Another Unnecessary Defeat!

Penn & Tylers Green FC 1 – Rayners Lane FC 2

On a mild afternoon a day after Boxing Day Penn & Tylers Green FC entertained Rayners Lane, our friends from Middlesex. Before this afternoon’s game only one point and one place in the table separated both teams from each other.

On top early on

A good festive crowd of 57 including a few supporters from Rayners Lane provided the right atmosphere in this closely fought but fair encounter, which was refereed excellently by the match official Neil Morrison.

Penn & Tylers Green FC had the better start playing up the slope and taking the lead after 15 minutes when Jamie Hunt’s header from Aiden Taylor’s corner beat the Rayners Lane defence and goal keeper. In the first 30 to 35 minutes Rayners Lane had a couple of chances with Matt Cannings making a good saves but overall their passing and shooting was not troubling the boys in blue & white a great deal. In that period Penn & Tylers Green FC should have extended the league but attempts from Rino Sepede and Owen Hunte-Millington only just missed the target.

At half time the break the boys went into the dressing room one nil to the good.

View from the bench

We were all looking forward to the second half with our team missing a few regulars due to injury, suspension and unavailability but holding more than their own. Unfortunately the opposition did not read the script and started the second half much more determined and focussed.

For a good 20 to 25 minutes Rayners Lane were on top and had a couple of good chances, one of which hit he underside of the bar, but like a certain game in 1966 did not cross the line. Despite the pressure the opposition put on Penn & Tylers Green FC the boys still created two to three very good chances with Jamie Hunt, Rino Sepede and Owen Hunte-Millington nearly extending the lead. Just when we were getting on top again a long ball over the top caught out our defence and the chase ended up in Aiden Taylor bringing down their forward in the box.

The resulting penalty was converted by Lee Gardener in 71st minute for Rayners Lane’s equaliser. The score at that time was just about fair. Penn & Tylers Green FC kept pushing for the winner and were on top again for most of the remainder of the game. Unfortunately we could not find the net again and in another counter attack in 85th minute down the left flank their cross was converted for a 2:1 lead to Rayners Lane by Ryan Upton from close range.

Jamie Hunt - Scorer and Man of the Match

This was another unnecessary and frustrating defeat. The boys (all 14 of them) battled but just could not find the net again.

Game over, now looking forward to the next game at Milton on New Year’s Eve and hopefully some points to bring home.

Man of the match: Jamie Hunt

Match report by Andreas Latta (Secretary)