Paying the Penalty

It was going to be a day of dissapointments, starting with the news of no pre- match pies! The freezing weather of late had left us for a while , the playing surface had been given a heavy natural watering overnight but the pitch looked in good health. The team sheet announced an unchanged line up from the excellent draw at Halifax the week before. Woodley named ex Manchester City , Sunderland and Northern Ireland international Jeff Whitley to play in midfield. With no Mark Drew available and Rutter, Manning & Brookes playing at Whalley Range , the bench had only the three of Roscoe, Oates & Griff Jones keeping warm.
The game starts and it is clear from the off Boro want a win , the game is pacy, frantic at times in the opening 15 minutes. Boro ask the early questions with some good controlled passing largely invoving Sampson, Mark Jones and Howson. The team both playing and managing seem more vocal today, players are closing down quickly and chasing. Mark Jones is fighting for everything . The frantic opening is looking for a more patient approach and Boro at times are rushing play. Chances are few with good moves breaking down at the vital time. Woodley have little to offer before Hogan sends a ball down the flank for Gavin Salmon to run on to , he is well placed to strike but hits the ball high and very wide. Owen Roberts is looking to deliver from his left foot as often as the Woodley defence let him. Brockley is over zealous in the tackle and brings Queeley down 25 yards from goal. Salmon takes the free kick , the ball deflects off the studs of the jumping Boro wall for the first corner of the game. The ball runs loose for Walker to strike wide. Ian Fitzpatrick is given a golden oppurtunityon 21 as Woodley fail to clear a long punt up field , the keeper fluffs the catch and when the ball spins for Fitzpatrick he does well to find space but elects to blast the ball rather than a placed strike , the ball nearly clears the stand. He as another chance two minutes later when Boro win a free kick at 22 yards. He curls the ball well over the wall but unluckily over the bar as well. The visitors are limited to long distance football and have little to go at. Radcliffe Borough throughout the half have demonstrated that they can pass the ball very well, the demonstration of finishing a move is to be worked at. Fitzpatrick unless fed on his left pauses play too often when the momentum is with Boro. Sampson as looked impressive higher up the field. Howson as worked hard again in the half but seems to be doing most of his work wide of the goals. Boro have not capatalised on the possession and are left reeling when on a rare break Danny Queely is challenged well in the box by Dawson, the tackle slightly from behind as the referee pointing to the spot in time added on to the 45. Salmon steps up and makes it 1-0 , a punishing body blow to the energised Boro side.
Hungry for pies and a home goal i settle for hot tea!
No changes for the second half , Woodley start the brighter and soon win a corner and free kick before Boro wake up. Howson working on the flank wins the ball and feeds Fitzpatrick who as his shot blocked, the corner is met by Dawson who can not direct on goal. Connell sends a ball up and under that Howson gets a toe to , Fitzpatrick shapes and shoots very high and wide. Substitutions by both sides break up the lacklustre game. Boro change the frontline with Howson and Fitzy off and Roscoe and Griff Jones on. Woodley replace the in effective Whitley. No saves of any note have been made in the game until Connett in the visitors goal saves well low to his left after Roscoe forces play leaving Roberts the strike. The corner lands for Griff jones and his shot is blocked weel, the break by Woodley is quick Salmon stays on his feet in the box and shoots narrowly wide. Boro are pushing for the equaliser , they replace Connell for Oates . Roscoe controls well on his chest and plays a good ball out to Unsworth his cross is defended only to Oates who fires in that the keeper as difficulty with but smothers in time. The referee spends the next 5 minutes making some very odd decisions, notably playing advantage when Mark Jones is fouled he rides the foul and plays in griff jones for the shot, the shot goes wide. The ref pulls play back for the free kick then realises he let play go and gives the goal kick. The last 10 is all Boro except for two break aways , the first sees Salmon muscle in between Dawson and Kelly to fire over, the second, again Salmon racing down the inside of the box tussling with Brockley , Brockley is judged to bring him down in what looked to be a fair dual. Penalty! The protest from Mark Jones sees him booked , the penalty is converted by Salmon on 90 minutes and Boro lose 2-0.
I like the shape of this Boro line up it promises a lot, i like the team playing football on the floor. I like the effort, but most of all i like goals especially Radcliffe Borough ones, they will come i am sure with quality of strikers we have, but they need to come quicker than the end of the season.

see you at Trafford