Match Report
Radley College 5th XI vs  The Oratory School Boys-U18D
On: Saturday, 13 Jan 2024
Venue: at Home

A great start to the season, and a first win for Mr Scott in Radley Football after two losing seasons back in 2015-17 with the long-lost JC3s. The most pleasing thing about the result was the way we controlled the play throughout, with the opposition coach impressed and a crowd of up to 10 enthralled with the beautiful game. Our back three were not only rocks but committed to playing the ball on the ground, with a calm interception, swivel, and through ball from Terry one of the highlights. Mackaness played the pivotal CDM role perfectly, linking play between defence and attack with consummate assurance, and we had well over 70% possession in both halves. At only 1-0 at half-time, however, our half-time team-talk focused on the need to maintain the pressure, and also to ensure the midfield and attack stuck to their channels to avoid crowding each other. It paid off, with a second-half onslaught leading to 5 more goals, a missed penalty, and a team almost camped out in the Oratory penalty area. Man of the match might genuinely have been at least 6 different players, but is awarded to Ludo Collis - impressively composed, beating his opponent with ease on countless occasions, and always a threat with his inswinging corners and crosses.