Town performs well despite loss

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Rye Town 2 Hollington 5

Manager Shane Ridgers applauded his Rye side with their performance against undefeated Hollington United, a side top of the premier division, despite a 5-2 defeat.  It was in fact player/manager Ridgers who was the difference between the teams as his woeful display gifted the away side 3 goals in which proved critical. Hollington manager Scott Price was full of credit for Rye stating that they were arguably the toughest side he has faced as Hollington manager this term.

A crowd of well over 110 were at the Salts (that’s if Derek Robertson’s clicker had been calibrated since its last use) to see Rye fall behind to a sloppy goal at the back post following a cheap free kick given away by Chris Gould. With both sides working hard and tackles flying around, it was a well matched encounter. Rob Wilson continued his scoring habit heading in to level the score at the back post, unmarked from a corner.

Mistake number one shortly placed Hollington in front, a lame strike trickled home against a goalkeeper diving outstretched yet ending up shorter than when he started! 2-1 at half time a fair game despite the score line.

Louboi Barker congratulating the Pikes Cleaning Man of the match Sammy Foulkes
Louboi Barker congratulating the Pikes Cleaning Man of the match Sammy Foulkes

The second half was all about Rye. Sammy Foulkes instrumental in driving his side forward, Gould curving a delightful through ball to Charlie Stevens who raced into the box passing sideways for Alfie Weller to equalise in a finely worked goal; 2-2. The game became a battle with each side having chances. Hollington denied a top corner strike by Ridgers redeeming his earlier howler  . . . short lived when the away side went 3-2 up following mistake number two, a simple jump and catch was a crumble and a fumble in poor fashion.

Once again Rye pressed and for their efforts a penalty awarded allowed Foulkes to let rip at goal, only for an outstretched leg from the Hollington goalkeeper to save down the middle. Gould and Ben Heffernan already on yellow cards were replaced instantly after Hollington scored their fourth, a fine strike from within the Rye penalty area. Ridgers secured a hat trick with mistake number three in the final moments beating forward Reece Johnson with a drop of the shoulder and a toe poked clearance was hammered home into an empty net with the keeper not in sight!

The team performance was right up there in fact Ridgers and Wall where happier in defeat this week than with a win last week. Lots of positives too build on.

Rye team: Ridgers, Walker, Willis(c) Wilson, Wall, (ball) Foulkes, Levett, Gould, (Fraser) Heffernan, (Osbourne) Weller, Stevens, not used Earl

This Saturday,  October 1 Rye return to league action as they entertain Wadhurst at the Salts with a 3pm kick off. Sammy Henham and Tom Harris are available but Shane Ridgers and Justin Wall are both out with knee injuries.

Photos: Charmaine Ridgers

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