Preston Manor Royals Triumph 3-1 At Forest Row II

Preston Manor Royals secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Forest Row II in a league away match at the Memorial Ground, Forest Row, on 18 October 2025. Kick-off was at 2:00pm under the watchful eye of referee Michael Forman, who delivered an excellent performance. The Royals’ win was marked by clinical finishing and disciplined defending across 95 minutes of football, including added time.

Preston Manor Royals lined up in a 4-1-2-3 formation, aiming to balance defensive solidity with attacking flair. Ryan Thompson guarded the goal, supported by a back four consisting of Sam Copeland at right back, Adam Arnold and Yassir Lekbir as central defenders, and Gillan Williams on the left. Dominic Hewitt operated as the lone holding midfielder, tasked with shielding the defence and distributing the ball. Ahead of him, Daniel Clark and Valery Jingwa took up the right and left attacking midfield roles respectively, expected to link midfield and attack with creativity and width. The front three featured Jake Atherton on the right wing, Carlton Najomo as the central striker, and João Pedro Miranda on the left, all charged with stretching the opposition defence and converting chances. The substitutes available were Joel Mbimbo Miguel, Marlon Perrin, Musa Omar, Daren Calver, and Mark Baroni.

The match began with an early setback for Preston Manor Royals when Sam Copeland conceded a penalty for a handball in the 11th minute. Forest Row II had the chance to take the lead, but the Royals’ goalkeeper Ryan Thompson was alert, making a crucial catch two minutes later to keep his side in the game. Daniel Clark’s attempt on goal in the 15th minute went wide, but it was clear the Royals were probing for openings.

Dominic Hewitt was booked for a late tackle in the 22nd minute, a sign of the physical battle unfolding in midfield. Thompson again showed his reliability with a safe catch at 23 minutes, maintaining Preston’s defensive composure. The visitors gained a significant advantage when Forest Row II were reduced to ten men after a bad tackle earned their player a red card in the 27th minute, shifting the momentum firmly in Preston’s favour.

Carlton Najomo’s efforts to break the deadlock were evident, though his high shot in the 33rd minute and an offside call at 35 minutes halted early attacking progress. Valery Jingwa was cautioned for a bad tackle just before half-time, reflecting the intensity of the contest. At the interval, the Royals made two substitutions: Joel Mbimbo Miguel replaced João Pedro Miranda, and Marlon Perrin came on for Jake Atherton, signalling a tactical refresh.

The second half saw Preston Manor Royals take control. Just five minutes after the restart, Marlon Perrin scored a sublime lob with his left foot, expertly assisted by a long pass from Sam Copeland. This goal set the tone for the remainder of the match. At 62 minutes, Valery Jingwa doubled the lead with a close-range finish inside the box, capitalising on a precise cross from substitute Joel Mbimbo Miguel. Jingwa’s contribution was short-lived, however, as he was replaced by Musa Omar two minutes later.

Further changes followed with Daren Calver coming on for Sam Copeland at 72 minutes and Mark Baroni replacing Daniel Clark at 84 minutes, allowing Preston to maintain energy and control. Carlton Najomo continued to press, though his high attempt in the 86th minute missed the target. Redemption came swiftly when Najomo netted from close range in the 88th minute, finishing a long pass from Musa Omar with his right foot to extend the Royals’ lead.

Forest Row II pulled a goal back in the 92nd minute through a close-range header, but it was too little too late. Ryan Thompson ensured the victory was sealed with a confident catch of a cross in the 95th minute, denying any late drama.

Adam Arnold and Yassir Lekbir were standout performers, anchoring the defence with composure and resilience throughout the match. Their efforts, combined with the attacking contributions of Perrin, Jingwa, and Najomo, ensured Preston Manor Royals left the Memorial Ground with all three points and a well-earned victory.