Radar Double For Rams

THE RAMS travelled to South Woodham Ferrers on Sunday to play the Woodham Radars for the second time in eight days and once again came away with all three points.

However this was a much tighter affair on the previous week and it was only a second half goal from Sam Donnelly which split the sides, after both teams had found each other's nets in the first half.

The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, a defence from Jamie McNeilly, Emma Root and Tom Hunt, midfield from James O'Reilly, Matthew Norris and Olivia Hales, while Harvey Ricci, George Morris and Donnelly made up the strikers.

Last week's game had been a little bit stilted and the Rams had worked hard on their passing game in training before this fixture and this was apparent in the way they played, and when O'Reilly picked up his eighth goal of the season after six minutes it looked as though they would go on to pick up some more.

But the Radars are made of sterner stuff than their league position suggests and the Rams found it difficult to add to their breakthrough although Ricci was proving a threat up front and went close with an excellent turn and shot.

And shortly before half time the Radars were back on level terms when their main striker found the top corner of the Rams net after picking up a ball just outside the box.

The half time team talk was really just a case of keep doing what you are doing, and playing with their backs to a low, bright autumn sun, the Rams again sought to take the advantage.

This came when Donnelly forged his way through the Radar defence and whipped home a low shot which gave the home goalkeeper no chance.

Rams boss John Stoneman said: "A better defensive performance in the second half, and a persistent midfield helped secure the Rams goal from any more major threats, but it would have been nice to convert a few more of the moves into goals.

"But I had asked them to pass the ball and they were doing it, so overall I was pleased, and it's another three points on the board."

Rams Jam Radars

THE GREAT Notley Rams returned to winning ways after a two week break in fixtures with a four-one win over the Woodham Radars on Notley Green.

Goals from Sam Donnelly, James O'Reilly and Jonathan Stoneman secured the points against a battling Radars team who showed commitment from start to finish.

The Rams lined up with Tom McInerney in goal, a defence from Jamie McNeilly, Tom Hunt and Ben Rodley, O'Reilly, Stoneman and Matthew Littlejohn in midfield and Donnelly, Harvey Ricci and Matthew Norris up front.

Any rustiness that the team may have suffered having not played for a fortnight was forgotten in the opening seconds of the match when Donnelly forced his way into the box to slot home with the game just minutes old.

But the Radars were back in the game shortly afterwards following a sweetly taken finish from their main striker, who found himself through on goal and steered the ball past McInerney into the top corner.

The Radars' equaliser had come against the run of play, as the Rams had been pressing, and they made the most of this pressure when O'Reilly drilled home a left-foot effort in the run up to half time, although the Radars could have equalised for a second time had it not been for an excellent save from McInerney when the Radars forwards had again found themselves one on one with the Notley keeper.

In the second half, the Rams continued to dictate the pace, and Stoneman's persistance in the box was rewarded with a third goal when he hit a left foot shot low into the bottom corner.

And the game was put out of the Radars' reach when O'Reilly's second was parried by the Radar goalkeeper but still found its way over the line.

After the match Rams boss John Stoneman said: "We definitely had a few cobwebs on show in the first period and at half time we talked about how we needed to raise our game.

"At times we were trying to do too much with the ball individually, and we must remember that our early success this season has come from our ability to pass the ball rather than trying to beat too many players."

Cancelled: Dunmow Rhodes Tigers V Great Notley Rams

THE Rams' match against the Dunmow Rhodes Tigers on Sunday has been cancelled as the Tigers do not have enough players.