Riverside FC 3-2 Sileby Athletic
Riverside
Deliver Hammer Blow
These days the young lads representing Riverside seem to need a kick up the backside before they’ll start playing any form of football, either defensive or attacking. Such a prompt came no more than five minutes into the match when Sileby succeeded in scoring a neat goal. Game on.
Dean Betts responded by kicking the opposition around the park, lucky not to receive a caution for persistent poor challenges, but the referee, who had a superb match, took a lenient view, even when Sileby’s goalkeeper was seen needlessly kicking out at opposing players.
Riverside looked at sixes and sevens all over the park, and indeed it was highlighted by their inability to convert in open-play. Their reply was a goal which came from a short corner that was eventually flicked in by Josh Morris at the near post, which is to be reviewed by the dubious goals panel as it did appear to take a heavy deflection in the process. The second, a majestic header by Tom Marriott following a pin-point free-kick taken by Aiden McGovern.
At half-time Riverside’s manager did well to attempt to dispel his side’s negativity, but there is little one can do in such a short time to influence eleven players firmly set in self-destruct mode.
Sileby came out in a 3-5-2 formation which lead to them winning many more balls in the middle of the park, where they had been seriously overrun in the first half. As a result, some good running from midfield led to another well-taken goal. Riverside were left looking at one-another for someone to blame, and as goalkeeper Lee Waters, (who had already made some vital saves) was not to blame, the players were left feeling extremely confused.
Despite Riverside not needing more than a point to confirm themselves as League Winners, there was time enough to grab a winner, driven on by the intense rivalry between themselves and Sileby. When Marriott was fouled on the edge of the area, the referee proceeded to move the ball back somewhere near the half-way line, characteristic of CSFL officials, nevertheless leaving Phil Lowe attempt a free-kick.
The ensuing dismal, deflected attempt putting Lowe out of contention for dead-ball situations once and for all resulted in a corner. Phil Lowe took his chance to redeem himself by popping up at the back post with a cool finish to put the icing on the cake for the CSFL League Champions, setting them up nicely for their one remaining fixture against Swannington. If victorious it will make for happy reading, in that Riverside will have not lost a match since the opening day of the season, something of which they can be very proud of in their virgin year in the league.
Riverside Edge
Closer to Title with Walsh Win
CSFL new boys Riverside FC all but confirmed their promotion this weekend, overcoming Walsh UK by two goals to nil, leaving them needing only one point from the last three games to go up.
The match was a close-fought contest on a glorious spring morning at the expansive Derby Road venue. The ‘hard-court’ surface is one which Riverside are likely to become very accustomed to, if indeed they are moved away from their treasured King George V Playing Fields by the league as is speculated.
In a lively first half, Riverside spawned a succession of chances as the ball simply refused to settle long enough to allow a clean strike on goal. This also appeared to be the case in the Premier Division match on the adjacent pitch, which took place between Shelthorpe and Hathern, finishing goalless.
With Walsh defending earnestly and both sides unable to convert from open play, it took an Adam Sibson scuff-shot-special on the hour-mark from a dead ball situation to open the scoring.
Shortly after the goal, Phil Lowe was introduced to the fray at the expense of the ever willing, ever spooning, Matt Hodgen, who put in a decent shift for the club he has supported since childhood. However, Lowe’s performance did not equal that of his energetic predecessor, punctuated by the red card received for kicking out following a strong tackle just minutes after coming on.
From that moment forth the game became a significantly more attacking affair, as Walsh looked to take advantage of their extra man, and the visitors sought to tie the game up with a second.
Soon after fending off a patient Walsh attack, Riverside broke quickly, cutting through the Walsh back line and finding themselves in a promising position in front of goal. However, not content with trying to claim the glory for Sibson’s earlier goal, the off-colour Tom Marriott attempted to score from the by-line as opposed to pulling the ball back for an easy finish for one of his team mates.
Luckily, Riverside’s best chance to secure the win was not their last. As Walsh threw men forward in search of an equaliser, fed from the back by some accurate long passes, they were left over-exposed at the back, allowing second-half sub Ashley Aldridge to put the game to bed on 80 minutes.
The three points gained coincide with the league’s decision to award Riverside the win over Three Nuns in their abandoned match earlier this season. As a result of this news, Riverside can win the League Title at home in their penultimate league match, against close rivals Sileby Athletic on April 5th, given they take something from their next fixture against Ashby Railway this weekend.
