The Preston Manor Royals faced off against Forest Row II in a tense cup encounter at the Memorial Ground on 23 November 2024, where they ultimately succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. The match, which kicked off at 2:00pm, saw the Royals struggle to find their rhythm, despite a spirited second-half performance that nearly turned the tide.
The Royals lined up in a 4-3-2-1 formation, designed to provide a solid defensive base while allowing for attacking creativity. Jack Bould took his place in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Sam Copeland and Gillan Williams as the right and left defenders, with Adam Arnold and Jake Burton forming the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Daniel Clarke operated on the right, with Matt Howard and Jake Nurse in central roles, while Marlon Perrin and Stiven Lopes flanked the attack as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Jaegan Roberts led the line as the lone striker. The substitutes for the match were Valery Jingwa, Kevin Wokabi, and Daren Calver.
The match began with Forest Row II taking an early lead in the eighth minute, as they capitalised on a defensive lapse from the Royals. A close-range effort from the opponents found the back of the net, putting the Royals on the back foot right from the start.
In response, the Royals began to assert themselves, with Adam Arnold testing the Forest Row II goalkeeper in the 17th minute, but his effort was saved, highlighting the Royals' growing intent to level the score. However, the match took a turn for the worse for the Royals when Jake Nurse received a yellow card for a bad tackle in the 20th minute, prompting a tactical substitution just two minutes later, with Valery Jingwa replacing him.
As the first half progressed, the Royals struggled to contain Forest Row II’s attacking threats. The opponents doubled their lead in the 38th minute, scoring another goal from inside the box, this time with a left-footed strike that left Bould with little chance. Just before the half-time whistle, Stiven Lopes found himself in the referee's book for unsporting behaviour, adding to the Royals' woes as they headed into the break trailing 2-0.
The second half saw a renewed effort from the Royals, who made a substitution in the 61st minute, bringing on Kevin Wokabi for Jaegan Roberts.
The Royals pressed on and made another substitution in the 83rd minute, with Daren Calver coming on for Sam Copeland. The Royals finally found a breakthrough in the 88th minute when Kevin Wokabi scored, converting a short pass from Valery Jingwa to bring the score to 2-1. This goal injected a sense of urgency into the Royals' play as they sought an equaliser.
In a dramatic finish, Stiven Lopes had a chance to level the match in stoppage time, but his attempt went wide, sealing the Royals' fate as they exited the cup competition. The referee's performance was commendable throughout, maintaining control of the match despite the mounting tensions.
In the end, the Preston Manor Royals will reflect on missed opportunities and a slow start that ultimately cost them dearly against a determined Forest Row II side.
