the 33rd minute, keeping the Royals in the game.

As the first half drew to a close, Preston Manor Royals made a tactical substitution with Harvey Cagney replacing Tyler Banting at the 45th minute, signalling a shift in midfield dynamics. The second half began with Jordan Rudwick testing the skies with a high shot immediately after the restart, but the Royals’ attacking threat was undeterred.

Shortly after the break, Thompson produced a crucial point-blank reaction save at the 48th minute, denying Ridgewood a clear chance and maintaining the clean sheet. Ridgewood’s frustration showed as they received a yellow card for a bad tackle at the same time. Preston Manor Royals then took the lead in the 50th minute through Sam Copeland, who struck a long-range effort with his right foot following a short pass from Tipu Miah. The goal was described as a fluke, but it was enough to put the Royals ahead.

The Royals made another substitution at the 55th minute, with Marwan Mandor coming on for Tipu Miah, while at the 60th minute, Tyler Banting returned to the field, replacing the injured Michael Russell. Banting’s return was short-lived in terms of discipline, as he was booked for an unspecified offence immediately after coming on.

The match continued with Preston Manor Royals pressing forward, though some attempts went astray. Gary Valaydon fired high over the bar in the 61st minute, and Valery Jingwa saw another shot saved two minutes later. Defensively, Banting and Daniel Clark made tackles in the 66th and 67th minutes respectively, though neither prevented chances for Ridgewood.

Ridgewood’s attempts to unsettle the Royals included a yellow card for diving at the 70th minute, reflecting the tense nature of the contest. Thompson remained a commanding presence in goal, diving at the feet of an attacker in the 73rd minute to keep the scoreline intact.

An offside call against Jordan Rudwick at the 76th minute was correctly given, demonstrating Ridgewood’s disciplined defending. Rudwick then fired another high effort moments later, while Valaydon’s shot was saved in the 79th minute, keeping the Royals’ lead precarious.

Marwan Mandor’s defensive contribution was vital late on, clearing a dangerous ball in the 83rd minute to deny Ridgewood a chance. Thompson capped off his excellent performance with a confident catch at the 89th minute, ensuring no late equaliser.

The referee’s performance was solid throughout, rated 85, managing the game well despite the competitive edge and disciplinary moments. The modest crowd of 16 witnessed a match where Preston Manor Royals’ defensive organisation and a single moment of fortune in front of goal proved enough to secure progression in the cup.

Ryan Thompson was deservedly named player of the match for his series of crucial saves and commanding presence between the sticks, underpinning the Royals’ clean sheet and ultimately their victory away from home.