Lovell on the double, Russellers through without trouble
New Russellers 2 (Lovell, 40, 75)
Punjab United 0
New Russellers progress into the next round of the G&M Motors Cup, keeping alive the audacious dream of the domestic Quadruple, as they defeat a side 3 divisions their senior in the final fixture of 2014 before Christmas.
New Russellers, fielding a mostly injury/absent free side, were rocked with one notable absentee as top goal scorer Oliver Brown had declared himself unavailable in the weeks ahead of the game, so up stepped Matthew Dowdall playing up front in his first start for NRAFC.
The game began with Punjab looking the more likely to break the deadlock, with a string of good chances. At first their striker latched onto a good pass but was denied first by a good tackle from Nathan Cross, slowing his momentum before Grant Tugwell made a superb block to prevent the goal. A few minutes later, some wonderful link up play on the right wing saw Punjab split open the Russellers defence, only for their striker to somehow see his effort whip wide at the last moment.
The slow start was just the tonic Russellers needed as they began to take control of the game. A scrappy affair, where chances were few and far between, on the stroke of half time a corner was sent over by Ben Dos Santos, which was punched clear by the so far impressive and commanding Punjab Goalkeeper, only for Ben Lovell to meet it on the edge of the area and steer a shot (rumour to deflect off of Serkan Ozdemir’s ankle) low and past the goalkeeper, sending feeling of euphoria around the Russellers camp.
SECOND HALF
Following a rallying speech by Captain Tom Stapley, Russellers started the second half brightly. Again, in a game of little true and clear cut changes, Russellers began to pressure Punjab and notably their shaky back line, forcing a range of mistakes which would prove to be their ultimate downfall.
Firstly, a goal kick from Punjab’s goalkeeper was miscued and fell straight into the vicinity of Serkan Ozdemir who, after taking a smart first touch, caught the ball on the volley, sending a high and looping strike goal wards. The goalkeeper dealt with the 55 yard effort well, but flapped it straight into the pathway of the encroaching Ben Lovell, who made no mistake converting the rebound. The crucial second goal fell to Russellers, and from here the game was all but theirs.
Russellers in truth should have had more goals. A poor back pass to Punjab’s goalkeeper was closed down by Ben Lovell, forcing their goal keeper to again divert a poor clearance straight into the path of Michael Barnshaw, who took the ball towards the edge of the area but failed to deliver the killer ball for Lovell, who saw his shot blocked for a corner. Not long after this, Lovell again closed down Punjab’s confidence lacking goalkeeper, blocked the ball and was hauled down but, much to the disbelief of the 22 players on the pitch, and 5 players off of it, the referee was the only person at Acacia Hall who decided it wasn’t a penalty.
It was all in vain however as Russellers secured their 12th win in a row, ending 2014 in a truly fantastic run of form. They move into 2015 3rd in the table, unbeaten in 12 and in 3 cups. A truly historic inaugural season could be on the cards and with the confidence high, players to return from injury, this could end up being a historic 2014/15 campaign.
