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."
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."
