Battling Rams Match Falcons

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.

Rams Hit Four Against Rangers

THE RAMS secured another three league points with a good win over the Thaxted Rangers Yellows at Notley Green on Sunday.

Goals from James O'Reilly, Harvey Ricci and a brace from George Morris secured the win which makes it five out of five in the league so far this season.

The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, a defensive pairing from Emma Root, Tom Hunt and Jamie McNeilly, a midfield from Jonathan Stoneman, O'Reilly and Matthew Littlejohn, while Morris, Ricci and Oliva Hales were constant threats up front.

The home side took the lead in the opening minutes when O'Reilly's lofted effort beat the Thaxted keeper, and this helped to settle any nerves.

Shortly afterwards Ricci took advantage of some indecision in the Thaxted defence to volley over the keeper's head for a second, a lead which the Rams took into the interval.

The Rams were showing a passing fluency which was pleasing on the eye and a fine move which started off in defence and ran through the pitch led to Morris' first, while he capitalised on a fins pass from O'Reilly to flick home a second towards the end.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "After a couple of weeks where our passing game has been restricted by the opposition, it was nice to see the team find their range again, and I think we played much better for it.

"Another clean sheet for goalkeeper Tom and the defenders is pleasing as this is proving crucial to our performances."

Next week the Rams are back in league action when they are away to Galleywood Youth Falcons.

Rams Rise Above Battling Falcons

THE RAMS earned their first three points in this season's League Cup group with a hard-fought victory over the Galleywood Youth Falcons.

With Rams defender Harvey Ricci failing a late fitness test due to illness, the Rams had a fluid line up with midfielders, defenders and forwards switching position throughout the match.

Tom McInerney started in goal, while the defence was mainly formed by Emma Root, Tom Hunt and Jamie McNeilly, a midfield of Olivia Hales, Jonathan Stoneman, James O'Reilly and Matthew Littlejohn, with George Morris the only permanent striker.

And in the opening exchanges it was clear that the Rams were struggling to adapt to their new positions, particularly against an organised Falcons side who sit second in the league with two wins already chalked up this year.

But as the half progressed, the home side tightened up and while both teams threatened, there were no clear cut chances.

The breakthrough when it came was a fluid passing move after McNeilly won the ball in defence and picked out Littlejohn on the right wing. His ball inside to Stoneman was well controlled and then moved on to O'Reilly in space who slotted home from close range just ahead of half time.

The second half was more of the same with both teams fully committed and some excellent tackling on display, and each team having chances to equalise or extend the lead, but despite some close shaves there was no addition to the score.

After the game Rams boss John Stoneman said: "We were fortunate to win by the odd goal as both sides showed full commitment, and the difference between the two teams was arguably the passing move we put together for the goal.

"But after last week's draw it was good to get another win under our belts and it certainly helps in the qualification race for the cup semi finals."

Next week the Rams are back in league action when they play Thaxted Rangers Yellow for the first time.

Rams Pull It Back From The Brink

THE RAMS pulled off a memorable comeback at Galleywood snatching a point from the jaws of defeat in the first round of League Cup matches in the Osea Division.

Going into the game on an unbeaten run of four league wins, the Rams faced a Galleywood Youth Hawks team that they had drawn with in both of their matches last season.

The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, Emma Root, Harvey Ricci and Jamie McNeilly in defence, James O'Reilly, Jonathan Stoneman and Olivia Hales in midfield, and Sam Donnelly, Ben Rodley and George Morris up front.


And on a sloping pitch, the visitors did well to keep the Hawks at bay in a first half when they played up the 'hill', McInerney made some good saves, while there were also important interventions from all of the defenders.

In the second half, the Rams fancied their chances playing down the hill, but it was Galleywood who opened the scoring, with a shot which caught McInerney slightly out of position.

The problems were compounded when the home side made it two-nil halfway through the second period, and at that point it looked as though the Rams unbeaten run in competitive games was about to disappear.

However with just five minutes left on the clock, George Morris took advantage of some indecision in the Hawks box to squeeze home and equaliser, and then with just sixty seconds of normal play to go, Jonathan Stoneman managed to poke the ball home through a sea of legs to secure the draw.

So once again it is all square between the Rams and the Hawks, having now shared seven-goals a piece in their three encounters.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "I thought it was all up there when we went two-nil down, but the team dug incredibly deep and fully deserved their point. I was very proud of their battling spirit."

Next up for the Rams it is more cup action when they play the other Galleywood side - the Falcons - in more league cup action.

Rams Shine In The Sun

THE Great Notley Rams extended their lead at the top of the Osea Division after a comfortable four-nil win over the Dunmow Rhodes Tigers on Notley Green on Sunday.

A slightly depleted squad saw Tom McInerney in goal, Jamie McNeilly, Tom Hunt and Emma Root in defence, Matthew Littlejohn, Jonathan Stoneman and James O'Reilly in midfield and a striking partnership of Sam Donnelly and Ben Rodley.

Under a blisteringly-hot October sun, both sides found the going tough, but the Rams made sure that they made the ball do the work, and could have opened the scoring with the first attack of the game, Donnelly going close from a nice passing move from the kick off.

With the home defence not challenged greatly by the visitors, most of the action took place in the Tigers' half, but Notley found it difficult to make a breakthrough, finding the posts and goalkeeper with many of their early chances.

And Stoneman was unlucky not to become the first Rams player to score from a header, when he connected with a Donnelly corner, but his header went just wide.

But the deadlock was broken when Donnelly drilled home a fine strike, then a nice side-footed effort from Littlejohn made it two, while Donnelly added his second shortly before half time.

With copious amounts of water taken on board at half time, and a small number of substitute options on the bench, the Rams mixed formation regularly through the second period, and McNeilly was drafted in to midfield.

And the team pressed home their numerical advantage when O'Reilly hammered home a nice shot in the second half for the Rams fourth.

And when the Tigers' strikers did find themselves one-on-one with McInerney, he proved he was up to the task of keeping a clean sheet, with a fine save.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "Today was always going to be a difficult match because of the unseasonal conditions. It was one of the hottest days of the year, and that is not necessarily conducive to good football.

"But the team knocked the ball about very well and but for some good saves from the Tigers' keeper, and an unwelcome knack of us finding the woodwork, I think we could have been good for a few more goals.

"But the main thing is another three points on the board."

Next week the Rams have their first Cup match of the season when they travel away from home to face the Galleywood Youth Hawks.