TRAILING 2-0 at the interval on their visit to The Rock on Saturday (Aug 18) after another well below-par performance and with goalkeeper Oliver Davies to thank that the deficit was not greater, the Reds came out for the second half a completely different outfit, due in large to switching from a 5-3-2 formation to 4-4-2, a ploy which their opponents failed to handle.
An early goal by James Loveridge after the restart brought them back into contention, and when he completed his brace later in the half, there was to be just the one winner as the visitors took control.
A dramatic stoppage time award of a penalty, coolly put away by Chris Jones, completed a stirring comeback, and to some extent erased the memory of the 7-0 home opening day thrashing at the hands of Connah`s Quay Nomads.
The Reds made a number of positional changes to their starting line-up, with Kyle Graves and Chris Thomas replacing James Parry and Carlos Indja, while Jordan Davies and Anthony Finselbach began in midfield, with Mark and Ross Jones, Robert Thomas and Reasat Khaton on the bench.
The game started with the Ancients putting their opponents under severe pressure from the start, leading to some desperate Reds defending at times, but even so it took just 5 minutes for the home opener when a Ryan Kershaw corner flighted into the area was not dealt with effectively, allowing Dean Rittenberg to rifle home the loose ball past Davies.
This was a foretaste of what the pattern would be for the remainder of the half, and when a Davies clearance rebounded off the back of a home player, the ball was swiftly despatched into the net, only for an offside flag to rule it out.
A rare foray by the Reds saw Loveridge make ground up the right before his near post finish was safely gathered by Michael Jones in the home goal.
A shot on the turn by Kershaw skimmed the crossbar, while Davies did well to come off his line to deny Jordan Evans when he was found in space ten yards out.
The Reds` keeper was being kept fully occupied, bringing off another save to prevent Rittenberg adding to his tally, and when Nathan Peate was found unmarked at the far post following a corner, his header was scrambled over for another flag kick.
Another Evans attempt led to yet another important save by Davies who at this stage was almost single-handedly keeping the score down to a reasonable level, before he was beaten again in the 34th minute when a clearance over the top caught the Reds` rearguard flat-footed, allowing James Davies to win possession before making tracks toward goal and leaving Davies helpless with his finish.
Just before the break, Evans was again frustrated by Davies when he brought off another stop to keep out his goal bound attempt, and the visitors had a lot to thank their keeper for as the whistle blew for half time.
Whatever was said in the visitors` dressing room during the break certainly had the desired effect when they emerged for the second half , and having ditched their original 5-3-2 starting formation in favour of a more attacking 4-4-2, they were a revelation when the game restarted.
They were back in contention within a minute of the second half restart, when a move involving Joe Clarke and Follows culminated in Loveridge being played in from wide on the right, and he cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable shot beyond Jones.
Stung by this early reverse, the home side retaliated through Matty Owen whose attempt from distance was pushed over by Davies, but his proved to be a rare event as the half wore on, with the Reds in control for long periods.
Davies had his well struck shot well held by Jones, but the visitors deservedly levelled matters on 74 minutes after having dominated proceedings, with Loveridge and Follows combining in the initial build-up before the former was played into the box and made no mistake with a fine finish to complete his double.
With the clock running down, the Ancients desperately tried to restore some of the ascendancy of the first half, but they were being well contained by opponents who were now a completely different proposition, being confined to the occasional half-chance with Davies again showing his credentials by pushing clear a header by Alec Mudimu when he met an Owen cross.
With the contest entering stoppage time and the visitors seemingly heading home with a point, things got even better for them with the award of a penalty when referee Nick Pratt, who had earlier taken over from Tom Williams in the 72nd minute when he was forced off injured, pointed to the spot for pushing following a corner.
Chris Jones was entrusted to take the kick and made no mistake, burying his kick into the bottom corner to complete a remarkable comeback, and ensure the Reds` long journey home would be a happy one.
The Reds are expecting a large crowd at Stebonheath on Friday (Aug 24) when they entertain old rivals, Barry Town United with a 7.35pm kick off as the game is being shown live on S4C.
On Tuesday, August 28, they travel to meet Haverfordwest County in the first round of the Nathaniel MG Cup. A coach will leave the ground at 4.30pm.
Add Comment