Slazenger mens 1st’s team returned to the field after the Christmas break, keen to build on last years good work. With a solid start on the season and a second place league position, Slaz were looking to improve against teams they had not contested well; Ramgarhia was one of these.
Ramgarhia were always going to be a tough start to the season, though the home team started with good movement and quick ball speed to shift the ball around a dangerous, but less mobile opposition.
The visitors looked dangerous with a combination of quick ball skills and physical attacking. Slazenger countered with fast movement, good ball control and strong use of width to stretch Ramgarhia’s midfield.
Slaz had the edge with more possession and creating more chances in the D, but failed to hit the target.
For the majority of the game, the score remained 0-0, with Dan Perry and Jack Kitchen going close. It looked like neither side would score, but Slaz maintained pressure and worked the ball round to maintain the pressure.
For large portions of play, the ball stayed inside Ramgarhia’s half; Slaz forcing the visitors to pull their entire team back to prevent conceeding.
At Slazenger’s end, Man of the Match Will Buckley kept Ramgarhia’s possession in the Slaz D to a minimum, blunting any counter-attack.
The sustained pressure eventually paid off. Hard work from the Horbury side finally lead to Richard Tuddenham flicking the ball into the net 5 min from the final whistle.