Tom Marriott turned in a man-of-the-match-winning performance, contributing another 5 goals towards Riverside’s bid for the League title. The league’s top scorer, having now amassed 48 goals in all competitions, stated that he has no intentions of relaxing his exuberant work-rate as the season draws to a close.
“I know if I keep running into the channels, keep trying to get my toe on the end of crosses, and continue to work as part of the team, that I will score more goals before the season is out. The service has been great throughout the season, right from the back, and the goals I have scored are a testament to the quality of the players around me.”
Despite the score line and the air of assurance in Marriott’s comments, all was not plain sailing for the league leaders this weekend though. It was the home side who delivered the initial blow, and came away with a goal following the opening exchanges.
Riverside’s defending let them down and left them looking sorry, as a cross whipped in from the right was met at the near post, which Waters had no hope of stopping as it rolled past his outstretched right arm.
Some might have expected another shaky day for the Riversiders, following their disappointment at Breedon in the previous fixture, but the visitors showed why they are top of the league, bouncing back immediately, courtesy Tom Marriott’s sub-zero composure in the box.
The game’s main talking point came moments later, when an off-the-ball incident invoked the referee’s wrath as he produced an astonishingly soft red-card, for a petulant flick of the boot in an opposing player’s direction by one of Loughborough’s centre-halves.
The ensuing rabble of protest and questioning of the official’s ability lasted an eternity, and perhaps rightly so, considering the enormity of the referee’s overreaction. The outcome of the decision was a free-kick to Riverside, favourably placed, slightly left of centre, only 20 yards out from goal.
A poor wall behind which the goalkeeper positioned himself, left a gaping hole to the left side of the goal into which the Riverside captain duly dispatched a thunderbolt of a strike, putting his side firmly back in the lead with half-time fast approaching.
However, Riverside were unable to reach the break without conceding another alarmingly simple goal. The visitor’s captain went from hero to zero when he committed a lazy foul on the right-side of his own penalty box. The resulting free-kick was then headed in by the unmarked Darrel Brown, only 5 yards out from goal.
Following a half-time roasting from their coach, Riverside ran out clear winners in a considerably more open second period, taking the game to their opponents with some more cultured passing play, for which they are better known. The question posed by the manager at the interval, was one concerning whether his team wanted to win the league or not, stating that it simply came down to this.
The worrying thing for Jones will be that his side still seemed to lack the kind of aggression in the challenge that see’s players come out on top, winning their individual battles. In truth, his side relied on the advantage of having the extra player, and on the steadfastness of Marriott’s finishing ability. It goes without saying that Riverside will need to up their performances in the coming weeks if they are to be crowned champions, as their closest competitors, Three Nuns FC managed to pull off yet another important victory to keep the title chase as close as ever, meaning that Riverside top the table on goal difference alone.
Breedon
Stifle Riverside at the Farm
When top of the table Riverside FC turned up in Breedon-on-the-Hill for their Sunday morning encounter, they knew it wasn’t going to be their day.
The tiny, unaccommodating pitch, which is clearly intended for children’s matches, saw a match which strongly resembled something you might expect to see on the playground.
Once the cattle were herded off of the pitch, the match got underway, the ball bobbling around everywhere. Both sides found themselves incapable of playing any kind of passing football, which duly suited the hosts.
In truth, the first half was more of a tennis match between the two goalkeepers than a footballing contest. However, Riverside came close on several occasions, and managed to go in to the break one-nil ahead, after Tom Marriott converted from close range, following a good ball from his strike-partner Jamie Morris.
After the interval, the weather worsened, and the potholes remained. The game continued in the same scrappy vain as it had begun, with more Breedon players finding themselves in the referee’s book.
After a series of confrontations in the penalty box preceding a corner kick, Riverside were eventually awarded a penalty when the Breedon goalkeeper was judged to have cynically pushed an opposing player to the ground. The resulting penalty was well-saved by the goalkeeper, who perhaps should have seen red for pathetically pushing the penalty-taker to the floor after the miss.
The stage was set for Breedon to snatch an equaliser as the game became stretched, and indeed they did so, when Riverside’s keeper desperately parried a bobbling shot into the path of an oncoming Breedon striker, who dispatched from six yards.
Despite some lengthy stoppages, for a broken nose amongst other incidents, the referee’s added time seemed strangely brief, as the rain continued to fall, and so the match, much to Breedon’s jubilation, ended even.
