2011-12 Season
Match Reports
22.07.12 Donny R'sonists at WorldNET 2012
R'SONISTS SQUAD
Liam Scully, Alan Brown, Louis Bailey, Matt Harriman, Rich Dillon, Jonathan Orridge, Glen Wilson, Alan Cullingworth, Callum Reid, Andy Sheldrake, Harry Swain, Joe Burton, Ben Cullingworth, Rob White, Andy Harriman, Matt Smith, Paul Nelson GOALSCORERS Rob White (vs Wimbledon) Harry Swain (vs RC Lens) Andy Harriman (vs Exeter) |
The end of July means only one thing for the R'sonists; time to decamp to a field in Leeds for the latest WorldNET competition. The R'sonists were drawn in a multinational Group 5 along with Wimbledon 'A', RC Lens and Exeter Exiles and served a 9am start for their first game on the Saturday meaning a tapered Friday night bonding session in Headingley for most, though it was still a hearty enough reunion to cost the side the services of Paul Buckle for the rest of the weekend.
Up against Wimbledon 'A' in their opening game the R'sonists started brightly, but were struggling to find a way through their opponents despite playing some neat football. In the second half Donny began to close in on goal though with Andy Harriman seemingly putting the R'sonists ahead with a well-taken volley, only to be ruled out by a linesman's flag. Thankfully though the deciding goal came minutes later as Harry Swain fed Rob White and he rounded the keeper in slow motion before (eventually) slotting home to secure a 1-0 win. Next up were the strong looking RC Lens side who had also won their opening group game against Exeter. Donny looked promising at the start, with some neat passing football but they were struggling move the ball into the final third, and Lens soon pounced, capitalising on a stray pass to break in and beat Liam Scully to take the lead. Credibly though the R'sonists fought back and some neat play down the right ended with White squaring the ball across goal for Swain to sweep home for the equaliser. Sadly though before half-time Lens would retake the lead, breaking once again to slot past Liam to make it 2-1, a score that Donny would just not be able to peg back. In the final group game the R'sonists took on Exeter knowing that victory would secure them a passage to the main competition on Sunday. Exter were a decent side, but that didn't really excuse a poor first half from the R'sonists. Thankfully the second half brought a much better performance, though the game still sat in the balance and Donny needed a Louis Bailey header off the line to prevent Exeter going ahead. Crisis averted though Donny took the lead with Andy Harriman heading home a Glen Wilson corner to break the deadlock. But there was still time for history to be made as Paul Nelson came on to become not just the oldest ever R'sonist, but the oldest ever player in the main Worldnet competition at 64. ANd there was also time for comedy too as Liam Scully decided to break from his goal for the right wing only to end in a horro-laden expletive as he was tackled 70 yards from his goal. In his absence though Bailey managed to make the target look small for Exter's forward and he could only strike the bar. 1-0 it remained, though Donny's joy was curtailed a little as the draw for the knockout rounds paired them with a strong Crystal Palace side. So, via a night out in Leeds which brought a midnight ice-cream for Matt Harriman, wantant vandalism from Matt Smith and a "double cloakroom and coke" for Rob White, the R'sonists convened at 11am to face Palace for a place in the quarter finals. Despite the strength of Palace and the somewhat dubious state of some of the R'sonists (best characterised as Liam Scully tangled and fell in his own net) Donny acquitted themselves well. Moving the ball well, particularly down the lefy, Donny troubled Palace, but despite the best efforts of Andy Harriman up front they struggled to make any impression on the scoreline. With five minutes to go Palalce finally broke through to take the lead, tapping in at the far post from a low cross from the right. And with Donny throwing everything forward for an equaliser they doubled their lead with the very last kick of the game to send the R'sonists home early. Another decent weekend's showing from the R'sonists, and the side can take much credit from their performances, especially as the two sides who defeated them went on to contest the tournament final late on Sunday afternoon; Palace defeating Lens 2-0. Huge thanks to all the R'sonists squad who made this another enjoyable weekend finale to the season. |
30.06.12 Donny R'sonists 3-2 Ipswich Punch Drunk FC
GOALSCORERS
Andy Harriman Matt Harriman (pen) Paul Cuffling R'SONISTS LINE-UP Liam Scully; Ian McKenzie, Paul Buckle, Matt Harriman, Alan Cullingworth; Joe Burton, Dan Jennings, Trevor Charlton (Glen Wilson), Rob White (Paul Cuffling); Andy Harriman, Andy Sheldrake (Ben Savage) MAN OF THE MATCH Paul Cuffling; kept the R'sonists ticking in midfield from the moment he came on with calm and controlled passing throughout before capping a great game with the winning goal. |
Though without six of the team that travelled to Grimsby a fortnight ago the R'sonists were boosted for this game by the return of a number of familiar faces, notably goalkeeper Liam Scully who returned after eight years away from the side.
