RISSC survive as door opens

Following the previous week’s break from live action, the RISSC (London) football time assembled at a chilly LPR Sports Ground in Sudbury on Sunday afternoon last. The relatively pleasant weather conditions which prevailed throughout most of January gave way to a damp and dismal afternoon with rain pouring incessantly. The conditions, however , did not deter stalwart club members, Conway and McNevin from lending their presence to proceedings.

RISSC entered the game in the knowledge that victory would secure definite promotion to the top division. Manager Paul Franklin was able to welcome back Dan Healey and Adrian Ward but the evergreen Paddy McGee was unavailable. Healey resumed his customary central defensive role alongside captain Karl McGee but Ward had to be content with a place on the bench as Paul Lavelle retained his midfield position.

The team set their stall from the outset and came to terms with the conditions almost immediately. The strike partnership of Mauricio Carillo and Mick Coffey continued their recent good form and both went close in the early stages. It came as something of a shock therefore, when a break from the opposition saw goalkeeper Darren Nolan have a rare rush of blood and bring down the attacker just outside the penalty area. The resultant free kick was not cleared and the visitors managed to bundle the ball into the net to take the lead.

As has been evident throughout the season, a setback of this nature is usually the catalyst for increased endeavour and fortitude from this team and today was no exception. The response was swift and positive. Following the restart the ball was switched wide to Tim Nagle and his delicious delivery into the box was devoured by the alert Carillo who stroked home the equaliser.

This incisive reaction lent further impetus to an already confident RISSC team and the central midfield pairing of Donnie Mullan and Gary Stockwell began to exert even greater influence. A rash challenge on Coffey, towards the left apex of the penalty area brought a free kick. The ebullient Coffey placed the ball and proceeded to curl an exquisite shot round the defensive wall and into the corner of the net. Within a matter of minutes Coffey was again placing the ball, this time on the penalty spot and he had no hesitation in despatching the ball to the net to put RISSC 3-1 ahead as the half time interval approached.

The half time break appeared to have a negative impact on the RISSC players and Manchester City SC began, for the first time, to have some degree of possession. The Irish team managed to contain the efforts of the visitors until the hour mark when a lapse of concentration in defence led to RISSC conceding a second goal.

The goal had the desired effect on the Irish team and the players regained their composure and took control of proceedings. A neat bout of attacking play resulted in City conceding a corner and Coffey’s precise delivery was touched to the net by Nagle to restore the two goal advantage. Soon afterwards, Ward replaced the redoubtable Carillo and the substitute was inches away from scoring the fifth when his shot struck the crossbar.

RISSC continued to pressurise their opponents but were unable to make a further breakthrough as the game entered its final stages. With a couple of minutes remaining, alarm bells began to ring when the Irish lads fell to a sucker blow and needlessly conceded goal number three. The players succeeded in running down the clock and collected their three points.

The mood at the final whistle was one of disappointment that the team had not made greater inroads into the goal advantage enjoyed by current leaders Manchester United SC. This sombre environment was suddenly uplifted when news that their championship rivals had slipped up in a draw with third placed Hull City SC filtered through. Championship success is now entirely in their own hands and Franklin and his charges will enter the final three fixtures of the season confident in their ability to deliver the trophy.

The team will meet the aforementioned Hull City SC at Barn Elms on Sunday the 12th March 2006 and will end the season with consecutive home matches against Plymouth Argyle SC and Dundee United SC on the 26th March 2006 and 2nd April 2006 respectively.

Team
Darren Nolan
Mark O’Connor, Karl McGee, Dan Healey, Jon Carey
Tim Nagle, Gary Stockwell, Donnie Mullan, Paul Lavelle
Mauricio Carillo, Mick Coffey

Substitutes
Paul Franklin, Adrian Ward