Ruislip’s amazing run continued with their 13th consecutive win to reach their second cup final of the season. Two weeks ago, Ruislip travelled to Maidenhead for an important top of the table league encounter and although they missed numerous chances, they returned home comfortable 2-0 winners. This game was a good deal tighter affair but Ruislip produced yet another outstanding, professional and dominating team performance that totally nullified Maidenhead’s attacking threat.
The back three of Lewis Crowley, Luke Massingham and the colossal Ben Higgins were exceptional on the day and with the protection they were given by the 3 ‘Dogs of War’ in front of them, it meant that Harry Sandiford never had a single shot on target to deal with. However, Ruislip themselves struggled to create clear cut chances and although Finn Edwards had a goal chalked off on 18 minutes for a push in the build up, it took them 22 minutes to record their 1st effort on target. But what an effort it was as Mark Webb’s stinging drive from the edge of the box arrowed into the corner with the keeper left rooted to the spot. Charlie Coshall was unlucky with a bobble when he looked likely to make it 2 but half time came with the home side having the slenderest of leads.
Maidenhead have shown down the years that they are a top side and a big response was anticipated but Ruislip produced an incredibly mature 2nd half team effort to ensure that their goal remained unthreatened. It was game management at its finest as every one of the 14 players used worked their socks off and above all, did their jobs to perfection. Coshall was unlucky to see his curling effort clear the bar but for much of the half it looked like 1 goal would be enough. That was until 5 minutes from the end as good work from Webb and the increasingly influential Jack Neill found Remi Ogunbayo running free in the box. He was brought down before he could get his shot away and it was left to Edwards to despatch the spot kick to once and for all confirm victory. Neill and Eli Soque came close to the adding the cherry in the dying moments, but the final whistle signalled a deserved win for a team that seems to grow more together week by week.
MoM – make no mistake this was a proper team performance but Ben Higgins put in an absolutely monstrous performance at the back.
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