Eight Raffles heroes blast in seven goals
Last updated 11:24, Wednesday, 12 November 2008
THE Raffles team was badly hit by illness and injury and they were left with just eight fit players for their home game against Warwick Wanderers White.
The visitors scored with virtually their first attack, but Raffles grabbed a quick equaliser. The eight men went on to play some brilliant football in the second half and their goals came thick and fast.
Warwick Whites, on the other hand, were laboured in attack and their moves broke down due to players straying offside.
Raffles soon found themselves a goal down after Warwick hit them with a counter attack. Ed Sewell made good progress down the right before sending over a low cross which Matthew Kirkham helped on to Robert Jackson and the striker beat Raffles goalkeeper James Litherland from close range.
The goal brought an immediate response from the Raffles players and they scored a deserved equaliser when Levi Campbell raced half the length of the field to score after an exchange of passes with Chris Blackburn.
The lively Campbell outstripped his opponents twice more in the first half, but he shot narrowly wide of the goal each time.
There were occasions when the Warwick forwards outnumbered the Raffles defenders but Jordan Carney was superb at the heart of his defence and he made vital tackles and timely clearances whenever danger threatened.
Warwick were unlucky when an Aiden Ledward shot struck the crossbar but Raffles finished the half on top and Gino Giacapazzi had an angled shot turned round the post by Anastasios Padanoglou in the Warwick goal.
The resulting Giacopazzi corner led to a goalmouth scramble and a terrific block from Sewell which enabled the teams to reach half-time level.
The Raffles players began the second half in search of goals and strikes from Giacopazzi and Campbell gave them a 3-1 advantage before Jackson scored his second, to make it 3-2, after his first attempt had been saved by Litherland.
The goal seemed to spur on Raffles and Padanoglou was forced into making saves from Blackburn, Giacopazzi and Thomas Frizzell in quick succession.
Warwick were intent on hitting back but they came further unstuck when Wayne Lockhart won a tackle with Sewell inside his own half. Lockhart moved forward with the ball before passing to Campbell. The striker then offloaded to Giacopazzi who scored with a left-foot shot to regain the two-goal advantage.
Dylan Farish was having a great game and it was the midfielder who provided the defence-splitting pass for Campbell to run clear for his hat-trick.
More goals were to follow and Giacopazzi completed his hat-trick when his great left foot cross shot found the top corner of the net. The goal spoke volumes for Raffles’ creativity because the move originated from a well-worked short corner which featured Giacopazzi and Farish.
The scoring was finished off by Campbell, who once more took advantage of an astute Farish pass, to score his fourth goal and make the final score 7-2 toRaffles.
The eight men of Raffles were all brilliant and theiit enabled them to achieve a notable victory.
MATCH FACTS
Raffles: James Litherland, Jordan Carney, Thomas Frizzell, Wayne Lockhart, Dylan Farish, Christopher Blackburn, Levi Campbell and Gino Giacopazzi
Warwick Wanderers White: Anastasios Padanoglou, Alex Kennedy, Neil Orr, Alex Scott, Jack Johnstone, Sam Corrigan, Edward Sewell, Ben Wood, Aiden Ledward, Robert Jackson and Matthew Kirkham. Sub, Tony Jennings
Referee: Stephen Fraser
Man of the Match: Dylan Farish, midfield, Raffles – Dylan took the game by the scruff of the neck and his superb captain’s display was in evidence in all parts of the field. He never shirked his defensive duties while his ability to carry the ball forward and execute defence-splitting passes provided goal scoring opportunities for his eager strikers.
