MATCH REPORT

FREETHORPE V GREAT RYBURGH 16/9/2006 HOME

Freethorpe FCFreethorpe were hosts to Gt Ryburgh who are fellow newcomers to the Anglian combination this season. With both sides starting the season in good form a decent game was in prospect. Freethorpe played their usual style of passing and movement which was in contrast to the more direct style of Gt Ryburgh. Within the first twenty minutes Freethorpe had created four great opportunities to score without converting any of them. The freethorpe defence were solid in dealing with Ryburghs aerial bombardment and but for a couple of corner kicks kept the visitors at bay. Freethorpe scored the opening goal of the game following what seemed a pretty harmless throw-in when Ward was extremely alert to nip in front of the keeper to steal possession and turn and volley the ball into the net from an acute angle. The second half was very similar in terms of the style of play with Freethorpe attacking mainly down the right flank and Gt Ryburgh getting the ball forward very quickly when gaining control. As the game went on the Freethorpe midfield lacked a bit of disclipline and allowed themselves to get stretched and sometimes committing too many men forward when what was required was protection of their lead. A nervousness set into the game and Freethorpe were eventually made to pay for their over exuberance when Gt Ryburgh equalised from a long ball into space and a good finish from the Ryburgh Striker. With only minutes remaining Freethorpe went in search of the winner and were rocked back on their heels when the visitors sealed victory with a 'goal in a million'. The Freethorpe keeper had made a good clearance well into the ryburgh half only for the midfielder to volley the ball back first time over his head into the net from a full 60 yards. A pulsating game which Freethorpe probably did not deserve to lose but important lessons will be learnt in how to maintain control and shape and the importance of converting goalscoring chances. Next game v Stiffkey at Freethorpe in Norfolk Junior Cup (2 30pm).