The boys played their first 11 a side Friendly against League Winners Pegasus. The boys seemed a little lost to start and Pegasus dominated the centre of midfield where Ryan seemed out of sorts. Pegs went 2 goals ahead before the first break after 20 minutes. Gary changed the formation moving Freddie into Midfield & putting Ryan in defence, the team looked & played a lot better. They deservedly pulled the 2 goals back through Terry & Michael P. and dominated the 2^nd period. Lloyd denied Pegasus on a number of occasions pulling off a number of fine saves. In the final period Pegasus scored 2 more goals to win the game however considering it was the boys first 11 A Side game they played very well & can look forward to the new season in September.

Playing some good football the boys WON the competition competing against Byron Red Stars, Marshalls Park & Tigers. All teams entered 2 squads. The competition was a league format where each clubs results were combined to decide the winners. Our A team did not concede a goal & the B Boys only let in two with Joe pulling of a number of superb saves throughout. All the boys played very well & earned their Winners Trophies. Ryan looked very good & commanding at the back, making a number of important interventions & good passes. He was very competitive got to much so in one game & lashed out at one chap who clattered him hard from the back. I, Richard his Dad, had words with Ryan warning NOT to react in this way - he got the message. All the boys played very well but Mark Gardner just clipped it to be the A's Best Player of the Tournament. Terry for the B's was superb in all games & deserved that award.

The final Mini Soccer game before moving to 11 A Side next season, saw Royals tear Marshall's Park apart. The score should have been a lot more but for some poor finishing & some superb saves by the away side's keeper. 3 goals for Tom & one each from the Michael's B & P finished Royals league campaign on a winning note. All the boys played an important part & Man of the Match award could have gone to any of them, however Robert was chosen. Ryan had a solid game in defence although not as impressive as in the previous few games.

Royals got off to a slow start & found themselves 2:0 down after 15 minutes. A terrible tackle on Joe saw him substituted by Robert. The boys settled down & started playing some lovely football, which has been their trademark, these past few matches. Royals went very close on three occasions but the home side's keeper & poor finishing foiled the away side. Michael P replaced Michael B for the second half & again Royals dominated play. Michael pulled a goal back but the equaliser was not forthcoming. Lloyd made a number of good saves when called upon. Ryan had another very impressive performance. Terry who was a constant menace on the right side of midfield field and was awarded Man of the Match.

Royals played some of their best football in weeks. The distribution & passing starting from Lloyd in goal all to the way through the team was first class. Having thwarted a Byron attack, Lloyd quickly served the ball to Ryan whose pass into space for Freddie who scored. Freddie was to get another along with Mark with a superb long-range drive and Mathew. Terry & Robert linked well on the right & the whole team played excellent. A hard one to pick I'd say but Freddie probably just edged it for the Man of the Match award.

Continuing on from where they left off yesterday, the boys played some nice & simple football. Michael P netted the first two goals to give Royals a half time lead. Ryan had a sound game again showing good passing & vision. He is thinking about the game trying to read the play. In the second half Michael B made it 3 with Mark adding the fourth with another superb shoot. Tom was named the Man of the Match.

Saturday 28th April 2001 - Away vs. Byron Red Star - Won 4:0
Royals played some of their best football in weeks. The distribution & passing starting from Lloyd in goal all the way through the team was first class. Having thwarted a Byron attack, Lloyd quickly served the ball to Ryan he passed into space for Freddie who scored. Freddie was to get another along with Mark with a superb long-range drive and Mathew. Terry & Robert linked well on the right & the whole team played excellent. A hard one to pick I'd say but Freddie probably just edged it for the Man of the Match award

Sunday 22nd April 2001 - Away vs. LTD - Draw 3-3
LTD started strongly looking for the victory required if to were to catch league leaders Pegasus. The home side took the lead when yet again Royals (this time Ryan Sroka), attempted to dribble the ball out of defence, was caught & LTD put away their chance. LTD was 2 up before Royals started to pull things around. Michael pulled a goal back for Royals before the half time break. LTD went 3:1 ahead but Royals started battling & were rewarded with a superb strike from the busy Terry Bickley & the well-deserved equaliser by Mark Gardner. Terry just edged out Mark Gardner for the Man of the Match Award.

Saturday 14th April 2001 - Away vs. Buckhurst Hill - Lost 1-5
The lads started very much in the game playing some nice passing football with Robert Waring outstanding in defence keeping the home sides lively Centre Forward under control. They went one down but soon equalised with what appears to be coming a trade mark goal for the team following a fine passing move & well taken finish from Mathew Reid. However the boys were rocked when the home side were awarded a free kick on the edged of the box. An off the ball incident, which considering these are 9 & 10 year old boys, was shocking & Royals Goalkeeper Lloyd was unable to continue with what a Doctor at the game described as heavy bruising to the ribs. The home side stormed ahead. The last 5 minutes saw the boys rally & on a number of occasions opened up the home defence with some superb passing. But in the end it was not to be Royals Day.

Sunday 8th April 2001 - Home vs. Little Thurrock Dynamos - Lost 2-3
After the forced break due to the weather, Royals returned to league duty in this entertaining encounter against 2nd place LTD. LTD took the lead, but a superb passing move, involving Ryan Sroka & Mark Gardner, saw Michael P. score the equaliser. However just like the away game against Pegasus, rather than clear the ball from defence Royals tried to dribble it & were punished when LTD won the ball & went onto score. LTD scored another but Royals kept battling & Freddie pulled a goal back with a fine solo effort.


Sunday 25th March 2001 & Sunday 1st April 2001 - Games cancelled due to waterlogged pitches

Sunday 18th March 2001 - Away vs. Rippleway - Won 5-1
The boys went one down against the run of play but soon made amends. Playing some very attractive football they eased there way past the opposition. Michael scored the first 2 goals, the second of which was a superb volley. Reiss netted the next 2 goals one of which a superb header after some excellent work on the right flank from Terry. Mathew hit the 5th in the second half. Ryan had a penalty saved by the keeper but was named Man of The Match after a fine defensive display


Sunday 11th March 2001 - Away vs. Pegasus B - Drew 1-1
A very impressive performance by Royals with each boy battling hard. Having sustained an injury in the warm up, Lloyd was replaced in goal by Joe who had a sound game. Royals deservedly went one up when the keeper did not hold Mathew's shot & Mark stabbed the ball home. Ryan went close when with the keeper off his line he tried to chip him but the keeper recovered well. The boys went into the half time break one up & came out strong in the second half. However Pegasus started to get into the game more & went close a few times. Royals were lucky not to be punished on a few occasions when rather than pass the ball out of defence they tried to dribble it. This luck could not last & indeed Pegasus equalised to share the spoils in an entertaining & fair contest. Terry was named Man of the
Match.

Sunday 4th March 2001 - Away vs. Barn Sports A - Lost 2:1
Ryan's had a good 2nd run out for his new team. After the imposed lay off due to regulations & weather, he is getting back to his old form, vision & confidence returning.

Sunday 18th February 2001 - Home vs. Lazer
Ryan played his first game in 3 months for his new team.

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