MATCH REPORT : Royal High v RED 20th March

So the RED team, still licking their wounds from the match against the Giants and St Peters Elite, found themselves playing in Europe on Saturday.  they played a team from a completely different league, far from home with no scouting report to assist.  How would this adventure pan out?

First things first.  The directions from Neil were quite simply stupendous.  They were "Straight through Jocks Lodge, past Morrisons, turn right at Iceland (not Iceland but Iceland), Royal High pitch is on your right".  So quite why Eyvindur and Kjartan found themselves driving along Ferry Road is beyond us all - but not Google maps.  With the pre-match warm up thrown into all kinds of confusion it is no wonder that the RED team traditionally start slowly.

With under a minute on the clock the RED team take the lead - a great run from Danny down the right, a fantastic cross into the middle and Struan smashes the ball home.  0-1 RED.

Ok, ok, so maybe the little detour actually helped the RED team?

Back to the match - the RED team started with Jack in goals this week, Hector and Ollie providing the defensive line, Eyvindur the Explorer, Kjartan the Adventurer and 'On Time' Danny in midfield with Struan wandering around near the other goal.  Sasha started on the bench but was soon flying around the pitch looking for action!

A nice start from the traditionally slow starting RED team was quickly followed by 14 minutes of constant RED pressure.  Poor Jack had nothing to do.  First a nice run from Struan down the left produced a great save from the Royal High goalie.  Then a cracking corner from Danny found Struan who volleyed the cross only for the Royal High goalie to make another excellent save.  Then a fantastic tackle from Kjartan was followed up with a great pass to Struan, who crossed for Danny to test the goalie with a great shot.

Wow - constant RED pressure.

Next it was a fantastic double save from the Royal High goalie - Struan shoots, saved, Struan hits the rebound, saved.  Another fine tackle from Sasha in midfield sets up Danny, who plays a superb pass into Hector who then glides past a couple of defenders and smashes the ball at goal.  Another great save from the Royal High goalie.  "I can see this finishing 0-1" predicted Neil.

Royal High get the ball in midfield and break forward.  A superb shot from their dangerous number 9 flies past Jack.  1-1.

How did that happen?  Literally 15 minutes of constant RED pressure and it is 1-1.  Oh dear.  Undaunted the RED team storm forward.  Kjartan collects the ball on the edge of the Royal High box, turns and smashes the ball high into the Royal High net.  What a finish!  1-2 RED.

Next it was Eyvindur's turn to show some brilliance.  Collecting a ball from a great short pass from Ollie he sets off on a trademark run.  "Framhjá boltanum" shouts Neil.  Ignoring such mediocre advice Eyvindur weaved his way through the Royal High midfield and then the defence before smashing the ball high into the...oh, off the cross bar!  So close.  "Fara sjálfur" reminded Neil.

Another Royal High break, but Ollie and Hector snuff out the danger.  The ball breaks on the edge of the box to the dangerous RH number 9 who takes aim but fires wide.  Disaster.  The ball hits Sasha and spins high over Jack into the net!  How cruel, two shots, only one on target, yet it is 2-2!

Another bout of RED pressure begins.  A genuine stramash in the box results in Struan hitting the bar.  Then a fantastic cross from Struan couldn't quite be forced home by Danny, Kjartan or Eyvindur.  Finally Ollie, playing in midfield now, finds some space on the edge of the box and fires a dangerous looking shot just over the bar.

A long punt from Royal High breaks on the edge of the box.  Ollie clears the danger.  Struan plays the ball back to Ollie - but is short with his pass.  the Royal High forwards are onto it in a flash and they whack the ball high into the net.  3-2 Royal High.

Unbelievable!  The RED team are clearly rattled now and for the next few minutes have to weather a storm as Royal High look to kill the game.  Some stout defending from Sasha, Hector and Ollie keep the RED team in the game.  Jack is forced into a couple of great saves as the RED team look to get to half time without the loss of any further goals.

