RAF V’S FIRE SERVICE

Played at RAF Uxbridge - 13 Feb 08 - 1400hrs Kick Off
Report by FS 'Hornet' Suggitt

RAF 1 Fire Service 1

Returning to RAF Uxbridge for their first fixture there since November the RAF and Fire Service were greeted with glorious weather and what appeared a better playing surface than of late. The first half was rather a wearisome affair with neither team able to establish any form of pressure or pattern of play, both sides appearing to find it difficult to control the ball on the firm surface. The first chance fell to the fire Service in the 3rd minute but this was easily caught by Whitelam. In reply the Morris drew a good parrying save from the Fire service keeper. Then in the 11th minute the Fire Service’s No 9 Winstone thought he had given them the lead only to find the assistants flag raised for offside. The next notable chance came in the 25th minute when direct from a Fire Service corner Whitelam’s kick left Bartley in the clear however he failed to clear the keeper with his attempted lob. A minute later Morris had a deflected shot well saved. After this brief period of pressure by the Air Force the rest of the half petered out. Whatever was said at half time by the respective coaches definitely altered the game with the tempo definitely on the increase. Two minutes into the restart the Fire Service took the lead in unfortunate circumstances. From an Air force half cleared corner Feeley struck a superb goalbound volley until it hit a defender, in a flash the ball was cleared by the Fire Service and the Air Forces defence was caught flat footed and following a mistake by Dixon, Winstone finished with a precise lob. This only fired the Air Force up even more and they deservedly equalised in the 51st minute with the move of the match, Bartley and Brabbs combined down the right feeding Morris who finished left footed across the keeper from 15 yards. The Air Force then started to gain the upper hand and although they enjoyed the greater possession chances were still at a premium. Gradually the game petered out into a draw.

Squad

Cpl Whitelam RAF Brize Norton
Cpl Brabbs RAF Cosford
Fg Off Griffin RAF Uxbridge
SAC Bonney RAF Halton
SAC Dixon RAF Brize Norton
Cpl Pierce MOD St Athan
Cpl Feeley MOD London
Sgt Matthews RAF Henlow
Cpl Petty RAF Halton
Cpl Bartley RAF Uxbridge
Cpl Morris JSUC Corsham
Cpl Sammut RAF Brize Norton (Replaced Bonney 73mins)
SAC Douglas RAF Odiham (Replaced Matthews 70 mins)
SACWray - RAF Waddington (Sub not used)