Welcroft Park Rangers vs Preston Manor Royals
1 - 2
27 January 2024 · Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League<br>Division 1
Away league match played on 27 January 2024.
Kicked off at 2:00 PM
1-2
vs Welcroft Park Rangers
Away league match
Having been heavily beaten last week it was always going to be interesting to see how the group responded heading into our last four games of the league season and having to take on an opponent who had won convincingly on the reverse fixture.
A late injury to Calver saw Copeland restored to the starting line up prior to kick off.
Having starting well The Royals would have been disappointed with the nature of conceding the first goal of the game. Going away from our normal attacking game the boys had been challenged to dig in for 45 mins, keep it simple and not concede.
That lasted all of eight mins. Williams got caught in possession in our defensive third allowing the ball to break to create a 50/50 with the goalkeeper to which the Welcroft Park forward duly won and finished well from an angle(8). (1-0)
The lads quickly shock off the disappointment of conceding, remaining competitive and compact for the remainder of the half and even going close to scoring through Trotter having been put through by Ehab.
Half time saw The Royals change to a more attacking shape lining up with wingers with both Tumba & Reynolds brought in to change the course of the game, with the score only 1-0 and the second half to play for.
Good movement saw Arnold release Copeland into space taking him into the Welcroft Park attacking third before cleverly pulling a ball back on the run into the path on the on coming Grafton who had been able to set himself before finishing well from the edge of the area. Another really good team goal (50) and the scores now level at 1-1.
The Royals now in their best spell of the game and didn't have to wait long to go ahead following more good work by Grafton who had been able to find Reynolds who composed himself before finishing well across the keeper (58). 1-2 up COYR!!
The final thirty minutes where a cagey affair. Nerves began to settle in as the boys had been in this situation before and failed to close out the game. Bould was called on two or three occasions to save well keeping The Royals ahead for a well deserved and confidence boosting win against a good side.
Final scores from Hailsham. The Royals win 1-2.
#PMR #MatchReport