Buntingford Royals vs. Stevenage Borough Indians
On an overcast yet warm morning the Royals entertained Stevenage Indians and lined up with Tasha in goal, Rubi at the back, Ryan, Noah and Ben up front.
The first half would be hard fought and the Royals took time to find their rhythm but once they did we were mesmerized by some intelligent passing and two goals before the break from firstly Rubi who broke from the halfway line and was able to slot it into the bottom corner and then secondly from Noah Benton, whose persistence was finally rewarded when a ball broke free inside the box for him to power the ball past the keeper with his right foot.
After that we were extremely unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when Tasha McNamara was taken down inside the area but the referee played the advantage as the ball ran for Ryan who unfortunately struck the right post!
After the break coach On Man shuffled the pack and brought Tasha and Henry into defence with Ben and later Kieran in goal, with Ryan and Rubi up top. The game became intense, Henry McAllitser always able to stick a telescopic leg out and stop oncoming attacks, Tasha with her dribbling ability excellent once more and Kieran looked sure between the sticks.
As the half progressed Rubi managed to add two more goals in a minute as he firstly outpaced the defenders and stuck it in the bottom corner and then straight from the kick off he once again outwitted the keeper for his hatrick!
Ben then made a couple of very useful saves and Tasha went on a wonderful solo run down the left.
Ryan was brought on and he made some good passes to Noah and then from a corner Ben very nearly opened his account but alas his shot was straight into the keeper’s arms.
Rubi added his fourth with a strong run and shot as he outmuscled the surrounding defenders before Noah got the royals’ another as he round the keeper and poked it into an empty net.
The game ended with the Royal’s heads held high. Coach On man said in an interview afterwards ‘Maximum effort today particularly to player of the match Ben Gower‘.
