This was not just Ruislip’s last pre-season outing before the commencement of their league programme next week, it was also a chance to avenge a 6-1 drubbing by the same opponents back in May. That day a Ruislip team were out-thought and crucially out-worked…this time is was different!
It was the Milton Keynes based Shenley side (last season’s Bucks & Berks U12 Champions) that actually started the brighter of the two teams and Harry Sandiford showed good footwork to tip over an early dipping effort. However once Drilon Krasniqi had better luck with a dipping volley of his own on 6 minutes that dropped sweetly in just under the bar for a tremendous opening goal, Ruislip pressed and harried their opposition and made it really hard for them to settle into the game. But Shenley are not a top side for nothing and they created another opening on 10 minutes which Sandiford did well to claw away low to his left. This save proved crucial as on 13 minutes, Ruislip doubled their lead when Finn Edwards ghosted in from the right to latch onto a flick on to finish well.
Ruislip looked comfortable with the central midfield pairing of Mark Webb and debutant Omari Reynolds particularly impressing with their incessant work rate. Another debutant Lennox Kedman almost added a third but his excellent ball in from the left was well tipped over. The game took a twist on 23 minutes when Luke Massingham misjudged a high ball which allowed a Shenley striker the chance to finish neatly to halve the deficit. This was harsh on Massingham who along with Lewis Crowley and in particular Ben Higgins defended strongly all game. Just before half time, Webb thought he had restored the 2 goal cushion but his driving run ended with his shot being deflected narrowly wide.
The teams cancelled each other out at the start of the second half and it was a surprise when Shenley equalised on 42 minutes with a header at the back post. This stalemate continued until the halfway point of the second period when a not fully match fit Caleb Watts entered the fray. This galvanised Ruislip as an attacking force as with the safety net of the non-stop Webb and Reynolds behind him, Watts had the freedom to run at a tiring defence. In a 5 minute spell just after this change, Ruislip came close to regaining the lead through Remi Ogunbayo and Krasniqi twice although the second of these did ultimately result in the most unfortunate of own goals to edge the hosts back in front. That was the end of the scoring although Watts came mightily close to making it 4 but his stinging low drive fizzed just past the post.
This was an excellent hard working and cohesive Ruislip performance which bodes well for the upcoming season and also showed today’s opponents that this is a must better outfit than the cocky and complacent one that showed up in Milton Keynes last time out.
FOOTNOTE: At Shenley’s request an additional 20 minute match was tagged on at the end in which provided no further comfort to the visitors as Ruislip came out 2-0 winners with goals from Watts and a third debutant Eli Soque.
MoM Omari Reynolds: couldn’t hope for a better debut as he formed an instant and highly promising midfield partnership with the equally impressive Mark Webb