Pre Season Friendly, Tuesday 9th July
My first game of the 2024/25 season was an intriguing pre season contest between Senior Football new boys Rayleigh Town, who had earned their first ever season in Step Six of the non league pyramid after winning the Olympian Premier last season, and last season's FA Vase runners up and Essex Senior League side Great Wakering Rovers at London Road.
Both had begun their pre season schedules at the weekend, Town earning a 1-1 draw against another local ESL side in the shape of Hullbridge Sports, whilst Rovers had been defeated 3-0 at Isthmian Premier Bowers & Pitsea, and this contest was sure to prove another stern test of both sides squads as they continued to find the right formula and players to begin their campaigns in around three weeks time.
Rayleigh drew first blood six minutes before the break after the striker was quickest to react to the loose ball on the byline, and he cleverly managed to cut back onto his right foot before firing inside the near post and hold a slender half time lead, and then eight minutes after the break they doubled their money when they managed to react quickest to a ball into the box, and it ended with a close range finish going in despite a defenders best efforts to clear off the goal line.
It looked as if the Step Six hosts would record a very satisfying win over their Step Five visitors, but Rovers had other ideas, and with eleven minutes remaining grabbed a goal back when a ball laid back across goal was side footed home, and then with four minutes left of the contest a mistake at the back allowed Rovers to nip in but before they could get an effort on goal a challenge came in resulting in a foul and a spot kick, which was emphatically converted, meaning the match would end in a draw.
Rayleigh looked good and at 2-0 up certainly had plenty of positives to look at, but no doubt the late comeback from Rovers would have disappointed them, but on the other side for Rovers they showed some character to stay in the contest and then battle back into it late on to at least show themselves they can do such a thing.
A good contest it was though and a very enjoyable first outing for the new season, it was good to be back after two months off!!!
Full time Rayleigh Town 2 Great Wakering Rovers 2
No comments:
Post a Comment