Riverside will be looking to put the result to the back of their minds and focus on getting a result on a full-sized pitch at Royal Oak next weekend, who are currently suffering a difficult run of form in the league.
Classy Riverside Top the Butchers’
The latest club to top the CSFL division 4, Riverside FC, are celebrating a victory of tactics, as they saw their new formation pay dividends, enabling them to complete a closely contested 2-1 away win against a tough, and unfamiliar, Birstall Trees Reserves outfit.
The pre-match talk of Birstall fielding players from their Premier division first team, who had no fixture this weekend, turned out to be more than speculation, but Riverside rose to the occasion and produced what was undoubtedly their best performance to date.
The match, which was a great spectacle for the fans, had absolutely everything, requiring both sets of players to show bravery in the challenge, resolve in their running, and composure with the ball, on what was a very tight pitch.
Riverside eventually converted a chance five minutes before half time, when the league’s leading goal scorer, Tom Marriott, timed his run to perfection, and rose above his marker to head home a corner at the near post.
Predictably, the Trees came out the stronger in the second half, and made their pressure tell when they managed to score a superb curling effort from the edge of the box, which nestled tidily into the top corner to bring the scores level.
Riverside found themselves severely under the cosh as Birstall pushed for a second, relying on a man of the match performance from Adam Sibson to keep themselves afloat in the middle of the park.
The visitors soon regained their grasp on the game, and saw their possession in the opponents third of the pitch turn into a string free-kicks in dangerous positions. Tom Jones came close on two occasions, but agonisingly directed his headers wide of the mark.
The chance eventually came for Dean Betts to have a strike on goal from a dead ball situation, as far as 30 yards out. The Riverside captain stepped up to drill the kick home past the despairing goalkeeper, whose outstretched hand was not enough to keep the fierce strike from flying into the bottom corner.
A chance came soon after for Tom Marriott to convert a penalty when he was brought down blatantly inside the box. Tom blames the pitch for his awful miss, and there might be some truth in it. However, the wasted chance came to nothing, as Riverside held out for the win, giving their title hopes a real boost, just as the league’s remaining fixtures are announced.
Rearguard Riverside Rule Britannia
Britannia Inn F.C. 0-7 Riverside F.C.
Sunday Feb 1st 2009
An excellent defensive display, exemplified by Aiden McGovern?s sterling performance at centre-back, and sheer quantity of possession, was the winning combination for Riverside against Britannia Inn this weekend.
The div 4 new boys moved up into second place after notching up 7 goals away from home in difficult conditions, to overcome a busy Britannia side. As the wind persisted to whip about violently, with a hint of snow in the air, Riverside set out deploy a slow-paced passing game, resulting in dominating possession and ultimately stifling Britannia, denying them one single effort on goal in the whole match.
The visitors? patience would have resulted in a larger return of goals, had they not been thwarted by the surface on so many occasions as they were. Twice McGovern blamed the run of the ball for him not succeeding in capping his performance with a goal, and it must have been an invisible Spectre stopping him from converting the other three chances that came his way. Possibly Jonathan.
Sileby Town striker Tom Marriott topped up his tally with another hat-trick, bringing him to an impressive 40 goals this season. Riverside will need him to be on form again next week as they look for revenge against Walsh UK, who aside from beating Riverside in the first fixture of the season, recently upset Sileby Athletic?s chances of promotion, dealing them a 3-1 defeat away from home.
Respect Row Threatens to Ruin Riverside Rampage
Riverside 17-0 United Aces
Sunday 25th January 2009
Riverside overran their ten-men visiting opponents, United Aces, by seventeen goals to nil. Riverside might have felt a touch of déjà-vu, as the game harboured yet more negative undertones, coming only a week after the referees? secretary resigned from officiating duties as a direct result of the match-day abuse at Three Nuns FC, which may have cancelled out Riverside?s 4-3 lead in the fixture.
Only fifteen minutes into their match against United Aces, the visitors found themselves manager-less, as their coach was ordered to leave the pitch-side after protesting angrily against a series of offside decisions. Opposed to the foul language being hurled at himself and his officials, the referee attempted to remove the reluctant manager from the touchline. It eventually took words from the Aces captain to convince his manager to back away from the pitch, in order to avoid the referee abandoning the game.
