Well done lads , this was a great team performance throughout the whole squad. From goalkeeper ,defence midfield and attack we won almost all of our battles today. Tylers' brilliant hatrick will be remembered for a while but I will also remember some excellent efforts in particular that of Owen who probably gave his best ever showing in the Royals colours. A back three of Ned ,Keiron and Joe backed up by Isaac back in between the posts were hard done by to go in at the break having conceded three times. After the interval they got to grips with the Bodicote boys and Owens non stop covering in front of them made life comfortable for the whole defence. Our strength across the back was allowing both wingers,Jake and Harlie, to get forward at will and supply some terrific crosses and through balls. On another day it would have been George celebrating a hatrick but on this occasion he was denied by a good goalkeeper some desperate defending and near the end the underside of the bar. In the middle of the park both Ollie and Thomas were finding the game enjoyable and were picking holes in the Bodicote defence . The first half began with us probing and pushing for openings. When the goal arrived in the tenth minute it was richly deserved for some patient build up play George fed the final pass into the stride of Tyler who kept his cool to slot home.Our early promise was swiftly undone when we dallied on the edge of our own area and conceded an unneccessary freekick. Thomas Wilkin hit a good shot which Isaac did brilliantly to keep out but Halkett was first to follow up ad tucked home the loose ball just 2 minutes after our opener. Worse was to come within another 2 minutes. From deep in their own half Bodicote took a throw-in and were allowed to travel without a single challenge the length of the pitch before the same unmarked player tapped home at the far post. A string of chances came and went before George finally levelled matters with a neat finish after good work out wide by Jake Manning who had been sent through by a great Ollie pass. More and more we looked like scoring but we were just rushing when we had time and taking too long when we should have rushed. This will improve the more you speak to one another on the field. Against the run of play we fell behind again. Zain threw himself to the floor after what looked like a fair shoulder challenge from Keiron. The ref sadly bought the dive and Wilkin fired home on the stroke of half-time.
It didn't take too much to raise our spirits at the break and we came out with fire in our bellies and determined to right the wrongs of the first half.Bodicote sat deep and rode their luck as first Jake then Harlie were both denied in close range efforts.The Bodicote keeper had gotten lucky on a number of occasions when rushing from his line but would his luck holdout? Thomas Young got the goal all of our efforts deserved when he sneaked over to the right flank to recieve a clever throw from Jake. His first effort was saved but Tom lashed home the rebound and we were now looking at our watches to see how long was left and could we keep battreing away to win the game. Closer and closer we came but when George struck the bar with seven minutes left we might well have felt it wasn't to be. From a Bodicote corner we swept upfield to sieze the moment. Joe blasted away the danger at the back post ,George picked up the loose ball and sent a pinpoint pass through the last 2 Bodicote defenders. Tyler raced around Adam Rimmer and placed home a great shot to give us the lead with five minutes to go. Callum on for Harlie made some strong runs down the left flank to eat up some time and from on run found Tom just inside . Tom looked up and crossed perfectly for Tyler to lash home a sweet volley that put the icing on a delicious cake. Great stuff boys nearly back to our best, keep it up for a strong end to the season. From back to front today well done.
