Ris Go Close

This was Risborough's first league match of the 2023/24 season and would act as a good yardstick to see where the team is at, compared to some more established Allied Counties teams. The game got off to a lively start, with Penn using their wingbacks to full effect stretching the play in wide areas. It was a very even exchange until on 20 minutes a moment of hesitation in the Ris defence left their striker to slot home a loose ball for 1-0.

In pre-season Ris have been at their most vulnerable immediately after conceding, so a big 5 minutes followed whilst we shook off the disappointment. Then 5 minutes later we were level. A great ball down the left hand side was pounced on by Sam Wilkins whose lightning pace took him past the defence before hitting a great shot which the keeper did well to block. The loose ball fell to Devin Ballantyne in the centre who swivelled and smashed it home from 6 yards with his left foot!

Both teams had half chances immediately following, but it was not until 5 minutes before half time that the breakthrough came, and it went to the home team. Again, hesitation in the box by two Ris defenders was punished, and their quick striker snuck in to grab the 2-1 goal. Despite this, Ris went into half time knowing we were competing and unlucky to be a goal down. Heads were up and the mood was positive.

It took just 5 minutes of the second half for this positivity to turn into a goal. George Caille burst down the left to cut out a Penn ball forward, intercepted and exchanged a quick one-two before providing a well-weighted through ball for Sam Wilkins to run on and coolly slot home for 2-2. Unfortunately it did not take long for Penn to regain their lead, when a third moment of hesitation in defence saw their striker get to a ball before the keeper and poke home for 3-2.

The match was then stopped for 10 minutes to deal with an unfortunate off the field incident which the officials, Penn and Risborough staff, players and coaches reacted brilliantly to. Ris were clearly rattled however, and it was no great surprise when out of nowhere the Penn striker lashed one top bins and suddenly it's 4-2 and the game looked lost.

Huge credit to the Ris team however who dug deep and would not lie down. With 10 minutes to go a hopeful through ball found Archie McDougall-Hutchins through 1v1 with the Penn keeper who took him out resulting in the award of a penalty and a red card for the Penn keeper. Up stepped Alfie Peake-Pijnen to smash home the pen and at 4-3 with an extra man on the pitch it was then a barnstorming finish with both teams having chances.

In the end it's hard to begrudge Penn the win purely on the basis that their striker put away all 4 chances that fell to him. At the same time if it had been 4-4 maybe that would have been a more fair reflection on a great battle, played in a good spirit by both players.

Both teams meet again next Thursday at the Kamtech Stadium, so lets hope for an equally good game.