With seconds remaining in the half RH force a corner.  Everyone marking?  Yes.  Everyone watching the ball and not the players?  Yes.  The ball flies through the RED box, the RED defence watch as three or four or maybe even five RH forwards prod at the ball and poor Jack is helpless to stop another goal.  4-2 Royal High.

The ref blows for half-time.  Oh dear.  That was the first bad goal of the day.  The RED team look sorry for themselves as the brilliant RED coaching team get to work.  A quick reminder from various coaches and the RED team have a new plan - score at least 2 in the second half.  Excellent.

With the plan still fresh in their ears the RED team start the second half with a real purpose.  A break from Kjartan found Danny, a great pass from Danny found Struan, Struan fired in a great shot that was blocked for a corner.  Better.

The corner is cleared, the RH strikers were clearly hiding in the bushes and find themselves on their own bearing down on the new goalie - Eyvindur.  One shot later and it is 5-2 Royal High.

We really didn't deserve that.  A quick reshuffle was Ollie slot back into defence for a bit and Jack come out wide on the left, and Kjartan into defence with strict instructions to get forward.  A couple of minute later some great play in midfield from Sasha set up Danny on the edge of the box.  A nice bit of skill allowed him to find a little space...an excellent right foot shot from Danny. 5-3 Royal High.

(Note to Danny - need to work on that celebration, probably works best when the grass is wet...)

Another famous RED team comeback was stirring.  Jack was looking dangerous.  Some great play from Hector in midfield found Jack.  Jack stepped inside from his position wide on the left and smashes a great right foot shot high into the net.  What a cracking goal.  5-4 Royal High.

It was not all one way traffic.  As the RED team pushed forward Royal High always looked dangerous in attack (and their wee number 9 looks dangerous everytime he 'tackled' an opponent - but that is another story).  Some great tracking back from Danny saved a certain goal with an excellent tackle on the edge of the box but the ref saw things differently and awarded a free kick!  The standard of Scottish refereering - dearie me.

What followed next was outstanding.  The Royal High coach has clearly worked some magic on the training ground - a magnificent free kick routine caused all sorts of trouble for the RED defence and the resulting shot was a certain goal...until Eyvindur threw himself across goal and tipped it onto the cross bar.  What an incredible save.  The comeback is still on!

Once more the RED pressure began to build.  A great shot from Struan was blocked.  An excellent attempt from Danny was well saved.  A little bit of skill from Jack inside the box produced half, no a quarter of a chance, but Jack curled the ball round two defenders and inside the far post.  What a goal. 5-5.

Another magnificent comeback is complete!  The RED team looked a little weary though and found the last couple of minutes tough.  As the away support were calling for the final whistle the exhausted RED defence battled to clear the ball.  Some confusion - surely a free-kick?  No, play on!  The Royal High winger hits the cross and the striker, once again surely hiding in the bushes, pops up at the back post to tap it home.  6-5 Royal High.

With zero seconds left on the clock the RED coaching team throw caution to the wind and line up with one goalie, one defender and everyone else as strikers.  Two of the five RED team strikers kick off and pass back to the midfield - ah, there is no midfield - the Royal High forwards are onto it in a flash and swarm forwards.  Shot. 7-5 Royal High, and the ref brings the game to an end.

Red faces for RED coaching team.  A tricky game against tough opposition is lost.  A little slack defending and poor helping out from the midfield spoiled a mainly great performance, but the strikers have also to accept that they have got to put their chances away.  Some robust challenges seemed to put the RED team off their game a little but they have learned from that and won't worry about it so much the next time.  All in all an excellent team performance.

RED TEAM : back - Kjartan, Ollie, Danny, Sasha ; front - Hector, Eyvindur, Jack, Struan

(Apologies for the lack of action shots - RED team don't have an official photographer but are preparing a package for the BLUE team photographer!)