RHODE LANE SLAY WELSH DRAGONS
After the most successful season in the clubs history, Rhode Lane Wanderers Under 13 team secured the top spot in Division 2. The coming season looks set to be the most challenging ever as the team move in to the newly created Super League. Over the summer months, team coach, Kev Parsons, has arranged a series matches to test the boys as they prepare for the Super League. ‘Performances have been encouraging but there is still work to be done’ says Kev.
Today the boys took on Llantrisant Dragons, one of the very top Welsh teams. Their coach, Dafyd ‘Daffy’ Evans, boasted in his pre-match interview…’These lads are on fire, they have just hammered the Welsh Champions 4-1 in midweek. We are very confident we can take on and destroy Rhode Lane, who are they anyway? There is no such thing as a friendly game, we compete for every ball, if we don’t get it we get very angry, so watch out’!
Kev Parsons gave a far more measured interview in his pre-match conference… ‘We are proud to represent England in this international club match. We know our weaknesses but we play to our strengths. If we can tie up the midfield, hold the back line together then our forwards will do the rest.’
Top FA Referee, David Jackson was available for the match, just as well as it turned out. This was a fiercely competitive game.
The game got off to bright start for Rhode Lane, pressure down the left flank immediately put the Dragons under pressure. But following several breaks by the Welsh visitors, Rhode Lane finally buckled; a swift move and fine finish gave the Rhode Lane ‘keeper no chance. We were 1-0 down after only 6 minutes. The Dragons thought this was going to be easy.
Further pressure pushed Rhode Lane to the brink. The Dragons were growing in confidence as they switched the ball from left to right then right to left again. But our boys held out, Steve and Matt fighting for every ball, managing to hold them at bay. Andy constantly kept at them, never giving an inch without a scrap. Then, against the run of play, Rhode Lane won a free kick 25 yards out. Danny swiftly took the kick, and like a surface to air missile it met a sprinting Josh who let rip with a sweetly struck right footed volley. The Dragons’ goalie lunged to his left but had no chance, Wanderers were back level after 11 minutes.
Llantrisant responded by pushing forward but there was no way past Elliot who held his ground with some great saves. In the 16th minute Elliot released the ball with one of his famous super long drop kicks, it bounced over their defender and Theo pounced on the ball, but the goalie and defenders closed in on him. Half a chance was all he needed, he looked up, saw the goalie off his line and flighted the ball into the net. 2-1 to Rhode Lane Wanderers! The crowd went wild! The boys from Wales were stunned.
The 2nd half started with Llantrisant determined to take control and make an early breakthrough. Searching balls, looping crosses and rapid fire shots on goal were flying in from everywhere as Rhode Lane floundered under the pressure, Then, 12 minutes into the half, Elliot raced off his line to try and halt a break. The ball zipped past him and as the frantic defence desperately tried to halt the ball it reached the net, leaving the scores level at 2-2.
This was a critical period of the game, the Welsh boys seemed to have the upper hand. They raced at the Wanderers midfield and back line and finally a superb shot headed for the goal. As if in a high speed car chase, Dars screeched towards the line, an outstretched leg just made contact with the ball as it headed into the net. Amazingly, he turned the ball around the post and into the side netting. This was to prove to be a key point in the game.
Captain, Joe Walsh began to turn the heat up in midfield, some crushing tackles and devastatingly accurate through balls creating all sorts of problems for the Welsh defence. Josh began to menace the right backs with a series of jinxing runs that left them standing. Sam teased them with a number of silky ball skills that left them gasping and frustrated. The pressure from Rhode Lane was rewarded with a corner kick on the left. The ball was driven low towards the near post, The Rhode Lane boys charged forward, the Dragons’ defence panicked and a defender edged it past the ‘keeper and into his own goal. 3-2 to RLW.
With 10 minutes to go RLW moved into top gear. Llantrisant were all over the place and conceded another corner. Jimmer sent the ball goalwards, the Dragons stood and watched as the ball arced away from them, Mitch ghosted forward into the 18 yard box and unleashed a devastatingly accurate header past their goalie and into the net. 4-2! There was no way back for a despondent Llantrisant.
The Dragons poured everything into the game but were, by now, no match for the slick passing and stamina of The Wanderers. The dragon was slain.
Referee, Dave Jackson blew for time. Cheers went up from the home crowd for the boys in blue. After a tough and very physical game the players all shook hands and congratulated each other on the level of commitment every player had shown.
The Llantrisant coach, was disappointed but big enough to say, ‘What a game! Congratulations to Rhode Lane, we really wanted a victory here but you wore us down, passed beautifully and took your chances. You deserve the win’. Kevin Parsons of Rhode Lane acknowledged the strength of the Welsh team but went on to claim, ‘Our boys all gave 100%, this is what you get when you do that, a great victory’.
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