With the wind behind them the R'sonists were on top for the majority of the first half, but struggled to create clear chances, and those that were fashioned were invariably thwarted by Ipswich's impressive goalkeeper. Andy Harriman was first to threaten cushioning the ball on his chest before volleying towards the top corner only to see the keeper claw it away from the top corner. Big Andy would be denied by another good stop minutes later, as too would Joe Burton shooting from a tight angle, only for the keeper to turn it over the bar. At the other end Ipswich's one key chance came from a moment of insecurity in the R'sonists back-line; Macca feeding a backpass, which was intercepted, but in one on one, the Ipswich forward couldn't find a way round Scully. Eventually the R'sonists did find a way through to open the scoring; Alan Cullingworth's excellent long diagonal ball picking out Andy Harriman who did well to draw the keeper and dink the ball beyond him into the corner of the net to secure a 1-0 half-time lead. The second half would prove a much more challenging 45 minutes for the R'sonists as they struggled to hold the ball and create opportunities against the wind. With the hosts floundering Ipswich pulled level; a neat pass between a short-handed defence picking out the forward who had edged in behind and he had ample time to slot the ball past Scully. Not long after 1-1, became 2-1 to the visitors, a scramble in the R'sonists box ended as one of the Ipswich players managed to nip the ball off Wilson's toe and poke it into the bottom corner. Now trailing, the R'sonists pushed for an equaliser but found themselves up against a familiar formidable barrier. The Ipswich 'keeper's finest moment coming as he made an incredible double save from point blank range in the six-yard box to deny both Harriman brothers. With less than quarter of an hour to go Donny thought they'd finally equalised as Andy Sheldrake's neat through ball picked out Andy Harriman, but the whistle went for offside before Andy could touch the ball home. Eventually the equaliser did come, via the penalty spot, after an Ipswich player was deemed to have handled when blocking a cross. Matt Harriman rolled home the spot-kick to make it 2-2, but the R'sonists were still not done and a couple of minutes from time they snatched a winning goal. Neat play in the right saw the R'sonists make space to get in a cross and Paul Cuffling had timed his run perfectly to arrive just in time to cap a great game by heading home the winning goal. A great game, as it always is with Ipswich, who were, as ever, a pleasure to host in an IFA game. |
16.06.12 Grimsby Internet Mariners 4-3 Donny R'sonists
GOALSCORERS
Alan Cullingworth Matt Harriman Harry Swain R'SONISTS LINE-UP Glen Wilson; Paul Buckle, Karl Smith, Matt Harriman, Alan Brown; Alan Cullingworth, Dan Jennings, Harry Swain, Louis Bailey; Ben Cullingworth, Matt Smith MAN OF THE MATCH Harry Swain; excellent debut in the centre of midfield capped with a brilliantly taken goal. |
The R'sonists began their preparations for WorldNET with a trip to the Far East to take on Grimsby's Internet Mariners at Bradley Road. In typical R'sonists fashion a presumed squad of 14 turned out to actually be a bare 11 and so a tough afternoon was in store against a Grimsby side who had the benefit of five subs.
Still, the R'sonists started brightly going down the slope and took the lead inside a couple of minutes, Ben Cullingworth's corner picking out dad Alan Cullingworth who's first time volley from just inside the box found the net. Though Grimsby were having a little more possession they were struggling to make it count and the R'sonists increased their lead through a fantastic free-kick straight into the top corner from Matt Harriman. Late in the half Grimsby began to exert more pressure, but a save from stand-in keeperGlen Wilson and the woodwork just about kept them at bay until the break. As the R'sonists began to tire Grimsby had the better of the second half and pulled a goal back on the hour mark via a break down their left and a perfect cut-back across goal. Soon after they were level, with another counter attack, this time down the right, mirroring their opener. The Mariners kept up the pressure with a succession of corners nad the set-piece bombardment finally paid off as Karl Smith unfortunately headed into his own net to put Grimsby 3-2 ahead. Still the R'sonists were not out of it though and after something of a second wind brought them a couple of opportunities Harry Swain capped an impressive debut with a cracking strike from distance which went in off the bar to make it 3-3. Sadly though it was not to be and Grimsby restored their lead with around ten minutes to go, an angled cross from the right glancing off the head of the unfortunate Smith for his second own goal and what ul |
03.03.12 Donny R'sonists 4-3 Brighton Supporters
GOALSCORERS
Graham Moss 2 Andy Harriman Paul Cuffling R'SONISTS LINE-UP Dave Burkett; Paul Buckle, Glen Wilson, Matt Harriman, Louis Bailey; Graham Moss, Keith Sanders, Ian McKenzie, Frankie Groves; Andy Harriman (Paul Cuffling), Dan Jennings |
A welcome return to action for the Donny R'sonists as they hosted old Fans United friends from Brighton in a non-IFA friendly. Brighton had come for the game intoning that they weren't much of a side, but they duly took the game to Donny to open up a 2-0 lead early in the game. Eventually though the R'sonists found their feet and worked their way back into contention with three goals in the final fifteen minutes of the first half.
