Ravens sink Rivermead!
Ravens 4-1 Rivermead Reserves

On Ravens opening day of the season the squad was focused and optimistic that they could get off to a good start. Rivermead were an unknown quantity as this was our first game in a new league, so we had to come out all guns blazing and come away with the 3 points. After a good start Ravens began to knock on the door as hard as a Jehovah witness. The door was opened midway through the first half when Tim Brown picked the ball up and ran with intent, and just as everybody thought he was going to fire a rocket, he picked out Matt Hennessy with an inch perfect pass into his feet, he took a touch and passed the ball into the bottom right corner past the keeper. Our lead was then extended by an incredibly accurate pass by Kyle Moss who was almost in his own half when he spotted a perfectly timed run by Rob Olding into space. Rob obliged with a clever finish into the bottom corner.
Ravens went into the break 2-0 up and it could have been more, but we then had to make sure that we did not shoot ourselves in the foot and give them any encouragement that they could get back into the game, which we unfortunately did in the opening stages of the first half when an inch perfect cross left Grant Sadler picking the ball out of the net.
Ravens then kept it tight for the next 10 minutes as we got ourselves back in the groove by making it 3 when Rob Olding picked the ball up in our own half he then picked out Matt Hennessy who was 30 yards out with his back to goal, He took the ball on his right and juggled the ball over the defenders head he then had the composure to lash it home past the goalkeeper and a defender on the line, as soon as that happened Ravens knew it was their day. Matt Hennessy added a 4th after Rob Olding put in a low and meaningful corner across the 6 yard box, after the defender missed the ball an instinctive finish from Matt Hennessy gave Ravens an unassailable lead, it stayed this way until the final whistle as Ravens claimed the 3 points in a very convincing display.

Player Ratings
Grant Sadler-7- Looked comfortable throughout,
Rob Bentham-7- Solid and also gives an option going forward.
John Burdett-8- Mopped up like his hair suggests he would. Good in the air.
Kev Brooks-7- Committed as ever, a great ambassador for Ravens team spirit.
Kyle Moss-8- Great ball for the 2nd goal, solid at the back, great going forward and great link up play.
Jamie Hawthorne-7-Troubled the right back with his pace, put in some dangerous balls into the box,
Omni “studs up” Sambrook-9- Formed an instant relationship with Ollie, Puts the team before his own health. Top drawer
Ollie Patterson-9- adds steel to our midfield a great distributor of the ball, rained the goal with shots.
Tim Brown-8- A willing runner, looked dangerous at set pieces, great work for the opener, unlucky to be substituted
Rob Olding-8- Scored and set up 2, his pace troubled the defence and looked dangerous on the left.
Matt Hennessy-9- Netted a hat trick on his debut as striker, Looked composed on the ball.

Subs
Mike Packer-7- Unlucky not to score late on, never gives up.
Tarik Foley-6- not on long enough to make an impact, but we know what he can do.
Stu Nicholls-7- Composed on the deck, looked comfortable.