Already 8 goals up at the break, Manager Aaron Jones encouraged his side to aim for the league record of 26 goals in one match, but Riverside will have happily settled for 17, boosting their goal difference to a staggering +63.
The Aces could have found themselves reduced to 9 men when a player lashed out after a coming-together, as the Charnwood League?s bottom side became understandably more frustrated.
However, Riverside showed no mercy and compounding United Aces? misery were hat-tricks from in-form strikers Phil Lowe and Tom Marriott, 4 goals from Dean Betts, and a wonderful headed goal from Mark Cullen, opening his account for the season. Even goalkeeper Lee Waters had chance to convert a spot-kick, for good measure.
Had the referee not shown as much courage, it would have been the second fixture in as many weeks to be abandoned for Riverside, who are desperate to prove themselves, and reach the top of the league. Riverside meet Breedon next, who have been very impressive at home this season, in a potentially title-deciding encounter, sure to be full of action.
Backwards System Suits Naughty Nuns
Three Nuns vs Riverside
Sunday 18th January 2009
Red cards, yellows, own goals, rasping strikes and bone-crunching challenges by the dozen. This match had it all. Division four?s top two teams met in a more-than-spirited clash, which eventually went ahead following the majority of the surface water having been shovelled off of the pitch.
The game started brightly enough, when the visitors went 1-0 up through Betts after just five minutes. However, Three Nuns soon made their intentions clear as they began to uproot each and every Riverside player one-by-one, until eventually; the referee produced a long-overdue yellow card.
The caution came far too late. Both sides continued to exchange blows in the form of goals and ruthless, reckless challenges. At half time the Referee?s Secretary promised a much less tolerant approach to the second period, and so after either manager had attended to his players with bucket and iron, the game resumed at 2-2.
Riverside came out the strongest after the break, and made some great chances despite the opposing wind. The blatantly offside Tom Marriott soon latched on to a Phil Lowe flick-on, and raced home to put the visitors up 3-2. The Nuns replied instantly with a spectacular strike from range which deflected into the top corner, bringing the game even once more.
The tension began to build again as the Riverside players found themselves on the floor as a result of yet more disgusting challenges. Incidently, Riverside were eventually awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, and the home side were reduced to ten men for a second bookable offence.
The set-piece was swung in to the back post, where Ryan Beech, who had previously won the foul, rose at least six inches off the ground to direct a header goal-ward. It seemed that the Nuns? keeper had got hold of the ball, but fell backwards over his line and carried it into the net.
The home team were furious with the decision. Surrounding the referee, the players? protests forced the referee to produce another red card for dissent. Refusing to leave the field, the offending player and his team mates continued to harass the referee, bombarding him with foul language and abuse, until he took the match ball and declared that the tie had been abandoned, despite Riverside having just taken the lead, 4-3.
After some post-match discussion it is speculated that the fixture will have to now be replayed. This would therefore present the offenders with a second bite at the cherry, rewarding, rather than punishing them for their unsporting demeanour.
Birstall Experience Riverside Bite-Back
RIVERSIDE FC 13-1 BIRSTALL TREES RESERVES
SUNDAY 1TH JAN 2009
The numerous Division 4 promotion hopefuls would have been backing mid-table Birstall Trees Reserves to take advantage of a wounded Riverside FC this weekend, following their abrupt cup exit last week. However, the new boys from Barrow bounced back to form with an astonishing 13-1 victory, completed in superb style, whilst even their goalkeeper, Lee Waters, took his chance to get his name on the score sheet by converting a second-half spot-kick.
The first half was typified by slick passing from the home side, the best of which ran through Betts in the heart of the midfield. Their performance was a disciplined demonstration of the kind of commitment and desire in the challenge, which has been distinctly lacking in their performances of late.
The result of their efforts was a 5-0 lead at half time, which had the Riverside manager, Aaron Jones, demanding double figures from his team in the second period. However, the manager?s designs were put into jeopardy, as just seconds after the restart, Birstall created a clear cut chance and finished clinically to stun the home side?s supporters.
However, rather than inspiring the visitors to new heights, their efforts incurred the wrath of their Division 4 rivals, who scored three goals in quick succession, crushing any chance of a Birstall fight-back.
The star of the show, netting 4 goals in only his second game back following two months of injury, was number 10 Phil Lowe. The towering forward had the ?Midas touch?, on a boggy pitch, and seemed to animate the players around him in a way no other has been able to achieve of late.
