Hartpury College 1 RAF 2
Wed 21 Sep 2011
The first game of the 2011/12 season saw the RAF SRT (Senior Rep Team) pit themselves for the 2nd consecutive year against Hartpury College in overcast and blustery conditions. With only a few first team regulars present from last year’s triumphant Inter-Services campaign, this was a chance for a number of less established players and those drafted from the Mens Development Squad to prove themselves and stake their claim for the forthcoming season.
As reigning BUCS National Champions and following defeat in last year’s corresponding fixture, the SRT management were well aware of the quality of Hartpury and set up for a stern test in a 3-5-2 formation. For Hartpury, this was also their first fixture of the campaign following ten days of training as they looked to gain match sharpness and blood some new players.
As with all of the facilities at the specialist Sports Academy, the Hartpury playing surface was excellent and the game kicked off with the SRT expecting Hartpury to retain a lot of possession in their own half. However, it was the SRT who had the brighter start as SAC Evans almost capitalised on a sloppy defensive header towards the Hartpury goal in the opening minute. It was soon the turn of the SRT to cause themselves similar problems in defence as they tried to play the ball out from the back, but instead gifting the Hartpury No.9 with the ball from a sloppy pass under pressure. In space and with time, the striker clipped the top of the bar with a half volley; a lucky escape for the RAF men.
This was a clear sign of things to come as Hartpury soon started to control play, spreading the ball across the pitch and the SRT unable to string together any significant periods of play. Keeping possession with patient interplay, much of Hartpury’s danger came from accurate passes into their left channel, exploiting the space between the RAF wing-back and centre half and releasing the Hartpury winger on numerous occasions. From this outlet Hartpury fashioned good opportunities in the 9th, 10th and 12th minute, the pick of the bunch seeing No.11 flash a cross across the 6 yard box just in front of the onrushing striker.
The pressure from Hartpury finally told on 17 minutes with a tap in from close range. Again, the left winger was the catalyst, receiving the ball on the left touch line before surging goal wards between two RAF defenders. Sliding the ball into the feet of No.10, who created space with a neat step over, the ball was squared centrally into the box for an advancing Hartpury player who was only to be denied by Cpl Mears in goal with a great one handed save to his left. Unfortunately for the RAF, the ball fell to a Hartpury player for a simple conversion at the back post to make it 1-0, just as the RAF were beginning to see more of the ball and organise themselves to counter the left channel threat.
The 20th minute saw the first SRT shot on goal from Cpl Prior who was looking lively and powerful up front. Running into the channel and taking the ball into the box, Prior was able to get a strong shot away on the angle from 16 yards. The next fifteen minutes saw the game fall into a pattern, mostly being played in the middle third with Hartpury seeing more of the ball, controlling the shape, and the RAF looking to counter on the break; a few half chances going to either side, including the RAF’s best so far with an effort from Cpl Prior once again.
Some strong challenges in midfield led to a good passage of interplay from the SRT on 36 minutes as SAC Oakley was released down the right wing. Fizzing a low cross into the box only 3 yards out, the Hartpury keeper diving to collect it got it wrong, spilling it and the RAF were unfortunate not to tap the loose ball home before it was poked away by a defender.
Just before the half time break, there was a final chance each. Cpl Prior’s pace and power was again causing problems for Hartpury down the left channel; running onto an SAC Evans through ball from centre midfield after neat hold up play, he fired a shot across the goal from 6 yards. However, it was Hartpury who fashioned the better chance after Cpl Bartley was caught in possession by their right winger who sent a cross to the back post, only for No.11 to send a weak header straight into Cpl Mears’ arms from 6 yards.
With Hartpury changing a full 11 players in the interval, the dynamic of the match following the break was changed in favour of the SRT. Whilst equally strong on paper, the new Hartpury XI were still trying to settle into the game when the RAF pounced on 51 minutes to level the game at 1-1. Cpl McWilliam, after being released down the right hand side, cut the ball into the middle of the box to meet Cpl Prior who was central on the 6 yard line for a composed but simple finish.
Buoyed by the equaliser, the SRT were able to retain the ball much better than they did in the first half and once again the pattern of the game settled with each team having equal possession, predominantly in the middle third. As the half progressed it was clear that chances would be limited, as opposed to the opening 45, and that the deteriorating conditions were affecting the fluency of the game. With only a few half chances for either side, the game was developing into a stalemate although the RAF were having encouraging periods of good play, looking physically stronger and using the wind to their advantage. This was especially true of SAC Chorley in goal whose excellent distribution was often turning the Hartpury defence and putting them under pressure.
Approaching the last 10 minutes of the game, Hartpury looked the more likely to break the status quo as they once again started to dominate with neat passing and ball retention. A great chance went begging 3 minutes from time when a Hartpury player found himself with time and space 18 yards out, and central, only to put the ball wide.
The RAF were soon to punish Hartpury for this miss as they performed a smash and grab to take the victory. Great distribution again from SAC Chorley in goal was met by the head of SAC Evans who flicked on the ball into the path of SAC Groves who was goal side of the full back. Taking the ball in his stride and into the box on the angle, Groves calmly finished for the victory.
A great result for the RAF SRT, avenging last season’s defeat. The SRT management will take lots of positives and lessons from the performance in which they were thoroughly tested by a quality Hartpury side. A game of two halves in every sense of the cliché, the RAF SRT is off to a winning start in what could be a historic season.
Team:
1. Cpl B Mears (off 55)
2. SAC S Oakley (off 45, on 70)
3. Cpl D Bartley
4. SAC D Dixon
5. Cpl S Henley (off 77)
6. Cpl M Williams
7. Cpl C McWilliam
8. Sgt M Preston
9. Cpl L Prior (off 62)
10. SAC C Evans
11. SAC P Groves (off 70, on 77)
12. SAC E Williams (on 45)
14. Cpl K Duffy (on 62)
15. SAC N Thomas
16. Cpl N Dashwood
21. SAC T Chorley (on 55)