Rampant Rams Go Top

THE RAMS made it three on the spin by defeating Dunmow United Hawks at Laundry Lane, Dunmow on Sunday, a win which lifts them to the top of the Osea Division table.

Going in to this match both teams were defending 100% records in the league so far this season, and it was the Rams who maintained their record with an emphatic 6-1 win.

Tom McInerney lined up in goal for the visitors, while Tom Hunt, Emma Root and Jamie McNeilly formed the defence, after Harvey Ricci failed a late fitness test having picked up an ankle knock in training.

Jonathan Stoneman, James O'Reilly and Olivia Hales played through the middle, while Sam Donnelly and George Morris were up front, supported by Matthew Littlejohn.

The early exchanges between the two teams were quite close, playing on one of the smallest pitches the Rams have lined up on this year. Both goalkeepers were put into action, with the Rams seeing a number of shots aimed straight at the Dunmow custodian.

Going into half time it looked as though it would remain at deadlock, but minutes before the half, a long ball from the Dunmow keeper was allowed to bounce around in the Rams defence, and the home side capitalised on some indecision to hammer the ball home for the opener.

There barely seemed time for the kick off, but an extended period of injury time offered the Rams a lifeline and after some sustained pressure where the ball ping-ponged around the Dunmow box, Donnelly was on hand to smash home an equaliser.

After the break, the Rams shifted gears and started to find their passing game. Some excellent solo work from Morris saw the visitors' lead extended and then Littlejohn completed a nice passing move with a side-footer past the 'keeper for three-one.

James O'Reilly made it two goals in two games for his personal tally, before Donnelly completed his brace with an emphatic shot, leaving just enough time for Stoneman to hit a left foot shot into the bottom corner for the sixth.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "Dunmow gave us a good battle in the first half, but I felt we were rushing our game and failing to come to terms with the pitch and conditions. So we talked about this during the break and I'm pleased with the way the team responded.

"We've put ourselves in a good position with the start we have made, but it is very early in the season and there is a long way to go yet."

Rams Second On Goal Difference

THE RAMS sit in second place in the Osea Division just one goal behind Dunmow United Hawks following the second weekend of fixtures.

The Hawks followed up on their opening day win over Woodham with a 3-0 success against Galleywood Youth Haws, while the Rams have now beaten both Meadow Youth and Wilvale.

This sets up a mouth-watering top of the table clash next Sunday when the Rams travel to Dunmow for both teams' third fixture.

OSEA DIVISION	P	W	D	L	F	A	DIFF	PTS
Dunmow United Hawks	2	2	0	0	7	2	5	6
Great Notley Rams	2	2	0	0	5	1	4	6
Galleywood Youth Falcons	2	1	1	0	4	3	1	4
Meadow Youth Lions	2	1	0	1	5	3	2	3
Wilvale Rangers	2	1	0	1	4	4	0	3
Galleywood Youth Hawks	2	0	1	1	1	4	-3	1
Dunmow Rhodes Tigers	1	0	0	1	2	3	-1	0
Thaxted Rangers Yellows	1	0	0	1	1	4	-3	0
Woodham Radars	2	0	0	2	3	8	-5	0

Wilvale Rangers 0 Great Notley Rams 3

THE RAMS made it back-to-back wins in their league campaign with their first competitive win over Wilvale Rangers in the Blackwater & Dengie League Osea Division.

Last season, the Rangers had held a hex over the Rams in their two encounters, and finished above them in the division, but with this win the visitors have climbed above Wilvale in the early stages of this season's league table.

It was a complete performance from the Rams, spurred on by sensational defending from Jamie McNeilly, Harvey Ricci and a man-of-the-match display from Tom Hunt, while Tom McInerney continued to grow in stature between the goalposts, keeping the visitors in the game with a string of first half saves.

The Rangers had chances in the first period, and the first goal, when it came, was slightly against the run of play, with James O'Reilly drilling a shot which was well saved, and then following up to sidefoot home the rebound to open his goalscoring account for the season.

At half time though the game was still in the balance, and the Rams had to withstand a barrage of corners form the home side, which were well dealt with by the defence, aided and abetted by the midfield trio of O'Reilly, Jonathan Stoneman and Matthew Littlejohn, while Ben Rodley caused a threat up front.

And midway through the second half, they achieved some breathing space, when a goalkeeping clearance was intercepted by striker George Morris, who coolly chested the ball down and then lifted it back over the keeper's head for the second.

At that point, the Rangers' heads dropped, and the Rams' passing game started to increase in its fluency, with some intricate work down the right hand side ending in Sam Donnelly cutting inside his marker to curl home from twenty yards for the Rams' third and decisive goal.

After the match Rams boss John Stoneman said: "I don't think I've ever been prouder of the team. It wasn't just the goals that we took so well, but it was the gritty determination of the team to work hard and get the result. It really was a magnificent team effort."

Next week the Rams are away to Dunmow United Hawks.

Great Notley Rams 2 Meadow Youth Lions 1

THE RAMS got their league campaign off to a winning start with a two-one victory over the Meadow Youth Lions at Notley Green on Sunday.