Riverside have the chance to go top of the table in the next few weeks, as they trawl through their games-in-hand. Indeed, the new boys look set to do so if they can perform anywhere near as convincingly next weekend, in a very tasty fixture against the league leaders, Three Nuns FC .
Riverside FC 3-5 Loughborough Rovers
Divisional Cup Match ? Sunday 4th January 2009
ROVERS RANSACK LAZY RIVERSIDE
Rovers stomped all over any hopes Riverside FC had of completing a league and cup double in their debut season of the Charnwood Sunday Football League. Loughborough delivered a 5-3 hammering at King George V playing field, on a pitch which somewhat resembled a granite slab, on a very cold morning.
Neither side could get the ball down and play at any stage of the game, which favoured the visitors, who had no qualms about using the long ball, as they implemented their game plan with great success in the opening stages of the encounter.
Rovers used their pace up front and quickly went two up complementary of some dreadful Riverside defending, for which the goalkeeper must accept a large proportion of the blame. The home team responded and applied some good pressure as the half went on, with Sibson bringing out a great save by the Rover?s number 1. Riverside were rewarded for their hard work, grabbing an equaliser just before half time, when Aldridge collected a parried shot and finished confidently from a tight angle.
After a half-time grilling, and the introduction of the Riverside Captain who had been rested controversially, Riverside netted through Phillip Lowe. However it was to have little effect, as Loughborough won a penalty either side of Lowe?s strike, converting both, whilst Riverside were left with 10 men as a result of one of the incidents.
Another goal came for Rovers when a fierce strike fizzed past Waters at his near post, making the score line 5-2, before Riverside through Lowe once more, bring the deficit back to two goals.
The home side?s performance, though much improved on their first half display, was a case of ?too little too late?, and their efforts were hampered by the fact they only had 10 men for the last thirty minutes.
On another day the result may have differed, but Loughborough Rovers go away deserved winners whilst Riverside will be left contemplating what could have been, if they had only started as they ended the game.
14 DECEMER 2008 RIVERSIDE 12-1 BRITANNIA INN
Riverside not Distracted by Defiant Denny
The game between Riverside and Britannia Inn almost didn?t go ahead this weekend, when Referee Denny refused to run the match, due to Riverside FC being unable to provide changing facilities at their home ground; King George V Park in Barrow Upon Soar.
Thankfully, Riverside Gaffa Aaron Jones took the helm. Notoriously bias in the favour of his team?s opposition, he was given little to do in a good-spirited encounter.
Both sides started well, with chances at both ends. The home side soon took the match by the scruff though, and kicked on to a seven goal lead by half-time as a result of some fine, passing football.
The goals dried up slightly second half as the pitch became steadily worse; however it was one of the few which held up under the weekend?s poor weather.
Taking full advantage of the chance to play the match, Riverside ended the game winning by an eleven goal margin, the largest in the division this season. Matt Hodgen netted three, as Tom Marriott typically outdid his team mates by bagging four for himself, taking his season?s tally to a staggering thirty-two.
Ryan Beech, Dean Betts, an own goal and two finishes from Tom Jones made up the full twelve, to Britannia?s one, coming complementary of an excellent strike in the closing stages of the match, which caught Riverside goalkeeper Lee Waters off guard, and ruined his hopes of a rare clean sheet.
7 DECEMBER 2008 BEACON ATHLETIC 5-4 (A.E.T) RIVERSIDE F.C.
Riverside Push Beacon to the Brink
Riverside FC?s ?eight-rated-heroes? fall short by the smallest margin, as they lose 5-4 to division three high-fliers Beacon FC in the Everard?s Sunday League Cup.
It took extra time for the Loughborough outfit to see off their lower-tier challengers, in a clash which brought together two relatively new teams, so far enjoying decent campaigns at their respective levels.
The game proved to be a very even match up; both sides were significantly weakened, with Beacon manager-less on the day and playing with a bare eleven, and Riverside without key players.
Beacon seemed to stamp their intent on the game when they responded to Riverside?s early lead through Tom Marriott, with two quick goals to put them two-one up, but slowed off the pace and let Riverside back in to take a 3-2 lead into half time thanks to a double from make-shift forward Tom Jones.
Riverside struggled to replicate their first half attacking form, in the next 45 minutes, as Beacon once again took the lead with two more smart goals, before Marriott added his second with minutes to go on the clock to take the tie beyond the ninety-minute mark.
