These two title rivals met for the 3rd time in 22 days and for Ruislip, I think it’s safe to say that things went rather well. 3 games, 3 wins, 9 goals scored, 0 conceded! Not only have Maidenhead, last seasons league champions, been knocked out of the League Cup at the semi final stage by the league’s newcomers, they have also now suffered 2 huge blows to their title defence.
Ruislip knew that a good start could well do irreparable damage to the visitors’ confidence and driven on by the rampaging Omari Reynolds in midfield, that’s exactly what they got. On 7 minutes Charlie Coshall got to the byline and his driven low ball was easily turned in by the onrushing Finn Edwards. As Ruislip went for the kill, the next 10 minutes featured a masterclass of corner taking by Luke Massingham…a centre back! Every delivery was on the money, just begging to be stuck away but somehow Maidenhead survived this trial by set piece to remain a solitary goal down. However that all changed midway through the half as Ryan Morgan superbly pulled down Lewis Crowley’s intelligent ball forward only to be pulled down himself by the exposed Maidenhead keeper. Last week Edwards beat the same keeper from the spot with a bit of a scuffed effort but this one was confidently rammed home and Ruislip had doubled their money. Eli Soque thought he had made it 3 a couple of minutes before the break as he tapped home following more good work by Coshall but he was thwarted by the linesman’s flag. Right on half time came a pivotal moment, set piece expert Massingham made his one and only mistake in his day job as he misjudged a high ball to allow a Maidenhead striker through 1 on 1 but the finish was wild. The chance, their only chance, was gone and so you felt were Maidenhead.
The start of the second half gave Massingham more chances to display his dead ball skills but again the finishing touches were not applied although Ben Higgins twice came very close, once with his head and once with a wonderfully controlled volley. But 15 minutes into the half, the game was put to bed once and for all as Lennox Kedman, having a fine game on the left, served up a delicious ball complete with knife, fork and napkin to the far post where Edwards, arriving late, helped himself to a hat trick with a deft headed finish. Coshall got a deserved goal 6 minutes later as he drove home Remi Ogunbayo’s fine low right wing cross. Ruislip were now running riot and a minute later, Massingham finally got rewarded for his excellence as his flighted free kick from the left was nodded home at the far post by top scorer Jack Neill. That was the end of the scoring as Ruislip cantered to their 14th consecutive victory and they also ensured that they completed the impressive feat of shutting out a good Maidenhead team for the third straight game. Another outstanding team performance and a result that sends out a very clear message to the rest of the league. MoM again everyone did their jobs properly but there were three integral players, Omari Reynolds for a tireless and influential 1st half, Finn Edwards for his 3 goals and an excellent cameo at the back, however Luke Massingham gets it for his consistently brilliant set pieces which caused untold problems and merited more than just one assist