RAYNERS LANE 4 EDGWARE & KINGSBURY 2Troy Perez-Duah Popov Aaron Minhas Tompkins (p)Sean Shields Keano Robinson Rayners MOM: Hamilton Antonio
In a fixture kindly sponsored by club patron Russell Grant, Rayners Lane were very pleased to have secured a deserved win against their Middlesex rivals Edgware & Kingsbury though the game was a lot closer than it needed to be. The home side were in the ascendency from the start, with the pace of Rio Connell and the trickery of Sean Shields and Kyel Reid causing the visitors all sorts of problems. Several really good scoring chances came and went, Shields having two good efforts saved by Aram Sarkissian in the Wares goal. A third went begging when he tried to lob into an unguarded net but didn’t get enough power on his shot and the keeper gathered. An early injury to Danny Uchechi saw him replaced by Club Captain Aaron Minhas, himself returning from an injury induced lay-off, and within minutes he had rounded Sarkissian but couldn’t keep his shot on target. With so many scoring opportunities going begging Rayners must have been wondering if it was going to be one of those days but thankfully a quick break following an Edgware & Kingsbury free kick in the 20th minute ended with Troy Perez-Duah breaking the deadlock from close range. The teams went in at the break separated by just the one goal but in truth the game really should have been done and dusted with the amount of chances The Lane had created. The home supporters didn’t have to wait too long for a second goal as Rio Connell broke down the right hand side in the fiftieth minute and pulled the ball back for Aaron Minhas and he made no mistake with a powerful drive into the roof of the net. Some uncharacteristic indecision in the home defence on 60 minutes following a long throw allowed The Wares Niko Popov to pull a goal back but the two goal advantage was restored five minutes later thanks to a Sean Shields solo effort, slotting home after cutting inside from the left. The visitors rallied again on 70 minutes when they were awarded a penalty which was slammed home by veteran Craige Tomkins to keep the game interesting. However, Rayners again restored their two goal lead when Keano Robinson powerfully headed Kyel Reid’s corner into the net on 74 minutes. This was to be the end of the scoring as the home side were able to keep possession and deny the visitors any more chances. It was a competitive, entertaining game of football and credit to Edgware & Kingsbury who pushed Rayners Lane until the end.
Come On The Lane!
Rayners Lane – 1. Jack Smith 2. Manny Folarin (Sub: 12 Ivan Atkins, 73) 3. Callum Webb 4.Keano Robinson©. 5.Oliver Sprague 6. Troy Perez-Duah (Sub: 14, Zaine Gangadeen, 90) 7.Kyel Reid (Sub: 16 Kunle Otudeko, 90) 8. Hamilton Antonio (Sub: 17 Alex Cathline, 67) 9. RioConnell 10. Danny Uchechi (Sub: 15 Aaron Minhas, 37) 11. Sean ShieldsAtt: 74Ref: Gavin Collins Asst: Steve Conway / Chris Gustafsson