Extra time was characterised by seemingly trigger-happy officiating from both linesmen, as both teams struggled to get the benefit of the doubt in attack.
The match seemed destined for the infamous penalty shoot-out, but to Riverside?s misery, a well defended set-piece bounced out to an on-coming Beacon player who smashed the loose ball home emphatically.
The result leaves Charnwood Sunday League new boys Riverside FC with only the league and the divisional cup to focus on from here in, knowing in all probability that they will have to beat Beacon at a second time of asking if they are to be the successors in the last remaining cup competition.
30 NOVEMBER 2008 SILEBY ATHLETIC 3-3 RIVERSIDE
Christmas Comes Early for Sileby Athletic
Riverside needed a steely second half revival against Athletic, who will feel they should have taken all three points from an open encounter.
Sileby were the benefactors of fast-paced, end to end football, as they took a 2-1 half time lead in a heated local clash.
Sileby went a long way towards proving their promotion intentions, eventually putting three past a defence which had leaked, on average, only two goals per game in the league to date.
The away side?s late comeback kept Sileby nine points at bay, thanks to close range goals from Ryan Beech, Tom Jones, and Tom Marriott at full stretch to poke past the Sileby keeper. However, Riverside would have entered the match expecting to take full points from a side they overcame comfortably by four goals pre-season.
A fine strike by Sileby?s number ten, for the home side?s third goal of the match looked like it had buried Riverside, but it was a credit to their determination which has been lacking in recent weeks, that they managed to claw themselves back into the tie.
The Riverside boss Aaron Jones will be hoping for a much improved performance from both his players, and the referee, in the return fixture in the new year, when it will become more clear which teams are destined to be involved in the title race come the end of the campaign.
Sunday 16th November
Report by Tom Jones
9 NOVEMBER 2008 RIVERSIDE 2-6 XTREME ALLIANCE
Sluggish Riverside Run Ragged
The match started with an air of controversy which the home side?s players were unable to shake over the 90 minutes. Striker Phil Lowe went down with an ankle injury before kick-off, and the scheduled referee was involved in a car crash and so unable to attend the fixture.
With Riverside boss Aaron Jones taking the mantle of match official, leaving the home team with little guidance from the sideline, the game got underway at high-pace as both sides sought to find the early goal.
It was Riverside who should have opened the scoring when Dean Betts disposed a defender and ran through on goal, only to shoot at the keeper. Despite late pressure from Xtreme Alliance and a number of half-chances, the teams went in goalless at the half.
In the second half Xtreme Alliance came out strong and took the game to the hosts, playing some good football down the left resulting in two goals.
Riverside hit back through Ashley Aldridge?s back-post finish following a sterling ball across the box by Tom Jones. However, Xtreme Alliance went on to put the game to bed, turning the Riverside defence inside-out at will as they broke through the midfield and let their strikers chase onto a constant supply of through balls.
At 4-1 Tom Marriott dispatched a cool strike to bring the deficit back to two goals, but with Alliance adding another two shortly after, Riverside were eventually dead and buried by a margin of 4.
Some will say the match should never have been played due to the circumstances which occurred before-hand, but Xtreme Alliance will have no complaints as they make themselves firm favourites for the cup.
Costly Defeat
for Breedon F.C. at the Hands of Rampant Riverside
Riverside surged to their sixth straight win in all competitions, putting 8 past a feisty Breedon side, whose frustration eventually got the better of them leading to two yellow cards and a £16 fine.
The home side started quickly; stunning Breedon with two early goals whilst they were still brushing their teeth. Captain Dean Betts converted Phil Lowe’s measured pass, with Tom Marriott scoring seconds later.
Complacency soon set in however, as the Riverside midfield were already one foot in the pub, shirking and wincing at the mere thought of a challenge. Consequently Breedon breezed back into the bout, bagging two easy goals to level.
At half time manager Aaron Jones made some inspired substitutions, introducing Ryan Beech and Matt Hodgen who made an instant impact on the game with their energy and enthusiasm.
It wasn’t long before Betts added a majestic second from a free kick, and Lowe looped a header into the top corner in front of his travelling family from an Ashley Aldridge cross. Tom Jones also managed to slip and toe the ball into the bottom corner with his standing leg for his first league goal, before Breedon hit back to make it 5-3.
Reluctant to experience a repeat of the first half, Riverside maintained their tempo and pushed on to net a further three as Lowe finished one-on-one and Marriott rode the goalkeeper’s wild challenge, rolling the ball into an empty net for his second.