Last season the Lions finished higher than any of the other teams who will compete in this season's Osea Division so it was an excellent start for the home side.

The Rams fielded a defensive pairing from Tom Hunt, Emma Root and Jamie McNeilly, a midfield from James O'Reilly, Matthew Littlejohn and Olivia Hales, with Sam Donnelly, George Morris and Ben Rodley up front, and Tom McInerney between the sticks.

However it was the visitors who went ahead after five minutes, when some indecision in the Rams defence led to the Lions centre forward rifling a powerful shot past the clutches of goalkeeper Tom McInerney from a narrow angle.

But the home team kept their composure and after the first set of substitutions, Jamie McNeilly won an excellent tackle before surging forward to provide an inch perfect pass to Sam Donnelly who found himself through on goal and kept his nerve to slot the ball past the oncoming keeper.

All square at half time, the Rams began to play with more fluency in the second half and a nice combination between Matthew Littlejohn and George Morris saw the former clear in front of goal and he scored his third goal in as many games to secure the league points.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "It's always good to start the season with three points, and I felt that over the balance of the game we were good for the victory.

"We had a number of chances to get the third goal that would have made it comfortable, and we need to keep our heads in front of goal, in exactly the way that Sam and Matthew did.

"But at times we did make it quite difficult for ourselves and we did not play with the same freedom that we have shown in the friendlies, but a win is a win."

Next up for the Rams will be a clash away to Wilvale Rangers next Sunday.

Rayne Youth Hawks 3 Great Notley Rams 2

THE RAMS completed their pre-season friendlies with a narrow defeat against a team three divisions above them in the Blackwater and Dengie League.

The Rayne Youth Hawks were formed from the now defunct Sporting 77 Panthers, a team that the Rams have had a number of friendlies against in the last two seasons.

And it was another entertaining match played out in the dusk of Rayne Recreation Park on Wednesday night.

The home side went ahead early on, but were pegged back by a goal direct from a corner by Sam Donnelly after the Rayne goalkeeper spilled the ball into the back of the net.

Then in the second half, the home side again took the lead, but the Rams showed great character to equalise again with Matthew Littlejohn curling a shot in to the bottom corner of the net from outside the box.

With ten minutes to go, Rayne again took the lead and despite constant pressure from the visitors in the last few minutes, this time they were able to hold on.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "It was a terrific game of football. Both teams were playing the ball on the deck and looking to string passes together.

"I was disappointed to lose the game, but friendlies are more about understanding how we are playing as a team, and we have held out heads high against a team from a much higher division."

Boreham Village Youth 1 Great Notley Rams 5

THE RAMS continued their winning start to the season with victory in a friendly over Boreham Village Youth at Boreham Recreation Ground on Sunday.

A brace from both George Morris and Sam Donnelly, alongside a first ever goal from Matthew Littlejohn, saw the visitors comfortably home on a very hard and bobbly Boreham surface.

Once again the defensive performance was just as impressive as the forward line, with Jamie McNeilly, Emma Root and Tom Hunt restricting the home side to the minimum of chances, and their goal only coming from an excellent twenty yard free kick after the Rams had taken the lead.

In midfield, Olivia Hales, James O'Reilly, Littlejohn and Jonathan Stoneman all worked tirelessly getting from box to box, while Ben Rodley was a constant threat up front.

And a virtuoso performance from goalkeeper Tom McInerney including a couple of goal line clearances, and a penalty save, ensured that the Rams were able to play out the second half to make it two from two so far this season.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "It's been an excellent weekend for us with two extremely positive results. Hopefully we can build on these in the days remaining before the big league kick off next Sunday."

Braintree Town Yellows 1 Great Notley Rams 7

IN THEIR FIRST friendly of the new season, the Great Notley Rams secured an excellent win against a team which last year played in a league two divisions above them.

A hat trick from George Morris, along with goals from Sam Donnelly, Jonathan Stoneman, Ben Rodley and a fine penalty from Harvey Ricci saw the visitors home comfortably.

But in many ways it was the defensive display from the Rams which really caught the eye as for one of the first times since their inception, they denied their opposition even a sniff of a chance for most of the game, and the Yellows' goal only came at the end of the match as legs became weary from the first outing of the season.

Throughout the game, the Rams showed that the passing game that they have been working hard on in training was being transfered to the field of play, and at times in the first half they waltzed the ball through the Braintree side.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "This is an excellent marker for the beginning of the season. I was expecting us to look a little ring rusty out there, but this was not the case. It is clear the whole team has been working hard on their game through the summer.

"We have some more friendlies to go before our first league match, so this is a very good start. I was delighted with the defence today. Jamie McNeilly, Emma Root and Harvey Ricci were exceptional, while Tom Hunt's competitive debut for us was very promising.

"What was particularly pleasing though was the way that Tom McInerney commanded his area in goal, and his kicking in now exceptional.

"I was also delighted with the efforts in midfield of James O'Reilly, Matthew Littlejohn and Olivia Hales, who showed a commitment in the tackle, and a deftness of touch in attack which was delightful."