Thursday 10 February 2011 at RAF Cosford
The RAF SRT’s penultimate game before they headed off to their pre-Inter-Services camp in Malta was against a physical England Fire Service Representative side at RAF Cosford.
The inclement weather had taken its toll on the playing surface, which was not ideal for the home side’s free flowing passing game. That said the Grounds Team ensured the pitch was in the best order possible for this competitive contest.
The game was fairly even in the early exchanges as both teams sparred for dominance. The first chance fell to the RAF when a quick free-kick from Cpl Bartley (PJHQ) set Cpl Watkins (DCAE Cosford) free and a neat spin took him away from the Fire Service defence, but his teasing cross was intercepted as the home side swamped the box. The RAF continued to gain the upper hand without any clear cut chances until the 20th min when SAC Brownhill (RAF Benson) picked up a loose ball and drove at the heart of the visitors defence and deftly released SAC Lawrie (RAF Kinloss) whose powerful drive was well blocked by the Fire Service keeper.
The first real threat from the visitors came in the 27th min when from a succession of corners a driven shot headed goal bound but failed to find the net through a crowd of legs. The SRT responded instantly when SAC Brownhill darted free and zipped a teasing ball across the face of the goal to SAC Lawrie who smashed the ball off the crossbar when it looked easier to score. The final effort of the half fell to the home side from a free-kick on the left taken by SAC Lawrie, which although on target, was taken comfortably by the keeper.
The RAF started the second half the way they finished the first; on the attack, and this effort bore reward. Cpl Watkins spun and curled a fine effort into the top right hand corner from the edge box in the 49th min, just reward for concerted pressure from the RAF. Good work from both wing backs pushing forward in unison with SAC Brownhill firing the ball across to Cpl Bartley who delivered the ball into an inviting area, unfortunately there were no takers. The home side continued to press with SAC Thomas (MOD St Athan) next to test the visiting keeper with a powerful drive. Against the run of play the visitors pulled level in the 65th min. A stunning cross field switch from the visitors picked out their striker who deftly brought the ball down and slide it past the advancing Cpl Mears (RAF Marham).
The RAF strived to regain the lead immediately when a slick interchange between Cpl Woodhouse (RAF Cosford) and SAC Lawrie saw the latter striking narrowly wide. This was quickly followed by a powerful drive from SAC Thomas as the SRT upped the tempo with SAC Thomas’ direct running posing the visitors problems resulting in him being crudely felled on the edge of the box. Much to the frustration of the SRT, the referee felt that the offence was outside the box and the already cautioned defender somehow escaped to early bath. To compound the home side’s frustration the free kick came to nothing.
As the game stretched in the latter stages both sides exchanged a few efforts on goal with the most notable efforts being close ranged headers off target from SAC Williams (RAF Brize Norton) and Cpl Norton (RAF Waddinton). This was a great test for the RAF side who dominated a talented Fire Service for the bulk of the game without capitalising on a number of opportunities that they created. Next up for the representative side is a tough test against the Irish Defence Force.
RAF SRT: Mears, Bartley, Brownhills, Pierce, Dixon, Henley (Williams 51), Groves, Woodhouse (Oakley 76), Thomas, Watkins (Norton 55), Lawrie