To his obvious delight Betts completed his hat-trick, steeling in before Marriott to finish at close range. It capped a dazzling second half Riverside performance, as they showed the kind of form they will need, in order to overcome Heather St Johns in the Everards League Cup on Sunday.
Ullesthorpe
Thumped by High-Flying Riverside
The Sunday Vase brought Ullesthorpe F.C. to Barrow Upon Soar where they met the in-form Riverside F.C. where it appeared an even contest might be played out, owing to both teams coming from the lowest tiers of their respective leagues.
However, straight from the off it was Ullesthorpe who found themselves under the cosh. By half time the score-line read 6-0 to Riverside, playing and winning their fourth consecutive match at home.
On-form forward Tom Marriott, had grabbed three by the halfway point, with Tom Jones scoring one, opening his account for the season. Ashley Aldridge converted with his right knee in a goalmouth scramble following a long-throw, and Dean Betts scored a bizarre goal which flew in directly from a corner kick.
There was no respite for Ullesthorpe after the break, who were reduced to ten men late on when Josh Morris was brought down by the last defender.
Unfortunately, the resulting free-kick was blazed over by Aldridge looking for a hat-trick, but youngster Morris profited from the open nature of the game, managing to get his name on the score-sheet twice, capping a wonderful performance from the wing.
Two own goals completed the ten goal mauling.
Riverside
Upset Heather St Johns in Cup Victory
Aiden McGovern’s first league goal sinks Division One Heather St Johns in a stormy affair at the King George Stadium.
After failing to convert a succession of chances, the home side went ahead as a corner kick landed on the nose of centre-back McGovern, who finished on the second time of asking as the ball bounced back off of the grounded goalkeeper.
The flood gates opened and Riverside added another four to their tally. Josh Morris, Phil Lowe and Tom Marriott with two, all finished from close range, bringing the score to 5-0 by half time. The scrappy goals in difficult conditions came courtesy Ryan Beech and Dean Betts, providing pin-point delivery from both open play and set pieces alike down the ridge, which were begging to be converted.
Half time saw some suspect substitutions on Riverside’s part, which seemed to demolish the confidence the team had played with in the opening 45 minutes. Once presented with the opportunities, which came from a poor headed pass back and another defensive mix up on the left, Heather pounced, and finished emphatically to get themselves back into the tie at 5-2.
However, it wasn’t long before some slick passing on the edge of the box found Marriott in space to complete his hat-trick, bending a fine strike past the sub-standard, yet helpless goalkeeper, to seal the win for the Reds.
Heather then tired and reacted badly to their inevitable defeat, by picking up a red and four yellow cards as they tore through the Riverside ranks with studs showing. Josh Morris was unfortunate to receive Riverside’s only caution, which was issued for a vexed outburst directed at the referee following a series of poor challenges leaving him in an agonised heap on the ground, not for the first time.
Three Nuns ‘Holy’
Defence Exposed
Three Nuns FC seemed right at home, as the rain poured down during their away fixture to Riverside FC, in this week’s round of Colin Wards Butchers Division Four matches.
The bells ringing out on Church Street provided the soundtrack to the first fifteen minutes of the game, which saw the Nuns take an early lead following a ghastly error from Riverside goalkeeper, Lee Waters, sliced the ball into the path of the oncoming striker, who netted gratefully.
However, it wasn’t long before Tom Marriot levelled for the home team.
The sides went into the break at 1-1, but after a quick turn-around it was the home side who were to reap the fortunes of a goalkeeping error.
A poor goal-kick arrived at the feet of Tom Marriott who finished emphatically under pressure.
The fourth goal came from a deep Riverside corner, headed back across goal and converted easily by Marriott for his seventh in two games.
At 3-1 down Three Nuns FC persisted energetically, and it took a goal-line clearance from veteran Martin Ryan to keep the visitors at bay. Two more goals from Tom Marriott followed, to bury the game and secure Riverside’s third victory on the bounce.
Marriott nets 5 as
Riverside Run Riot in the Cup
Newly-formed Riverside FC smashed their way through the first round of the League Cup, knocking out division three side Greenhill FC in the process.