Andy Harriman was first on the scoresheet, heading home a Graham Moss cross, before the returning Moss got on the scoresheet twice himself, firstly turning in from close rage, and then as he cushioned home a volley from a great left wing cross from Dan Jenni. Early in the second half Moss was involved again as the R'sonists extended their lead, flicking on Glen Wilson's long-throw for Paul Cuffling to head home at the far-post. Though the R'sonists pushed for some time they were unable to add to thei lead, and found themselves hanging on at the death after Brighton pulled it back to 4-3 with a far-post header with ten minutes to play. The R'sonists though did see it to full-time to secure a victory in a fantastically well-contested game in which there was not a single foul committed in the entire 90 minutes. |
02.01.12 Donny R'sonists 1-1 Barnsley SFC
GOALSCORER
Marc Cartlidge R'SONISTS LINE-UP Andy Robson; Karl Smith (Ian McKenzie), Jonathan Orridge (Glen Wilson), Matt Harriman, Alan Brown (Louis Bailey); Joe Burton, Keith Sanders, Marc Cartlidge, Alan Cullingworth; Andy Harriman, Matty Findlay |
Thanks to assistance from Rossington Main FC, the Donny R'sonists were able to start 2012 by hosting near-neighbours Barnsley SFC in a rare Bank Holiday fixture. A pitch more bobbly than the R'sonists have become accustomed to coupled with a bright low sun amde for difficult conditions as both sides struggled to take hold of the game early on.
Barnsley had much of the early pressure, thanks in no small part to Jonno Orridge's insistance in clearing everything out for a corner, and indeed hit the bar from close range when they looked certain to open the scoring. The R'sonists threat was initially limited to the break and Matty Findlay had already forced a good save from the Barnsley 'keeper before the home side took the lead after half an hour. A neat bit of passing ending with Marc Cartlidge curling a the ball into the corner of the net from the top of the box. However Barnsley would be level before the break as a neat touch and through ball from Peter Kay in their midfield released the visitors' nippy winger and in one on one he slotted past the R'sonists keeper and into the far corner. Star of the first half for the R'sonists had been Keith Sanders' face, which found itself in the way oif the ball on at least five occasions, and it was back in the action again early in the second half, blocking a Barnsley efffort from close range. As with the first half genuine chances would be few and far between for both sides. For the R'sonists Cartlidge turned a pull-back over the bar from close range, whilst Joe Burton was denied by a great block from the Barnsley 'keeper. While at the other end 'keeper Andy Robson made a great save down to his right to keep out the visitors and then an Orridge header off the line prevented Barnsley from nicking a win in the very last minute. A hugely enjoyable game played in exactly the right IFA spirit with barely a foul committed across the 90 minutes. |
19.11.11 Barnsley SFC 3-2 Donny R'sonists
GOALSCORER
Rob Farrow 2 R'SONISTS LINE-UP Rob White; Karl Smith, Glen Wilson, Matt Harriman, Alan Brown (Louis Bailey); Joe Burton, Andy Sheldrake, Marc Cartlidge, Trevor Charlton; Andy Harriman, Rob Farrow |
Disappointment for the R'sonists as they lost out in a close encounter to their local IFA compatriots Barnsley SFC. On a narrow pitch at the Carlton Community College Barnsley had the better of the opening fifteen minutes, pinning the R'sonists inside their own third with a succession of set-pieces. The long-throws, free-kicks and corners eventually came to fruition as a delivery from the Barnsley right was kneed into his own net by Joe Burton leaving stand-in 'keeper Rob White with no chance.
