The Preston Manor Royals faced Ridgewood II in a cup home match at the Falmer Sports Complex on 21 September 2024. The Royals emerged victorious with a 2-0 scoreline, showcasing their offensive prowess while maintaining a solid defensive line throughout the match.
The Royals lined up in a 4-3-2-1 formation, which is typically characterised by a robust midfield presence and a lone striker supported by two attacking midfielders. Jack Bould was stationed as the goalkeeper, while the defensive line comprised Sam Copeland on the right, Adam Arnold and Jake Burton in central defence, and Gillan Williams on the left. Tyler Banting operated centrally in midfield, flanked by right midfielder Jake Nurse and left midfielder Valery Jingwa. The attacking trio featured Danny Grafton and Stiven Lopes as attacking midfielders, supporting lone striker Marlon Perrin.
The substitutes for Preston Manor Royals included George Mathai, Mark Baroni, and Daren Calver, providing depth and tactical options as the match progressed.
The game kicked off with an early attempt from Danny Grafton, whose effort was saved just one minute in. As the Royals pressed forward, Gillan Williams fell foul of the offside rule in the fourth minute due to good defending, a decision that was deemed correct. Jake Burton's long pass in the eighth minute created a chance, but Sam Copeland's subsequent shot was also saved, highlighting the Royals' attacking intent. Valery Jingwa then attempted to add to the tally in the tenth minute but shot wide.
A moment of discontent followed for the Royals when Stiven Lopes received a yellow card for dissent in the 11th minute. However, just a minute later, Marlon Perrin scored the opening goal with a header, assisted by Adam Arnold’s own header, bringing the score to 1-0. Perrin continued to threaten, taking two more attempts in the 14th and 32nd minutes, both of which were saved.
Tensions rose as Marlon Perrin received a yellow card for dissent in the 35th minute, and just two minutes later, he was joined on the sidelines after receiving a red card for a second yellow, leaving the Royals a man down. Despite this setback, goalkeeper Jack Bould displayed solid reflexes, catching a ball in the 40th minute to maintain the Royals' lead as the first half concluded.
The second half began with a substitution as George Mathai replaced Jake Nurse, and Bould continued to shine with another catch in the 53rd minute. Jake Burton's defensive contributions were crucial, evidenced by a tackle in the 54th minute that prevented a goal-scoring chance. Marlon Perrin, undeterred, made another attempt in the 58th minute, which was saved, followed closely by Danny Grafton’s saved shot.
As the match continued, Valery Jingwa and Sam Copeland both had attempts that went high, and Jake Burton's defensive header in the 74th minute highlighted the Royals’ resilience. In the 76th minute, Valery Jingwa was replaced by Mark Baroni as the Royals looked to tighten their grip on the game. Adam Arnold’s defensive headers and interceptions in the 78th and 79th minutes ensured that Ridgewood II could not find a way through.
Jack Bould remained vigilant, making a catch in the 83rd minute before Jake Burton's header in the 85th minute successfully prevented a Ridgewood chance. As the match neared its conclusion, Daren Calver came on for Sam Copeland in the 86th minute. The Royals then extended their lead when Mark Baroni scored in the 86th minute, courtesy of a short pass from George Mathai.
Further substitutions saw Valery Jingwa re-enter in place of Danny Grafton in the 87th minute, and Jake Nurse returned for Jingwa in the 88th minute, providing fresh legs as the game approached stoppage time. Jack Bould capped off a strong performance with a dive at the feet of an opponent in the 92nd minute, ensuring a clean sheet for the Royals.
With a final score of 2-0, Preston Manor Royals celebrated a well-deserved victory against Ridgewood II, demonstrating both attacking flair and defensive resilience. Jake Burton’s outstanding performance earned him recognition as the player of the match.