Playing their second of three successive home games on St George’s Park in Barrow Upon Soar, Riverside shot out of the blocks showing great intensity in front of a growing crowd, in a thrilling match which took no less than ten minutes to get officially underway. Thomas Marriot latched onto a defence-splitting through ball from the heart of the Riverside midfield, opening the scoring with a delicate lob over the disorientated goalkeeper, who could do nothing as the ball dropped just under his crossbar.
After starting well, with the exception of conceding the early goal, Greenhill FC then seemed to abandon their passing game and reverted to a more direct style of play, as they found themselves increasingly pressured on the ball. The Riverside defence looked vulnerable in the wake of the first goal, as the ball was launched over their heads repeatedly, but goalkeeper Lee Waters’ growing confidence soon spread throughout his backline, aided also by a nerve-settling second goal for the home side.
It was Marriott again who finished coolly, when his strike partner Phil Lowe beat his marker in a foot-race to collect another through ball, sliding a measured pass across the six yard box which was easily converted by the oncoming forward.
The simple finish was Marriott’s sixth goal in two games. The front-man who learnt his trade during his many years at Barrow Town Juniors is showing early signs that he is good for the money, as he seeks a £20 end-of-season bonus from his manager Aaron (The Count) Jones, in exchange for 30 goals in the first season at his new club.
Phil Lowe came close with a succession of fierce shots on the Greenhill goal, which their keeper was more than equal to, much to home team’s frustration who looked good for another goal before half time.
The play became a little sloppy as forty-five minutes approached as neither side seemed to be able to take control of the ball as they would have liked. It was in one of these incidents which came the third Riverside goal to cap an excellently spirited first-half display.
Riverside Captain Dean Betts received a throw-in from the left in an advanced position, which he dribbled into the box before he was hauled to the ground by the two players either side of him. Upon the referee declining to make a decision, the midfielder battled on and staggered to his feet, bending a measured shot into the far corner of the net and leaving the Greenhill defence speechless.
Consequently it was the home side who went in for half time visibly brimming with confidence, looking forward to a more relaxed team talk from their manager than the week before, when they saw themselves 2-1 down at the same stage against Loughborough Royal Oak in their Charnwood division 4 fixture.
After the turn-around Riverside pushed on as they had done in their previous tie (which saw them eventually beat the title favourites Royal Oak 6-2) to put the game beyond any chance of a Greenhill revival.
Some quick thinking on a short corner for Riverside lead to Phil Lowe’s first goal of the campaign, as he opened his account with a thundering back post header which punctuated the home team’s second-half intentions, as their manager unashamedly shouted from the sidelines ‘Go for double figures lads!’
Riverside came close to matching their manager’s demands as super striker Tom Marriott added another two to his account, and winger Ashley Aldridge got his name on the score sheet in consecutive matches. The home side eventually netted another five goals in what was a considerably scrappier second-half. Tackles began to fly in all over the pitch as fatigue set in for both teams. However, the referee was able to keep his cards in his pocket throughout, which was a relief for the home side, as it appears they may already be facing a fine only three games into their first season.
Before the match got underway, the referee stated that he would be making a formal complaint to the FA about the width of the white line markings on the pitch, which both teams seemed to agree was a little out of sorts considering the amount of effort the Riverside players had put into preparing the pitch. The team worked tirelessly for seven hours the previous Saturday, cutting the pitch with a single, manual petrol lawn mower (the kind you might use to mow your garden), as the parish council had failed to meet their promise to cut the grass.
The surface played well throughout and the lines didn’t pose any problems, as it was only the halfway line which seemed to be in any question, which unsurprisingly never became pivotal to the outcome of the match. Significantly though, it was in Greenhill’s attacking half which much of the closing moments of the game we played out, as Riverside seemed to forget all of the hard work they had done in their attempts to keep a clean sheet for the previous eighty minutes.
The division three outfit pushed on and came at the home side ferociously as they peppered the Riverside goalmouth with numerous efforts, short and long, as they found space continuously.
However, it was not from open play that Greenhill got their consolation goal in the dying seconds. A deep corner, well delivered from the Greenhill captain, found a man unmarked at the back post, who powerfully headed home much to goalkeeper Lee Water’s dismay, as he still searches for his first clean sheet.
Despite the late goal, Greenhill FC will be left reeling following what they will surely consider a shock defeat, after cruising to victory in their first two games in the division above the boys from Barrow. Meanwhile Riverside will be looking to carry their good form into another juicy encounter with Three Nuns FC, who succeeded in putting six past their opponents in the league last week.