However the R'sonists gradually began to find their rhythm and had much the better of the half an hour up to the interval. Donny drew level as a Rob Farrow free-kick found the far corner of the Barnsley goal and then the visitors kept up the pressure with both Trevor Charlton and Andy Harriman coming close before Farrow grabbed his second goal of the game to give Donny a 2-1 half-time lead. Barnsley were far from beaten and were level again soon after the start of the second half as a corner from their right picked out a man eight yards from goal and his header squeezed beyond a combination of Glen Wilson in goal and Louis Bailey on the line. With Donny playing a higher line Barnsley were looking to get in behind them and after falling foul of the linesman's flag on a couple of occassions they eventually beat the offside-trap and their forward slotted the ball beneath Wilson to retake the lead. The R'sonists tried to hit back, but couldn't get the final ball right and their best chance came as White jinked in from the left wing only to see his eventual shot cleared off the line. All in all a disappointing defeat, from a match which could really have swung either way. |
29.10.11 Donny R'sonists 10-1 Coventry City SFC
GOALSCORERS
Matt Findlay 2 Andy Sheldrake 2 Karl Scott 2 Rob White 2 Keith Sanders Matt Smith DONNY R'SONISTS LINE-UP Dave Burkett; Karl Smith, Matt Harriman, Keith Sanders, Alan Brown (Louis Bailey); Joe Burton, Marc Cartlidge, Andy Sheldrake, Karl Scott; Rob White (Matt Smith), Matty Findlay |
The R'sonists ended a fixture-filled October with their biggest win for some years, defeating Coventry City 10-1 at the Ian Wilson Community Sports Village. The game was evenly poised until the quarter hour mark, but once Donny opened the scoring fifteen minutes in they simply didn't stop, notching eight in total before half-time. Two goals for Karl Scott from his new home on the left wing, plus a brace each for Matt Findlay and Andy Sheldrake helped put the R'sonists in firm control; a header from Keith Sanders and a strike from manager Matt Smith with his first touch of the game completing an 8-0 first half scoreline.
After the break Coventry managed to sure up their back-line, helped by a change of goalkeeper, to keep the R'sonists at bay, and pulled a goal back of their own as a cross from the left wing found its way over Dave Burkitt and into the net. However, two goals from Rob White wrapped up the R'sonists victory, and only their second double figure scoreline in a decade. |
15.10.11 Sheffield United InterBlades 3-1 Donny R'sonists
GOALSCORER
Andy Harriman R'SONISTS LINE-UP David Burkett; Paul Buckle, Glen Wilson, Matt Harriman (Matt Smith), Louis Bailey; Karl Smith, Marc Cartlidge, Keith Sanders, Karl Scott; Rob White, Andy Harriman |
An uncharacteristically fixture heavy month for the R'sonists continued with their third successive Saturday in action and a trip to play the Sheffield United Inter Blades on their famous sloping pitch.
In their increasingly retro blue away kit the R'sonists got the game underway and moved the ball encouragingly in the opening quarter of the game. Karl Scott on the left and Rob White up front linking particularly well. Indeed it was Donny who took the lead as Andy Harriman used his strength to get onto a through-ball before firing across the keeper into the far corner. At the other end the Blades were starting to come into it though and only a smart diving stop from 'keeper Dave Burkett preserved the R'sonists lead. Eventually though the home side did draw level, a chipped ball over the R'sonists backline picking out the striker who lifted the ball over the advancing Burkett and into the net. Donny pushed for a way back ahead, Karl Smith volleying just over from an excellent Marc Cartlidge cross and Matt Harriman just failing to connect with a Glen Wilson free-kick, but it came to nothing and slowly the Blades began to exert control of the game, scoring a second goal, a carbon copy of the first, just before half-time. Trailing by a goal and now playing uphill the R'sonists were always going to struggle in the second half and their task looked set to proove even steeper as the Blades were awarded a penalty; Karl Smith adjudged to have pushed his man. The Blades forward, on a hat-trick, was ushered to take it, but Burkett guessed right saving with his legs and it remained 2-1. The home side continued to have the better of the game, and but for a few more good stops from the R'sonists keeper could have been home and dry. Instead they lived nervously right up to the last as White saw a low shot well-saved by the home keeper and both Cartlidge and Matt Harriman fired just wide from distance. With the R'sonists committing men forward for an equaliser eventually the Blades did make their general superiority count and added a third goal in the final ten minutes, two men timing their runs to get in the clear and pass the balla round the helpless Burkett. Andy Harriman almost reduced arrears late on with a deflected effort that the home keeper did well to save, but the Blades were good value for their win, having used the extra man in midfield well throughout. |
08.11.11 Donny R'sonists 4-3 Grimsby Internet Mariners
GOALSCORERS
Lee Drobac 2 Andy Harriman 2 R'SONISTS LINE-UP Jamie Orridge; Paul Buckle, Jonathan Orridge, Matt Harriman, Alan Brown (Glen Wilson); Joe Burton, Keith Sanders Marc Cartlidge, Louis Bailey; Ian McKenzie (Lee Drobac) Andy Harriman |
The R'sonists atoned for the disappointment of beginning their season with defeat on the road with victory in the campaign’s first home game. They were made to work for the points though by Grimsby’s Internet Mariners whose persistence kept them in the game right up to the final whistle.
