Well that was a strange game. For 30 minutes, Ruislip, who were seeking their 12th consecutive win in all competitions, were abysmal. There was no intensity, no cohesion, no shape and no composure on the ball.
Possession was constantly turned over and it was the home side that were leading 2-1 and bossing proceedings with their neat passing game on an absolute dream of a playing surface. However, as bad as Ruislip has been, Luke Massingham’s undeserved 23rd minute equaliser direct from a free kick, his first goal of the season, was not their only chance of the opening half hour as both Ryan Morgan and Jack Neill could’ve scored and Lennox Kedman perhaps should’ve scored. But in the last 5 minutes before the break, the game flipped on its head. Mark Webb provided some much needed energy and aggression to the middle. Remi Ogunbayo and Eli Soque pressed well from the front. Neill started to find pockets of space between the lines and Morgan was causing problems with some muscular running down the right. Kedman atoned for his earlier miss when his smart turn and crisp finish brought the sides level again on 31 minutes. Neill and Soque both went close a minute later before Kedman’s speculative effort from the left was well tipped over. Neill then hit the bar from the resultant corner before Ruislip took the lead for the first time right on the whistle as Morgan’s swerving free kick was too hot for the home keeper to handle and Ben Higgins was on hand to bundle the ball home.
The second half started in the same vein with Ruislip continuing to threaten. Soque, who was having a fine match, hit the woodwork with an angled drive, Massingham and Charlie Coshall both hit screamers that were well saved. Soque and Morgan would’ve been disappointed not to have done better with 2 good chances and Webb was unfortunate to see his powerful effort deflected just over the bar. The home side who had been so impressive in the first half had barely been in Ruislip territory in the second but a one goal lead is never secure and there was relief all round in the visiting contingent as Neill nudged home Finn Edwards’ corner in the last minute. Such was Ruislip’s dominance in the last 40 minutes, the scoreline probably should’ve been more emphatic but Thame were a fine side who for the majority of the first period gave Ruislip a footballing lesson and who no doubt will prove to be tough opponents when the two sides meet again in the return fixture in a few weeks time. MoM good performances from Luke Massingham, Eli Soque and Remi Ogunbayo but Mark Webb was the one that kick started the turnaround with a hardworking and character filled performance in the middle.