Page 37 - issue08.03.2019

P. 37

Sport

FOOTBALL
A stirring performance

to avoid wooden spoon

RAF fight back

to snatch a last

gasp equaliser

RAF MDS 3
Army MDS 3

THE BATTLE to avoid the MDS wooden spoon went
down to the very last kick of the match, as the RAF
showed their mettle to level in a brilliant 3-3 draw
against the Army.
Sgt Leon Duke’s injury-depleted Development side
had suffered a two-goal reverse in their opening clash
against the Navy at Portsmouth, but they did not let the
opening IS result affect them, or an early Army goal.
It had taken just six minutes for the visitors to strike
after the hosts’ defence allowed the ball to drop to an
Army striker, who lashed home past SAC Matt Cape in
the RAF goal.
Having settled, the RAF had a shout for a penalty in
the 20 minute after Newman floated a free kick into
th
the box, which reached SAC Tom Preston, but as he
headed the ball back across the goal an Army defender
collided with him, but the referee waved away appeals.
Further RAF pressure then saw LAC Kyle Willis fire
just wide from 25 yards in the 24 minute, while Cape
th
flew into action a minute later to deny the visitors,
tipping an effort onto the bar.
A second penalty shout came in the closing stages
of the half when SAC James Brown won the ball and
carried it out wide, forcing the Army side to back-
pedal. Cutting inside, Brown was brought to ground
but the referee adjudged the foul to have happened just
outside the area, again waving away penalty appeals.
Two minutes later the hosts struck as Brown beat
the Army full back and fired across the goal, forcing an
own goal off an Army defender.
Straight out of the blocks after the break, the hosts DEVELOPING NICELY: The RAF MDS players showed no lack of grit and determination as they snatched a last-minute equaliser against the Army
took the lead after SAC Darren
Street played in a low corner, to key players, then lost our no. 9 goal scorer from side, forcing the Army defender to score in his own net.
which SAC Sam Dawson dummied the Navy game to a torn ACL [knee ligament] from “Into the second half we’ve been working hard in
for Willis to lash in from 12 yards. training at Cosford. a set piece package this year, one of which worked
A nasty 56 -minute incident “From a simple mistake we started perfectly for Kyle Willis to smash one into the roof of
th
saw the Army lose a man to on the back foot at 1-0 down in the net to put us 2-1 up.
a straight red card after an five minutes – from then we “Some very dubious refereeing decisions decided
unsightly altercation, but completely controlled the game the game. After two clear penalty decisions turned
the moment spurred on both physically and tactically. away and a blatant red card at half-time, he then
the visitors to level in awarded the Army a sceptical penalty, which
the 67 minute, as a From a simple they converted, and they scored a third a few
th
shot deflected in off “ minutes later from some good build-up play
Newman. mistake we started on by their no 9.
Two minutes the back foot at 1-0 down “From not being in the game they found
later the Army led as themselves 3-2 up. We then took back control
Newman was caught out in in five minutes – from and pegged them back, missing another gilt-
the box and the ball slotted home. then we’ve completely edged chance.
Continued pressure from the “The equaliser in the 91st minute was
hosts nearly paid off but they just controlled the game, from fantastic work down the right-hand
could not find the net, until SAC both physically and side to skip away from the Army left back,
James Bayliss beat his man out not once but twice, and stand a cross up at
wide and crossed for Willis to level tactically the back post for Willis to head in.
with a brilliant diving header. ” PROUD: Boss Dukes “We didn’t come away with all three
Dukes was pleased with his points, but I’m extremely proud of the players to have
charges, telling RAF News Sport: EYE ON THE BALL: “We missed two gilt-edged chances from overcome everything we’ve gone through; players
“I’m immensely proud of the players’ Players’ faces and focus under the cross bar to go further ahead but playing out of position, having to name three keepers
reaction from the Navy game, with show just what the we ended up turning the score line around just to fill a bench and to respect the competition
only 14 fit players. We had injuries game means to them from some good work up the right-hand enough to grind out a result like that.”

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