Richfield Rovers 2 - 4 Tilehurst YM
Tilehurst YM finally managed to win ugly in a gritty victory over top of the league Richfield Rovers Reserves at Prospect Park.
The game started brightly for Tilehurst as they looked to play their usual passing game, and they took the lead early on, when a pinpoint corner from Mark Harding (Boyband) was forced in at the far post by a towering header from Centre Back Matt Gill.
Richefield Rovers turned up 15 minutes late for the game and did well to field 11 players, after the wedding of one of their players the night before which in a weird twist of fate, resulted in their left back alledgedly putting their usual goalkeeper in hospital. Richfield's lack of organisation in the first half however was, bizarrely, the undoing of Tilehurst.
Playing against what looked like 4 out and out forwards, Tilehurst struggled with their own shape and ended the half 2-1 down.
The first goal came after 10 minutes from a corner where the ball was played cleverly infield to the Richfield defender, who 35 yards out dinked an intelligent ball in to the YM box for the unmarked player to nod past a flapping Bobby Buck, deputising in goal for the absent Mark Bindfield.
Richfield's second goal came on 42 minutes. Again, a corner from the right was met sweetly by the head of the Richfield attacker on the penalty spot for him to bury the header past the helpless Bobby Buck.
A half time roasting from YM Manager Clive Butler saw a different Tilehurst YM come out, and as the Richfield players began to sober up, and the hangovers visibly kicked in, Tilehurst started to dominate.
The equalizer came early in the second half. After James Williams was clumsily fould on the left touchline, 40 yards from goal, another sweet delivery in to the Richfield area was flicked on after a great leap by Mark Tancock (official 2009 Mr Wales!), and on to the outstretched right boot of Matt Gill again. And he made no mistake as he slotted it through the Richfield keeper from 6 yards out.
The game was there for the taking, and Tilehurst almost went 3-2 up when a strong driving run into the Richfield area by Tancock resulted in a deft flick that went inches wide of the keeper's far post.
Tilehurst eventually took the lead their possession and determination deserved on 75 minutes. For the third time it was a set piece that was Richfield's undoing as they failed to deal with a Boyband corner. The ball fell at the back of the area to substitute Ashley Swain who's cross was met by that man Matt Gill again to head his and Tilehurt's third - the first hat-trick scored by a Tilehurst YM centre back since cult Tilehurst stalwart Johnny Johnson in 1926.
The game was wrapped up ten minutes later. The ball was passed around nicely by YM in the middle of the park and Boyband's through ball found Ashley Swain just inside the right hand side of the area, where his well hit drive was deflected past the stand-in Richfield keeper.
So in summary, a somewhat lacklustre first half, followed by an awe inspiring performance from Mike Shanks and a superb hat-trick from Man Of The Match Matt Gill saw high flying Richfield off and gives them hope for the season that they might yet challenge for the promotion places.
