If ever you got the same feeling on leaving a football ground two weeks running then this was it. Two good performances undone by tiny lapses of concentration at both ends of the pitch. Though this weeks game was a fair bit closer than last we still all felt we had more than done enough to have all 3 points. The first half saw both teams go close to opening the scoring but it was our opportunities that were by far the clearest. Sam and Ryan both had close range efforts blocked by the Banbury Town keeper and each had a chance to lob the goalie . Ryans' effort was off target and Sams' try was just blocked away by a defenders outstretched boot. The narrow pitch was working against us as we failed throughout the entire match to judge how far the ball could travel in field. We constantly made the error of leaving the centre of the goal un protected and were grateful to Chris for being alive to the danger. When finally the breakthrough came it was thankfully Sam that scored it. A great tackle from Liam won the ball for Joe Berry who's first time turn and pass found Sam on the run. Sam tucked away his chance at the second attempt and treated us all to his greatest passion a wonderful Billy Elliot display back to the halfway line. Confidence soared through the team and we kept Banbury pushed back for the remainder of the half.
Tyler came on for Josh at the break to add some more pace and the ploy looked to be working well. From a Tyler run and cross Ned slotted the ball through the keepers legs only to see the ball clip the goalies heel and slow the balls pace . In he race to the loose ball Ned was tripped allowing a defender to hack the ball off the line leaving us a little aggrieved but even more determined to finish the job. Tyler and then Sam had shots blocked again by the home keeper who was having the game of his life but after almost fifteen minutes of solid pressure we at last got our second. Liam Walsh spotted Ryans run with a delightful chip and Ryan stayed cool to stroke into the net. The home side had not created a single opportunity in this half and looked set to throw in the towel but from nowhere they were given a lifeline. Chris, who had been having another impeccable match , just took his eye off the ball and allowed a daisy cutter to slip through his normally reliable fingers. From this moment on we looked like a different side. From a throw on the edge of our box a Town midfielder stole in unopposed to level the scores just seconds after the first goal. We were well and truly rocking and in trying to block the shot Chris took a kick to his hand so Lewis Mallon dropped back into the goalie duty. Shame for Lewis as he had been enjoying a strong performance alongside Luke, Harlie and Will at the back. Dominic came into the heart of defence and did well as the home side turned up the heat. Ollie came on for Liam who had pretty much given his all in the middle of the park. It was from yet another set-piece that we would concede again. The one and only danger man that Banbury possessed was given time and space at a corner and his header was scrambled over the line to leave us trailing with just minutes to go. Joe Rees came on for Sam in the closing stages and with time ticking away it was JR s pass that sent Tyler scurrying down the line. Ty outpaced the home defence and cut inside to gloriously finish with the most sublime near post shot and once again rescue a point for the Royals. Fortunes and form can easily swing in the course of a season and in a game. A credit to all of you once again for keeping going until the end.
