THE FIGHTING spirit of the Great Notley Rams was on show on Sunday as they grabbed a point from a tough encounter with Galleywood Youth Falcons in Great Baddow.
Trailing by a second half goal going into the last five minutes, Sam Donnelly curled home a powerful corner which beat the Falcons goalkeeper at his near post to secure a draw.
The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, skipper Emma Root, Tom Hunt and Harvey Ricci in defence, Olivia Hales, Jonathan Stoneman and Matthew Littlejohn in midfield, and Donnelly, George Morris and Ben Rodley up front.
In a close first half the Rams defence withstood a number of near chances from corners, with the ball scrambled clear on a number of occasions and the woodwork saving the visitors from one excellent headed effort.
The Rams were struggling to string any number of passes together, and at half time the Falcons were clearly in the ascendency. They took the lead shortly into the second half when a well-worked chance saw the home side striker clear in the box and he finished past McInerney neatly.
But with a string of substitutions into the last ten minutes, the Rams took the initiative and began peppering the Falcons goal with chances.
Emma Root hit a powerful twenty yard short which was parried away by the Falcons goalkeeper and Donnelly rattled the woodwork with the rebound.
Shortly after that, Stoneman, Littlejohn and Ricci all hit shots which went just wide or were well saved and it looked as though the Rams' unbeaten run was coming to an end, before a late corner was expertly curled in by Donnelly for the equaliser.
The Rams then defended a Falcons corner well to see out the end of the game and secure the point.
Rams boss John Stoneman said: "Galleywood gave us a very tough game in the cup and it was no different in the league, and in the first half we were fortunate to go in all square.
"But after conceding the goal, the boys and girls showed terrific spirit to grab an equaliser and it's nice to remain unbeaten in the league this year."
Next week the Rams face the Dunmow Rhodes Tigers away in the league cup.
Trailing by a second half goal going into the last five minutes, Sam Donnelly curled home a powerful corner which beat the Falcons goalkeeper at his near post to secure a draw.
The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, skipper Emma Root, Tom Hunt and Harvey Ricci in defence, Olivia Hales, Jonathan Stoneman and Matthew Littlejohn in midfield, and Donnelly, George Morris and Ben Rodley up front.
In a close first half the Rams defence withstood a number of near chances from corners, with the ball scrambled clear on a number of occasions and the woodwork saving the visitors from one excellent headed effort.
The Rams were struggling to string any number of passes together, and at half time the Falcons were clearly in the ascendency. They took the lead shortly into the second half when a well-worked chance saw the home side striker clear in the box and he finished past McInerney neatly.
But with a string of substitutions into the last ten minutes, the Rams took the initiative and began peppering the Falcons goal with chances.
Emma Root hit a powerful twenty yard short which was parried away by the Falcons goalkeeper and Donnelly rattled the woodwork with the rebound.
Shortly after that, Stoneman, Littlejohn and Ricci all hit shots which went just wide or were well saved and it looked as though the Rams' unbeaten run was coming to an end, before a late corner was expertly curled in by Donnelly for the equaliser.
The Rams then defended a Falcons corner well to see out the end of the game and secure the point.
Rams boss John Stoneman said: "Galleywood gave us a very tough game in the cup and it was no different in the league, and in the first half we were fortunate to go in all square.
"But after conceding the goal, the boys and girls showed terrific spirit to grab an equaliser and it's nice to remain unbeaten in the league this year."
Next week the Rams face the Dunmow Rhodes Tigers away in the league cup.
