Bteam MRs0607

REIGATE PRIORY FC 'B' TEAM - MATCH REPORTS SEASON 2006/07

League Table League Cup Results/Fixtures Summary

CHEAM VILLAGE WARRIORS (1)1 REIGATE PRIORY 'B' (0)0

Reigate Priory "B" Team under the management of Stuart Porte and Chris Comben completed their league season in a "Double Header" fixture against a young Cheam Hill Warriors "A" Team at Tattenham Recreation Ground on Saturday. The fixtures comprised two matches, each of 60 minutes duration. The first game proved to be an evenly matched, rather scrappy affair, with neither side managing to create any real clear cut scoring chances, until with just 5 minutes to go, an attack on the right hand side of Priory's penalty area resulted in a left wing cross, which was met with a header from a Cheam Hill striker towards the top corner of Priory's net. However, goalkeeper Chris Comben launched himself at full stretch and tipped the ball over for a corner, with a superb save. At the other end, Priory's best move was from a fine series of passes between Paul Hodges, Will Blake and captain Daniel Flint. However, Flint unfortunately placed his shot just wide of the Cheam Hill left hand side of goal. Final score 0-0

The second match proved to be a pretty similar affair to the first one, with both sides again unable to gain any control on the game. However, on the 10 minute mark, a Cheam Hill corner on the left, resulted in a scramble inside Priory's penalty area, and a final touch in to the goal from a Cheam Hill midfielder. 1-0 to Cheam Hill. Priory were unlucky not to equalise almost immediately, when a corner at the other end was met with a fine header by manager Stuart Porte, but this time was tipped over by a fine save from Cheam Hill's goalkeeper. There remained no real further goalscoring chances, which resulted in the final score 1-0 to Cheam Hill Warriors "A". This means after an up and down season, which started badly, then improved significantly in the middle, including a 9 match unbeaten run, Reigate Priory "B" Team finish the season as in 5th position of the Redhill and District League Division 4.

Team line up C Comben, S Holloway, P Bishop, A Norris, N Ross, M Robinson, A Chapman, S Porte, P Hodges, D Flint, W Blake, G Thomas, J Garrett, C Soper, R Stephens

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Flint1

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Soper1,Porte2,Comden1,ReidL2

After a mixed start to their league campaign, with a win, draw and loss, plus a narrow defeat last week in the Junior Cup, Reigate Priory "B" Team got their season into full stride with a resounding win against bottom of the table side Merstham Newton "A" . The match was played in cool, blustery and showery conditions at Merstham. Priory had a line up containing several new players, plus the difficulty in having to use their fourth different goalkeeper so far this season. The match began with Priory taking the initiative from the kick off, culminating in their taking the lead on 20 minutes, when striker Chris Soper ran through the Merstham defence and buried the ball in the right hand corner of the net. 5 Minutes later and Priory were 2-0 up from a superb free kick taken by player manager Stuart Porte. This remained the score until half time. Into the second half and Priory again asserted their authority on the match, launching attack after attack, resulting in two goals early on, from Chris Comben and Luke Reid. Goalkeeper Bill Comben then pulled a muscle in his leg and had to be substituted. He was replaced in goal by his son Chris, moving back from striker. However, this had no effect on Priory's play, and they continued to press the Merstham defence, culminating in two further goals by a second from Stuart Porte and a fine individual goal from Luke Reid. Any sporadic attacks by Merstham were dealt with competently by Priory's defence, who were in fine form, superbly marshalled by Simon Watson on the way back from a broken ankle last year. Final score 6-0 to Reigate Priory. Priory's next Division 4 fixture in the Redhill & District League is away to Wallington New Foresters.

Team line up B Comben, S Watson, P Bishop, N Ross, M Robinson, S Porte, P Hodges, B Nash, C Soper, C Comben, L Reid, D Flint, A Allnutt, T Smith

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Nash 1 , Thomas 1, o.g 1

The match was played warm, sunny conditions at Reigate. Priory had a strengthened line up, following the return of players missing from the previous week. The match began with Priory taking the initiative against what was a very young Frenches line up, with the average age of their side being only 18 years old. Priory launched a series of attacks and took the lead on 15 minutes when a cross in from the right by Paul Hodges was knocked in by Barry Nash. However, Frenches immediately struck back and equalised following Priory's failure to clear from their own penalty area. 1-1. This proved to be a temporary setback as Priory then proceeded to launch a series of moves from both wings, culminating in a penalty being awarded on the half hour mark, for a foul on Michael Ainsworth. Unfortunately, the penalty was missed. Five minutes later and a through ball to Graham Thomas was expertly controlled by the striker and coolly dispatched into Frenches goal. 2-1 to Priory, and this remained the half time score. Into the second half and Priory manager Stuart Porte made several substitutions to enable players to gain match practice prior to the commencement of the league season next week. Priory continued to have the upper hand, despite their opponents being young in age, although noticeably young in experience and tactics. Despite their best efforts, Priory were only able to add one goal to their tally. This came from a bizarre effort, following a scramble of players inside Frenches' penalty area, with Frenches' goalkeeper first catching the ball, and then dropping it into his own goal. Final score 3-1 to Reigate Priory. Priory "B" begin their Division 4 fixtures in the Redhill & District League next Saturday away to Nutfield "A" Team.

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Saturday 9th September 2006:

Reigate Priory "B" Team continued their pre-season friendly fixtures with an away match again Caterham Old Boys Reserves on Saturday afternoon. The match was played in hot breezy conditions at Caterham. Priory faced a stern test as they had a severely depleted line up, with only 12 players available, and 4 of their regular players missing. The match began with Caterham taking advantage of the wind in their favour and their vastly younger and stronger line up. However, Priory managed to resist the onslaught until the 20 minute mark when a Caterham attack on the left wing resulted in one of their forwards being able to score after being played through unchallenged. Priory remained on the defensive for much of the half, but defended resolutely until on 35 minutes after a scramble inside their penalty area, the ball was cleared outside the area to be met with a superb unstoppable strike by a Caterham player straight into the top left hand corner of the net. 2-0 to Caterham, and this remained the half time score. Into the second half and Priory became to come more into the match, taking advantage of the wind in their favour. However, on the hour mark, they conceded a dubious penalty for a hand ball inside the penalty area. Caterham duly increased their lead to 3-0. 10 minutes later, and another penalty was conceded, this time fairly, for a last ditch one handed save off the line by a Priory defender. Fortunately, the referee acted wisely and gave no card, since the match was a friendly. This time however, young goalkeeper Bradley Martin pulled off a superb save diving to his left and putting out the ball for a corner. There remained no further score, and so the final score was 3-0 to Caterham Old Boys Reserves, after a hard fought physical encounter. Despite the defeat, Priory "B" can take heart from the fact that their opponents play two divisions above them in the Redhill & District League in Division 2, as opposed to Priory "B"'s status of Division 4. Priory's next friendly is away to local rivals Frenches Reserves next Saturday.

Team line up B Martin, C Comben, M Robinson, S Porte, P Bishop, A Allnutt, C Giles, N Ross, B Nash, J Garrett, R Stephens,

B Kirsch