UEAFC go top!

Heading into Wednesday’s game UEA were joint level with Ruskin on 16 points at the top of the league, with a worse goal difference than their opponents nothing but a win would do for the ‘Yellows’. After a rallying call by captain Dan Williams, and with the sun shining brightly, Colney attracted numerous supporters to cheer on the side. All they needed now was a result.

The UEA team celebrate

Lining out in a 4-4-1-1 formation UEA got off to a good start in what was a tight game. The ‘Yellows’ suffered an early blow when right-winger David Okpala’s leg seemed to buckle under after a strong challenge. There was no way the winger could have carried on, and unfortunately it looks as though the in-form attacker’s season has come to a premature end. Tom Stirk was the replacement moving back into left-back, with Michael Dryden moving forward on to the right wing. It became clear that the UEA team weren’t going to let Okpala’s injury affect them, and the ‘Yellows’ just shaded dominance over their opponents throughout the first half, with midfielders Rowan van Tromp and Conor Bell running the show. Ruskin did have the better chances though, with two shots from outside the box being dealt with well by the UEA defence.

This all changed when after good work down the right side, Dryden was released. The winger played a good low ball into the box, and whilst the Ruskin defence cleared the cross, the ball fell at the feet of Conor Bell who smashed it into the top left-hand corner of the goal. It was an absolute ‘worldie’ and a worthy first goal in what was such an important match. There was a shout for a penalty for Ruskin after their striker was felled in the box by Dan Williams, and although Ruskin can feel somewhat hard–done-by not to have it awarded, the ball had already gone when the player was brought down. There was more work to be done by the UEA defence before half time as a corner from Ruskin was cleared well off the line. With the first goal in the bag, along with some tense moments UEA were glad of half time when it came, to recover and reconvene.

The second half looked to be following on from the first. Anglia Ruskin hit the bar with a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, however the UEA defence had limited them throughout to these ‘pot-shots’, and they were unable to ever work the ball through. There were challenges being thrown in by both sides, but a few cynical one’s came from the Ruskin side that could have been punished further by the referee. The powerful Ruskin centre-forward was providing some problems for the ‘Yellows’ defence, at one point after muscling his way through three players he unleashed a shot that goalkeeper Kavi Luchowa was happy to see careen back off his right-hand post.

The team celebrate their second goal

UEA were on the back foot, but after great play by Harry Read, they took possession in the middle of the park released the ball to Dryden and it then found its way slotted through the middle for Tsukasa Katase to run on to. The tricky left-winger controlled the bobbling ball majestically and finished with a deft flick over the oncoming Ruskin keeper. It was another great goal to put the U’s seemingly in control. Not long after though Anglia Ruskin played a good ball over the top of the ‘Yellows’ defence, and their striker finished well under pressure, playing over the top of Luchowa’s head. This made for a tense last half-hour. The effort UEA had expended must have caught up with them  as it was a bit of a backs-to-the-wall job from then on. Goalkeeper Luchowa made a fantastic save after a close-range shot from the Ruskin striker. The UEA defence were doing a good job of keeping the ball away from the danger areas, however after ‘keeper Luchowa went missing after a floated free kick from Ruskin, there looked to be an equaliser for the opponents, however the ball was brilliantly cleared off the line by Karl Moulton, who played fantastically throughout. A few minutes later Ruskin looked certain to score again after playing past Luchowa, but Tom Stirk tackled well on the line to save the day for the ‘Yellows’.

After a last few tense minutes the referee finally blew his whistle, and the ‘Yellows’ celebrated a fantastic result that leaves them three points above Ruskin, with only a last game against bottom-placed side De Montford left to play. The whole side played brilliantly, and look set to be named ‘campeones’ once again.