The R’sonists started confidently and moved the ball well to feet, but couldn’t quite break down their opponents. Indeed, but for a great save by Jamie as the visitors left winger got in one-on-one they would’ve found themselves behind. However, the introduction of Lee Drobac from the bench gave the R’sonists purpose to add to their passing and it was he who struck the opening goal; taking down Joe Burton’s diagonal ball before shooting across the ‘keeper in to the far corner of the net. Grimsby continued to press and perhaps should have had an equaliser as a scramble developed in the six yard box, and was only averted as Alan Brown cleared off the line. Other than that the visitors were restricted to long shots, all of which were comfortably fielded by the R’sonists ‘keeper. At the other end Andy Harriman came close with a shot across goal, before the R’sonists doubled their advantage just before the break. Louis Bailey carrying the ball in from the left, and holding his man off before feeding Burton in the box, and his neat lay off was finished by Drobac. The visitors needed an early goal to keep their chances alive and they produced one in the opening minutes of the half as a cross from the left found the head of the man in the middle, to just loop out of reach of Jamie. Two minutes later R’sonists Director of Football Glen Wilson put down his whistle, put on a shirt and immediately changed the game, by giving away a needless penalty within two minutes of coming on via a clumsy foul. Grimsby took the chance from the spot and the game was all square at 2-2. Thankfully Wilson’s blushes were spared as the R’sonists went on to regain the lead. Andy Harriman getting on to the ball, and taking his chance well to make it 3-2. Grimsby had another chance to level, again from the spot as Matt Harriman was adjudged to have handled in the box; this time though the Mariner’s centre-half put his spot kick over the bar, and the visitors would be punished further as Harriman struck his second goal and the R’sonists fourth just a few minutes later. Keith Sanders almost put the result beyond doubt with a shot that just missed the far post, but with three minutes to go Grimsby set up a nervy finale as they made it 4-3, a hooked ball back into the box fell at the feet of the Mariners’ number 4 and he hooked it into the corner of the goal. Time ran out for the visitors though before they could threaten again, the R’sonists holding on for a deserved victory. |
01.10.11 Peterborough United ST 3-2 Donny R'sonists
GOALSCORERS
Keith Sanders Andy Harriman R'SONISTS LINE-UP Jonathan Orridge; Paul Buckle, Glen Wilson, Matt Harriman, Alan Brown; Allan Riggall (Jordan Sill), Andy Sheldrake, Marc Cartlide, Louis Bailey (Greg Sill); Keith Sanders (Matt Smith), Andy Harriman |
ou'd have thought that beginning your season in October would have negated the need to lather yourself in sun cream before taking the field, but alas when scheduling our fixtures we'd not taken account of Global Warming. And so, after a scenic detour of Peterborough's ring roads provided courtesy of Glen's liberal map reading, the R'sonists took to a very big and very hard field to begin their 2011-12 campaign in painfully high heat.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the R'sonists began on the back foot, with the home side having the better of the opening quarter of an hour as Donny struggled to get used to the conditions. However, Posh's failure to find the net, meant it was the visitors who took an unlikely lead with a neat passing move working the ball forward from left back before Allan Riggall diverted it into the path of Keith Sanders who sent the keeper the wrong way to slot the ball home. Despite the best efforts of Jonathan Orridge in goal, not least his glorious falling clearance, Peterborough would equalise soon after as they were able to get a man over and a neat ball through fed their striker who slotted past Orridge. Though they were struggling to move the ball forward the R'sonists almost retook the lead with a Matt Harriman header that came back off the bar, before the hosts moved ahead. A deep cross from the left finding two Posh players unmarked at the far post with one of them heading home for 2-1. Before the break the home side found a third, the initial threat from the left dealt with by the R'sonists, but the ball was sent back in from the other wing and Peterborough's midfielder finished with a fine half volley for a two goal half-time cushion. That Peterborough failed to add to their tally in the second half was mainly down to an excellent performance by Orridge who made a couple of great saves with the visitors through one on one. Some timely interceptions by the backline also reducing the damage, enabling the R'sonists to give the home side something to think about as they pulled a goal back with quarter of an hour to go, a fine long angles through ball from Riggall picking out Andy Harriman who controlled it and carried it onwards before slotting past the keeper. Marc Cartlidge would fire in a couple of long range efforts, but the R'sonists couldn't find an equaliser, and in all honesty the result was still a little flattering to Donny. |