East Midlands Counties - Premier Division - 30/08/10
Radcliffe Olympic 3 v 1 Greenwood Meadows
After their historic win over Wisbech Town in the FA Cup just 48 hours earlier, Radcliffe Olympic returned to the Recreation Ground to make it a perfect weekend as they defeated local rivals 3-1 in an EMCL league match. A Craig Anderson penalty opened the scoring for Radcliffe, only to be pulled back when Greenwood equalised, also from the spot. Dave Hawkes restored the Radcliffe lead prior the break before Phil Massingham's second half strike settled the match.
Visitors Greenwood Meadows have had a mixed start to the season. Although they had won just the one game going into the match, it was against title favourites Gresley FC less than a week ago; so they were not to be taken lightly.
Radcliffe made just one change to their previous starting line up as Aaron Korol stepped in to replace the injured Tom Maddison. There was also just one change on the subs bench as Ash Brandy replaced the injured Josh Royce.
Radcliffe opened to the scoring on fourteen minutes after Carl Westcarr was hauled down in the Greenwood penalty area. Olympic skipper Craig Anderson stepped up to confidently hammer the ball home from the spot. Some slick passing down the left between Aaron Korol and Drew Hatton opened up the Greenwood defence for Westcarr, who fired over when well placed. Dave Hawkes headed Korol's free kick just wide and Ben Richardson stretched the visiting defence before Greenwood levelled to scores on twenty seven minutes. Once again it came as a result of a penalty as James Spence was adjudged to have pulled back Craig Meakin inside the area. Meakin pulled himself up to beat keeper James Mountain from the spot.
Massingham had two goal bound efforts blocked as Radcliffe created the clearer of the chances created. The Greenwood defence were finding it difficult to deal with high crosses into their area as Spence headed Korol's corner over the bar before meeting Richardson's corner at the near post to head wide. Radcliffe regained the lead on thirty three minutes and it came as no surprise that it came from a header. Hawkes rose above a static Greenwood defence to meet Korol's free kick and send his cushioned header just inside the post.
Although having to defend for much of the half, Greenwood did have their chances. When Radcliffe failed to clear a Greenwood corner, Ashley Harrison's rasping shot was comfortably held by Mountain, fortunately it was directed straight at him. Jordan Prance chested the ball down to volley just wide then Meakin broke down the left to fire straight at Mountain. At the other end Ash Miles foraging forward had his close range shot blocked.
Half Time: 2-1
After the break Westcarr was pulled back in full flight just outside the area; Massingham had his resultant free kick blocked by the wall. It was then Massingham who scored the third Radcliffe goal and the best one of the match to extend their lead on sixty nine minutes. He got in front of his marker to latch onto a through ball down the right and held off the challenge before stretching to hook the ball over Paul Farnsworth the Greenwood keeper, into the far corner of the goal from an acute angle.
Radcliffe replaced Massingham and Westcarr with Greg Walton and Danny Blanchard. Feeling more at ease with a two goal cushion, they played some of their best football of the match as they stroked the ball across the pitch with their controlled passing. Walton and Richardson saw their attempts fly over the Greenwood bar.
Late in the game, Mountain was called upon to make his best save of the match when he came off his line to block a shot from Chris Atkins before Wes Spencer completed the clearance.
Full Time: 3-1
It would have been easy for Radcliffe to have been distracted by the events just two days earlier, but they didn't. They remained focused on the game against a good Greenwood side with plenty of pace up front. An unspectacular, yet disciplined Radcliffe performance in which they were worthy winners.
Radcliffe face another tough challenge this Saturday when they face Grimsby Borough from the First Division of the NCEL at the Recreation Ground in the first qualifying round of the FA Vase. Once again they will be hoping for plenty of local support to cheer them into the next round.
Report by John Watts
Radcliffe Olympic: J Mountain, A Miles, D Hawkes, W Spencer, J Spence, D Hatton, B Richardson, C Anderson, P Massingham (G Walton), C Westcarr (D Blanchard), A Korol.
Subs (not used): A Brandy, S Dalmedo, A Waddley.
Greenwood Meadows: P Farnsworth, K Walker, A Harrison, L Pollard, J Staples, T Gray (K Stephens, L Hutchinson (C Atkins), N Robinson (D Prance), J Blair, J Prance, C Meakin.
Subs (not used): R Francis, R Graham.
Referee: T Knight. Assistants: K Shaw, M Pickering.
