Ringmer AFC vs First Team

RPFC Lose 3 in a row

Reigate Priory travelled, on Friday night, down to Ringmer to fade a Ringmer aids sitting 4th in the table. Priory 2nd. The hosts have a fantastic 3G facility with a clubhouse to match, with food, sport on tv and a balcony overlooking the pitch to boot. The priory line up featured Priory youth graduate Charlie Gauntlett who got his first league start for the first team.

With 150 in attendance the game struggled to get going with both teams struggling to control the game. Priory and Ringmer however both looked to play a passing game, just couldn’t quite find their rhythm. Priory probably started the stronger with a high pressing game. The game was tight, with both teams showing signs of nerves.

However, at the 30 minute mark a brilliant driving run down the centre of the pitch, from the Ringmer left winger led to a decent left footed strike from the edge of the area into the bottom corner. From that point Ringmer assumed control of the game, with Priory resulting to long balls, which often slid off the wet surface and gave Ringmer back possession.

Ringmer may have got another before half time when a driving run, again down the left, resulted in a low driven cross to the feet of the Ringmer number 10. All it needed was a tap in from 5 yards out, but Priory centre half Mikey Thompsett slid in and blocked the shot, putting the ball out for a corner to Ringmer.

Ringmer went in 1-0 up with the home crowd buzzing, but Priory knowing they had more to give.

Priory manager Dale Wyatt fired up the Priory boys, who came out quick at the start of the second half. A fantastic run from Alex Bicknell down the right, found himself with space as he fired the ball across the box, with Ringmer defenders scared to touch it. Gauntlett couldn’t quite get on the end of it, then it fell to Chris Parsons who couldn’t get it on target.

Moments later the challenge that changed the match occurred. Parsons intercepted a pass in the Ringmer half, but his touch was loose allowing the Ringmer number 9 to get the ball, Parsons flew into a silly challenge, which erupted the Ringmer fans, bench and players. A scuffle ensued and the referee decided it was the end of Parsons night, sending him off.

This left Priory with 10 men for 30 minutes plus, which meant Priory couldn’t quite take the game to Ringmer in the way they had planned. Nevertheless, it was a valiant effort from Priory who dominated throughout the second half, just not getting a clear cut chance. The result ended 1-0 to Ringmer, in what was a great occasion for both teams looking to progress to step 6 next season.

Man of the match was Tom Hayden for a brilliant performance in the middle of the park.