One of the quirks of Ruislip’s tremendous current winning run has been a tendency to start games slowly. Not so today however as, buoyed by Jack Neill’s instinctive 20 yard volley which arched deliciously over the stranded keeper in the 1st minute, Ruislip laid siege to the visitors’ goal in the opening 15 minutes. 9 efforts rained in, 5 of which were on target but thanks to the efforts of the overworked and impressive Thame stopper, a couple of narrow misses and some profligate finishing particularly from Neill who shot wide with the goal gaping, the lead remained a slender one. Of course, on 29 minutes the inevitable happened and Thame equalised with their 1st effort of the match and what a shocking mess of a goal it was from Ruislip’s point of view. Firstly an unnecessary free kick was given away in a dangerous position and then inexplicably two defenders who should have known better decided to go and stand on the goal line which meant that Thame were able to flood the 6 yard box and obscure Harry Sandiford’s view. The shot was decent but you would’ve fancied Sandiford to have saved it in normal circumstances but it took a deflection off one the many bodies in his way and although he got a hand on it he was unable to keep it out. For a couple of minutes the home side were on their heels but normal service was resumed on 33 minutes as Ben Higgins bundled home a rebound after the keeper pushed away Charlie Coshall’s header from Luke Massingham’s corner. Right on the stroke of half time, Coshall raced clear but his effort was again well saved. Just like the 1st half, Ruislip started the 2nd with the pedal to the floor. A goal looked inevitable and within 4 minutes it had arrived and what a lovely goal it was. Harrison Deas faded a brilliant pass down the left side for Lennox Kedman who stood up a perfect cross to the back post where Neill in his current goalscoring form was never going to miss. On 42 minutes, Ruislip got a 4th as another Massingham corner was met by a Ruislip head but it took Higgins 3 attempts to get the ball over the line. His first rapped against the bar, his second was smuggled off the line but the imposing defender made certain with his 3rd attempt as he powered the ball along with a couple of opponents into the back of net. You would have got long odds on Thame getting the next goal but that’s what happened 5 minutes later as another cheap free kick was conceded in shooting range. This time Ruislip were unlucky as the shot deflected up off the wall and left Sandiford stranded. This only ever felt like a consolation and when Eli Soque, cleverly lobbed in to get the goal his industry deserved, the scoreline began to take on a much more realistic look. With 17 minutes left, you fancied Ruislip to rattle in 3 or 4 more but, although Ryan Morgan was unlucky to see his header chalked off for an earlier offside, they only got 1 more when Coshall drilled home at the 2nd attempt with 6 minutes remaining. Another impressive Ruislip performance in which they were too strong in all departments for a more than capable Thame side. It was also their 15th straight win and one that has sent them to the top of the table for the 1st time this season. It was also fitting that in the week of the solar eclipse, those present will be able to tell their grandchildren about the day when they were there to see Lewis Crowley venture far enough forward to have an effort on goal. It went wide. MoM Jack Neill – 2 more goals and an inventive and influential performance in the No 10 role.
