Match Report - SCTFC 4 - 3 Paget Rangers FC

It was a Saturday goal fest at The Central Ground as a young Royals setup beat local rivals Paget Rangers, despite a nervy end to the game. The game began brightly for The Royals, as an early in swinging corner was tipped over the bar by the Paget ‘keeper, followed by a free kick, drawn by great work on the ball from Cameron Philip, which was unable to result in an opening goal.

Paget gradually began to ease themselves into the game, as a good run from their 14 created space, allowing him to drive a low-driven cross across the box, which the no.10 was unable to connect with. A few minutes later saw another quick counterattack from Paget, in which a fancy rabona cross from their number 10 was tipped over the bar by Nathan Lawrence.

Paget were arguably denied a goal-scoring opportunity when their forward received a slipped pass, only to be tripped. The referee, despite protests from Paget, instructed both sides to play on.

The lead was doubled from a corner, swung in by number 8, one of the four starting trialists, was powered home by Sean Doyle to make it 2-0. Doyle’s goal was almost replicated, yet at the other end of the field, when Paget’s number 6 headed the ball just over the crossbar. It was almost 3-0 when, on the brink of half-time, number 10, a trialist, darted into the box, flicking the ball past the keeper, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by a Paget defender. That was the final piece of the action for the first half, as The Royals went in with a two-goal lead.

Town started the second half strongly, as an attack from our number 10 resulted in a free kick, as he was tripped off the ball. Joel Powney stepped up to the ball, which was around 25 yards out, and rocketed an unstoppable shot into the top left corner, after a long run up, to make it 3-0 – certainly the best goal of the bunch! Nathan Lawrence was replaced by Liam Doyle in the second half, and the substitution evidently paid off, when Doyle saved a seemingly certain goal from Paget’s number nine, putting his hands to a header from around four yards out. Doyle pulled off another great save, also from a header, only moments later.

Paget pressed for the ball throughout the second half, in an attempt to claw themselves out from a three-goal deficit, and it was successfully reduced when a ball drilled across towards a Paget midfielder was powered home on the first touch, thanking the post on its way in. The Royals almost immediately regained their three-goal lead, as great link up play between 15 and 18 forced a great save from the Paget keeper, from close range. The Royals found their fourth not soon after, as another piece of fantastic play between 15 and 18 saw a 1-2, allowing 18 to create space for himself, drilling a shot across the box to Shaun Morris, who smashed home.

Paget were awarded a penalty within the last ten minutes of the game, after their number 11 was tripped, allowing their number 16 to stroke the ball past Doyle into the bottom left corner, to make it 4-2. Paget continued to apply the pressure towards the latter stages of the game, in desperate attempt to produce a comeback, as a strike from long-range was hit straight at Doyle, forcing an easy save. Paget were awarded another penalty with minutes to go, as 11 almost replicated 16’s penalty, driving it past Doyle into the bottom left corner. The comeback was not to be for Paget, as the referee blew the final whistle of the match, ending 4-3 to Sutton Coldfield Town.

We now look ahead to Tuesday’s friendly away at Sporting Khalsa, which kicks off at 7:30PM, come on you Royals!

BY JACK BLENKIRON.