Reedham F.C. 1 - 1 Salhouse Rovers Reserves
On a blustery an overcast morning Reedham etched out a 1-1 draw with a youthful and well organised Salhouse Rovers Reserves side. Kicking with the wind in the first half, Reedham caught the Salhouse forwards offside twice within the first couple of minutes before forcing the first corner of the game which came to nothing. On five minutes Salhouse created the first chance with a run on goal but the shot was closed down, leading to a corner. From the Salhouse corner, Reedham broke quickly and a through ball by Cameron Brett for Monty Mulholland to run onto was just overhit, the keeper quick off his line to snuff out the chance.
Salhouse then started to impose themselves on the game, pressing Reedham into giving the ball away with a series of long balls down the field. Salhouse created a series of half chances leading to shots on the Reedham goal from the edge of the area, the first two missing the left hand upright and the third missing the right hand post. From the goal kick, Reedham carved out their best passage of play of the first half. A short kick to the left back was then passed through a series of players until the ball eventually found its way to Ricky Grimmer 25 yards from goal whose shot defelcted over for a corner. From the resulting corner Ricky Grimmer headed over.
Good harrying down the right flank by Jack Horrowitz led to him stealing the ball from the Salhouse left back. His whipped in cross was a peach, Ricky Grimmer chesting it down and laying it off for Cameron Brett to air shot with his right boot, before it broke to Dan Carter who hit his shot wide of the right stick. The two teams cancelled each other out up to half time, giving the manager time to reaffirm what needed to be done.
The second half started with a foul throw by Chris Sparrow but Reedham soon hit their stride. A quick throw in and flick on let Ricky Grimmer hit a sliding effort just wide of the Salhouse keepers right hand post. A short stoppage soon followed after Josh Cox took a ball to the throat. Reedham generously let Salhouse pass the ball back to their keeper.
A lack of communication between the Salhouse left and centre backs nearly let Ricky Grimmer in but he was closed down and won a corner for Reedham. The corner was whipped in and after a Salhouse head made first contact, Kieron Hunt nodded it back across goal and Ricky Grimmer did his best to get some power behind his header but could only loop an easy catch to the Salhouse keeper.
Salhouse then had their best spell of the game. They won a corner and when the ball was whipped in Barrie Sills missed the initial cross and the ball fizzed off a Reedham leg for another corner. This wasn't the first time Reedham looked shaky defending set pieces. Soon after Salhouse were pressing forwards and a ball was slipped inside Jake Lozell at left back. He lunged in and looked like he took the ball but he also wiped out the attacker and the ref awarded Salhouse a penalty. Ben Roat looked an imposing figure in the goal - well he must have done something because the Salhouse player inexpicably put his firm effort wide of Ben Roat's left hand post!
On 61 minutes Ben Roat then had to stretch to push a shot around the post from another Salhouse attack. There were mutterings on the sidelines that some of the Salhouse players were not being picked up and as the corner came in the second ball dropped to a Salhouse player 14 yards out in the middle of the goal. He drilled his shot into the bottom left hand corner leaving Roat no chance. Reedham 0 Salhouse 1
The goal was the turning point for Reedham who finally started to put some passes together. Chris Sparrow took a very late tackle and was replaced soon after as a precaution. Cameron Brett then went on a mazey run. The ball bobbled through a couple of defenders but he couldn't get his shot off quick enough and the chance was gone. Baring sporadic forays in the Reedham final third, the home team were now keeping Salhouse pinned back. Sure enough the pressure paid off as Cameron was fed early and for the first time in the match had the chance to take on the left back. His early cross was helped on by Ricky Grimmer and Monty Mulholland was one on one with the keeper. Despite a difficult angle, he guided the ball firmly past the Salhouse goalie causing a loud cheer from the now drying out spectators on the sidelines.
Barry 'The Stanchion' Payne was fed in but a heavy touch let the keeper come out to claim the ball. However, as he fell onto the ball it slipped from his grasp and Payne teed up Fergus Ogg who, with the goal at his mercy, cracked the ball way over the bar, much to his and the crowd's annoyance. The ball could well have taken a bobble as he hit it but he had time to take a touch before striking it!
The remainder of the game saw most of the action still in the Salhouse half. A floated corner saw James Cater head wide with a free header. Salhouse provided a genuine counter attacking threat but timely interventions from an exposed back four kept them at bay. Cameron Brett was the next to go close. The ball broke to him on the edge of the area and his firm strike only just missed the top corner of the goal. Dan Taylor burst through the middle but his shot from 30 yards was tame and he might have been better feeding Cameron Brett on the right wing. The final action saw Reedham force a corner but Salhouse nullified the danger and the ref brought the game to a close.
The blustery wind made the game tricky and Salhouse certainly coped with the conditions better. This was a good draw for Reedham who were not at their best today. Lessons need to be learned. They must be braver in possession and work is needed on set pieces. Still, it was a good workout and the fitness levels are certainly improving. Onwards to the next friendly.
Man of the Match - Ricky Grimmer. He put in a tireless shift hassling defenders, always providing an outlet and linking up play well. An assist for the goal capped off a fine day's work.
