Back on 28th September 2014, having won their opening 2 league fixtures comfortably, Ruislip travelled to P&TG and were deservedly hammered 5-0 in an abject display. However, to say that this team have since responded in the right way would be an understatement as they went into this crucial fixture top of the table having won their next 17 games since that humbling day last autumn. P&TG went into this fixture with their own title ambitions but they knew that realistically they had to at the very least avoid defeat to keep their hopes alive. The game itself was a tense, tight affair with the strong wind making it difficult for both teams. So it became a scrap and Ruislip with their team full of street fighters have never shied away from one of those. First half chances were at a premium but Ruislip wasted a golden one after 15 minutes from the penalty spot. Lennox Kedman broke into the box on the left and was cleaned up by the onrushing P&TG keeper. A nailed on penalty but Finn Edwards, who’d been 100% from his previous 4 attempts from the spot this season, saw his effort well saved and he then put the rebound wide with the goal gaping. Was that going to be a turning point in Ruislip’s season? On 22 minutes, 2 Ruislip substitutes, Remi Ogunbayo and Eli Soque answered that question with their first touches after coming on. Firstly, Ogunbayo swung over a dangerous right wing cross that had to be turned behind by the alert keeper. Luke Massingham’s subsequent corner was swept goalwards by Charlie Coshall’s sweet volley at the far post before being nudged over the line in trademark fashion by Soque. In fact, Soque made a huge impression in the time he was on and showed he has become much more than a goal poacher as he worked tirelessly across the frontline forcing numerous turnovers from the P&TG defence. It was brilliant to watch. The game had become a battle again and neither side really threatened to get another goal before the break although Harry Sandiford showed good hands to hang onto 2 long range efforts. 1-0 at the break was probably about right as the defensive trio of Massingham, Lewis Crowley and Ben Higgins all had fine halves and with everyone else putting in a shift, the team, without playing especially well, had looked a very solid unit. The second half followed the same attritional pattern as the first although P&TG enjoyed greater territorial advantage with Ruislip maybe adopting a more ‘what we have, we hold’ mentality. However goalmouth action remained at a premium although Edwards nearly atoned for his penalty miss on 39 minutes as his flick from Jack Neill’s excellent low cross drifted just wide. P&TG should have done better with a free header at the back post on 49 minutes and Neill miscued after Mark Webb cleverly found him in space 10 minutes later. Going in to the last 10 minutes, Ruislip still looked comfortable and were showing admirable game management and maturity, but by then P&TG had found a new weapon. Their keeper had already done a fine job between the sticks and now he was using his sizeable frame and the wind to launch huge bombs down the field and this allowed the away side to push right onto the Ruislip back line and battle for 2nd balls in more dangerous areas. Again Ruislip stood firm but Sandiford had to be alive to palm away a drive from the edge of the area that was going in. Into time added on and Ruislip had just one more air attack to survive. The keeper launched long again, Massingham seemed well placed to head clear but a crafty nudge in the back caused him to miss, Sandiford was caught in no mans land by the bounce, It seemed like anyone of 3 P&TG attackers were certain to score but in their way was Higgins who single handedly somehow kept the ball from going over the line. It was magnificent last ditch defending and the best thing about it you just know that if it wasn’t him, it would’ve been one of his mates there showing the same commitment to preserve the lead. The referee’s whistle blew for the last time seconds later and Ruislip had won for the 18th consecutive time. It was a very tough game against very good opponents who will probably feel that they merited a draw and it will be hard to argue against that but Ruislip are a tough nut to crack even when they are not at their best. This was a huge win which puts Ruislip in a really strong position in the league. They now take a break from league action as their pursuit of the treble continues with next week’s League Cup Final followed by the County Cup Final a week later. Exciting times! MoM: Another true team performance and Eli Soque epitomises everything this team is about…a squad player whose performances have improved week by week so much so that he is now a trusted option up front. A non stop performance for the time he was on and the winning goal.
