First Half:
On the back of a 3 game win streak, it was imperative for NRAFC to continue on this. They proved that nice and early, getting out of the blocks and piling on the pressure with the game firmly in the hands of the away side. A quick break, leading to yet another skilful exchange between Serkan Ozdemir and Oliver Brown resulted in the strike from Serkan which took a deflection but had enough power to steer its way into the back of the net, a great finish nonetheless.
It got even better for the away side, as a ball over was headed into the path of Ben Dos Santos, who took one touch to set up the goal of the season so far. He looked up and noticed the keeper off his line, and used quick instinct to unleash a dipping volley which soared over the keeper with precision to double the lead for New Russellers. Things looked in good stead.
However, a lapse in concentration which was arguably the first half decent opportunity for the home side saw Serkan Ozdemir and Reece Churcher lose sight of the attacking player who put a tame rolling shot past Grant Tugwell and into the goal. 2-1, could this be a comeback for the home side?
Luckily enough it wasn't as the build up play from the back was fantastic for the away side. NRAFC are really looking like a team who can move the ball around anywhere on the pitch, and Serkan Ozdemir returned the favour for Oliver Brown by floating over a beautifully uted ball over for Oliver to run onto and lob the goalkeeper from a narrow angle, which somehow dropped quick enough to retain the two goal lead.
Russellers nearly took a 3 goal lead, but unfortunately the fantastic cross into the box evaded Oliver Brown and the keeper to find a way to an unmarked Callum Stapley, who looked a dead cert to score from 3 yards out... or so we thought. It was reminiscent of Kanu for West Brom against Middlesborough (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jQG73v7X0U for those who don't remember) and he shanked it over the bar. What a glorious miss, one that will live with him forever!
Second Half:
Rusellers started as they ended the half, all guns blazing, pressing hard but couldn't put the ball in the net. They paid for that too. An extremely soft freekick was awarded to the home side, who floated in a ball which was met by their captain, who thundered a header into the roof of the net, as a despairing Reece Churcher looked on at his mistake of not challenging him in the air, which he is recognised for world wide by our players and fans. Nuevo could nick an undeserved point with the way things were panning out as chances were being spurned, and unlucky chances from Ben Dos Santos and Callum Stapley both hitting the wood work with sublime attempts, and Ben Cross unleashing a long range effort which the keeper just about tipped over the bar.
But straight from the kick off, a break led to a Russellers corner. Ben Dos Santos whipped the ball in, headed upwards by the opposition. A goalmouth scramble followed, with Oliver Brown getting the initial shot away, which was met with cries for handball as the player on the line clearly handled it, but all was forgotten once Tom Stapley ventured past his comfort zone, gaining a nosebleed in the process of slamming a ferocious half volley high into the postage stamp of the goal, to once again claw back the 2 goal lead Russellers deserved if not more.
As the game went on, Nuevo Club grew frustrated, with claims of the away side 'cheating' but NRAFC just let the football do the talking and saw the game out until the end. Full time whistle went, another inspiring victory despite the opportunity to have a few more goals, but 3 points is 3 points at the end of the day, and this takes us ahead of Nuevo Club, and if Riverview United draw or lose today, then New Russellers sit nicelly in second place, hoping to come up against Wilmington sometime soon, who put Higham Bulls in their place 7-2 today.
Onwards to another cup fixture against Division One side Gravesend United next week in the G&M Motors Cup. #COYNR
