Match Report
This weekend saw our annual trip to London to play Charterhouse school, a weekend filled with long sleepy train journeys, lots of food, fines, and of course a great game of football. The 2nd XI went into this game hoping to keep their unbeaten start to 2018 going. Knowing full well after a defeat last year in this fixture a positive result was a must. Arriving at the school with a different lineup to normal, on a wet muddy afternoon, perfect conditions for a slide tackle or ten. We went into the game ready to be ran ragged by a younger faster opposition. The game started with charterhouse very much on top. A couple of early warnings made us sit deeper resorting to the occasional long ball towards the ever-tall Jordan and his strike partner and London tour debutant Fergus. The hosts however took the lead from a corner, a short one eventually working its way to a player ready and waiting on the edge of the box to fire home a half volley into the top corner. As ramblers we set about trying to re-build and not concede again. As we started to play more football the chances started to come. A well worked move down the right-hand side from Ed White crossing the ball into the box which was headed clear only to fall to the feet of Joe Reade who dispatched the ball through a crowd of bodies low into the bottom right hand corner. Five minutes later we took a deserved lead, Ed White again bursting down the right-hand side to fire a cross across the box only to be turned in by a Charterhouse player, much to Jordan’s dismay as he was waiting behind the unfortunate defender. The closing stages of the second half saw more Charterhouse pressure but with no overall finish due to a solid back fiver performance led by James Handley. Half-time 2-1 Ramblers.
Eager to press on in the second half we got the ball on the floor and started to play the typical ramblers way, to feet without too much movement. However, the first 10 minutes passed by quietly just the occasional slide tackle that last four or five yards. A third and much needed goal came for the Ramblers soon enough however, Ed White again causing the problems this time scoring himself with what he will tell us all was a shot, we all know however his cross was slightly overhit… nevertheless 3-1 up and some breathing room. Charterhouse grew more and more frustrated as they piled on pressure. With the lion-share of possession but never seeming to get a shot off always stuck outside the box as our team worked tirelessly in defence Russ Hall and Ollie Handley supporting James as the centre half trio. As the game wore on, the ramblers attacking master-class showed itself again, hard working defence playing out to the midfield great link up play and Ed White again there at the end to finish off a great move 4-1. At this point the opposition grew frustrated, and careless with the ball, mistakes were made and our midfield three of Killen, Howat and Reade pounced. A quick break a save by the keeper the ball falling to Reade yards out only for him to skew it wide with his left foot. Good contender for miss of the season by all accounts. His mistake was short lived however as minutes later a very similar opportunity would represent itself and no error this time powerfully put away for Reade’s second and the Ramblers 5th. Our final goal came from a flowing move down the left courtesy of Drakey and Fergus linking up well Fergus’ attempt saved by a joint effort of keeper and defender. The ball spinning in the centre of the goal, In came big Jordan with a triumphant yell from all of half a yard he smashed it home making it 6-1. The final minutes of the game were closed out with more pressure from Charterhouse but ultimately led to nothing due to more hard work and great defending by the team. So at the full time whistle all the cheers said and done. Beer and curry waiting for us upstairs we could congratulate ourselves on a job well done and a successful tour. Leading up to the events of the evening where many beers and shots were consumed by all.