Riley's FC today travelled to big hitter TL Darby, high favourites to win the league this year with the thoughts of the 5-1 and 6-0 spanking they received the previous season.
Riley's manager set them up well to counter attack and strong play TL Darby might throw at them, But before the game even begun 1st choice left back had not arrived yet prompting the manager to look to his bench and add Lee Ford into his starting line up.
From the whistle Riley's were on fire springing at TL Darby they weren't ready for the fast pace, and with some great passing between midfield and attack an opportunity fell to Ben Robinson within the 1st minute who had only but to turn and shoot seem to get the ball stuck under his feet allowing the opposition to clear.
TL Darby got there act together fast and then went on the attack heavy pressure was coming down the left and Lee Ford found himself in early trouble getting caught with the between his legs with what one onlooker described as his knobbly knees not working? A Host of balls were being crossed from the heart of midfield being launched to the edge of the box with Keeper Ben Emery flying of his line to claim the ball resulting in an attacker ploughing into him recklessly.
It was 2 minutes later Ben Emery charged out to claim a ball, the same player swung a leg far to late catching Emery in the back, the ref full stop not liking the players actions decided to put him in the boo and a yellow card was shown.
Continuing play Riley's continued to look for chances with great footwork from Josh Beech exchanging passes with Jamie Allen lead to a Riley's Corner beautifully delivered in by Jamie just seemed to evade Riley's players. After clearing it out Sean Parker charger like a raging bull winning the ball back successfully holding up the ball in front of the away fans before making the pass, this act lead to small group of away fans to start chanting 'what's ya name JACK BLACK'??
Lee Ford doing well to intercept a ball got a pass of to Dan Brittian who passes across Ben Robinson chargers up the right, bodies begin to fill up the box but his cross is just to high and sails over everyone. At this point its back and forth action and centre backs Graham Haynes and Adam Dickerson are getting a head on anything that comes near them. Birthday boy Steve Robey (50 today) filling in for the missing Danny Parkes at right back is doing an excellent job working the line, and linking up with Josh dancing around his opponents freeing Robinson who darts the ball forward and gets ahead of the defence, he trips on the ball as he shoots but a bit of a scrabble at the ball allows him another chance but lightening strikes twice and he just can't get the ball from beneath his feet.
Opponents start getting a bit of composure on their game and in this pretty even match till now its fair to say both teams have had their chances.
In an attack TL Darby run the ball into the box and pass low and hard across the box evading most but a player coming in at the back post but his shot is blocked by John Lathbury on the line and cleared by Dickerson. The Opposition come straight back at Riley's forcing Sean Parker to accidently handball 10 yards outside the box, The free kick is shot straight at goal and Emery dives across to make a brilliant save and the ball is kicked up field by Lee Ford.
Now racing the ball up the other end Riley's win a free kick 35 yards out, Josh Beech takes a wonderful free kick but nobody challenges it at the back post and it goes out for goal kick. Opportunity gets wasted.
GOAL: In the 26 minute TL Darby had a break through the midfield brought the ball into the danger zone and John just seemed to continue to drop of from them allowing them closer and kick them room. When pressure was finally made it was to late and keeper was of his line the midfielder lob the ball over and now it was time to see if Riley's had the mentality to take the Game to TL Darby.
5 minutes later the ball was in the back again but linesman had his flag up for offside, it was obvious Riley's had bin winded but needed to find something from somewhere and it came in the form of a corner after a lot of pressure in the box the ball fell to Jamie who it the ball hard and low but it was straight at the keeper who dropped down and made the save with his legs.
More Great work at the back for Steve under heavy pressure shielded the ball well clearing his lines.
In the 39th minute while the opponents were putting on heavy pressure it was all hands on deck but while back in his own box putting in a shift Dan Brittian fouled his man giving the ref no choice but to point to the spot.
Their main striker stepped up to take the penalty but little did they know they were going up against a keeper that has a higher then 80% save rate when it comes to penalty's during a game. And the save was made superbly.
Coming off at hard time Riley's manager couldn't of been happier with the effort and commitment the team had made, advising them that their opponents think they knew who they were? They knew who they were, Go show them who they actually are...
From the whistle Riley's were hungry and had a fire in em, it was TL Darby with the 1st effort but it was Dickerson with a goal line clearance kept Riley's in it. Leading to a burst forward and a ball played over the defence with Dan Brittian running onto it but he just couldn't quite reach it.
Things then started to get strange when Steve was fouled clearly lead to Dickerson blocking the run and the foul being given to the opponents.
on the 62nd minute Lee Ford was subbed after covering a hard job was replace by Liam Gormley, But he didn't quite seem himself usually the speed demon of the team he seemed to struggle for pace and was getting over run . Some would put it down to his poor preparation to his day or the all you can eat breakfast buffet he had before hand weighing him down.
Moments after John Lathbury hacked a player down right on the edge of the box, the TL Darby player who took the free kick shot a screamer hitting the inside of the post and flying across goal and out for a throw. TL Darby continued to apply heavy pressure and got lucky when while in the box poked a ball towards goal as keeper Emery committed to the save it took a slight deflection of the defender and the ball bobbled pass him.
Riley's didn't let their heads go down with the help of Josh Beech who was willing zigging in and out of challengers they were still pressing forward. But it was time for a change and Laurence Scully and Anthony Crofts replaced Sean Parker and John Lathbury. Gormley starting to find a bit of pace plays the ball to Jamie who runs fast down the line and crosses an excellent ball into the box forcing a corner, the following corner is good and Robinson controls and brings the ball down and shoots but its straight at the keeper.
Ben Emery still making saves like a pro get hold of the ball and launches it out to Jamie he sends it forward to Scully to performs a one two with Robinson megs a challenger and then plays it forward to Robinson who shoots 1st time, the keeper rooted to the spot the screamer clips the outside of the post.
Tackles began getting stronger and it wasn't long before Graham Rage kicked in and the going to ground challenges began much to TL Darby's disapproval. Not to let him get away with it a number of occasion they tried to take him out once succeeding only for him to get up and laugh it off.
With 9 minutes left Scully wins a free kick. Anthony Crofts steps up to take it. Anthony Croft sends it well over the bar.....
With Little time remaining Scully is still chasing the balls down trying to get anything he can out of the game but its too late.
A 2-0 loss is a loss, but in performance case Riley's can consider that a win. And give these performances continue a win is surely round the corner.
Keeper Ben Emery was easily awarded man of the match he frustrated the opposition making save after save. As his own performance improves on a weekly basis.
