In the final game of the pre-season schedule a depleted Royals side tasted defeat for the first time this year.
The Royals started the game without a recognised centre half, although stand in skipper stockley and merrie deputised well, and the patched up side struggled to recapture the flowing passing that had been evident in the previous two games. After the dust settles the royals will be able to look back on the positives with broomhead and knott coming through 90 minutes unscathed and debutant Paxton showing encouraging signs in the royals goal.
With all the changes the royals struggled to settle and this was evident early on as Database dominated the ball and created a couple of early chances. Paxton tipped an early strike onto the bar and stockley made an excellent last ditch challenge to deny a clear opportunity. A further chance from a corner led to dowling scrambling off the line as the pressure mounted.
After 20 minutes of chasing, the royals started to settle and the first team move from the royals ended in a long range effort from knott that tested the keeper. Another long range effort on 24 from knott was the next notable effort from the royals during this spell of possesion ending in the keepers arms again, but the royals were starting to threaten.
It was the royals that broke the deadlock first on 27 minutes with Luke Broomhead capitalising on a mistake from the Database keeper rounding the keeper with a 'ronaldo esque' trick to score the goal that his hard work deserved. Broomhead's first half effort and determination epitomized the royals first half display and it was fitting that he scored the opener.
After conceding, Database let frustrations get the better of them and regularly tossed verbals at each other, turning the game into a scrappy affair for 15 minutes. The only other chance of the half fell to broomhead. After doing the hard work of beating his man broomhead blazed over from 18 yards when one on one with the keeper. The royals went in 1-0 at half time.
The second half started with the royals sloppy in posession and Database in a determined mood. A fortuitous equaliser put database on level terms with the royals yet again being the architects of their own downfall. This has been a recurring theme in pre-seson and something that culshaw will want to ensure the side doesn't carry into the season. With the defence failing to clear, despite several opportunities, the ball was tossed back in and a blunder from the otherwise impressive paxton resulted in an equaliser on 52.
With the royals now evidently shell shocked, Database pressed hard for another and on 61 broke through. A cross came in from the left, evading everyone and just escaped the reach of paxton falling at the database forward for a tap in at the back post. The equaliser had stunned royals and the second database goal had come because of sloppy play in what was a difficult 10 minutes for the home side.
The final 30 minutes was littered with chances for the royals as the game opened up. Andy knott started to get hold of the ball in threatening positions and create chances for the forwards, showing signs of the player that graced the shirt 18 months ago. Substitue Viquerat, playing on a non-contract agreement, could of scored a hat-trick on another day and knott was a whisker away from latching onto a ball across goal but the royals just couldn't find the equaliser.
The Royals dissapointment at the final whistle was evident but this shows the efforts that the eleven had put in. On reflection the royals will be dissapointed to have lost the game and aspects of the performance will also have to improve in the season, but the determination and work rate will have pleased the manager and the pre-season has highlited more positives than negatives going into the first league game.
