RICAY WIN OUT

The scoreline was a little harsh on Blues, for up until the last fifteen minutes although under pressure throughout the game they worked hard to nullify their loftier opponents . A goal down at the break Ricay doubled their advantage on the hour mark but then a series of Blues substitutions affected their balance and rhythm with young sub keeper Jack Moore conceding four although in his defence he was left exposed at times. Sadly Nathan Fox and Byron Madu both suffered nasty knocks adding to a growing injury list, a worrying trait at this early stage of the season.

Ricay had the first chance of the evening when Danny Sambridge was beaten to a cross, but to the keepers relief the ball was nodded over.

The visitors speed of thought and control was clearly evident in the opening exchanges and on 12 minutes they edged in front when a speculative ball into the box saw D'Quarme Copeland hesitate allowing Josh Hutchinson to stab the ball home.

Up until the goal Blues had blunted the visitors incursions employing the offside trap to good effect, but they so nearly conceded a second when Shamis Fenlon's effort whistled inches wide.

Not to be outdone, a neat passage of play culminated with a ball through to Darrelle Russell but he was thwarted when keeper Dean Henry darted off his line to smother.

The remainder of the half followed a similar pattern with Ricay dictating play only to be met with resolute defending from Blues.

HT 0-1

Both teams made a number of changes at the break and Blues certainly looked sharper, Mitch Hahn almost set up Russell when he flashed a driven cross which just eluded the onrushing striker and defenders .

After that early scare Ricay reestablished supremacy showing why they ply their trade two divisions higher with physicality matched with precise passing, but it wasn't until just after the hour mark that they doubled their advantage. In possession a wayward Blues pass was seized on by Yainnis Drais drilling past Sambridge.

Not to be outdone Blues should have reduced the arrears when a clever Macauley Joynes free kick found the unmarked Pat Ahern who miscued badly and the chance was lost.

It was then Blues made a number of changes with young keeper Moore's first task to pick the ball out of the net beaten by a Jake Robinson thunderbolt from an acute angle on 76 minutes. That was the signal for the floodgates to open and five minutes later Robinson doubled his tally firing through the Blues youngster.

At this late stage Ricay laid siege and two minutes later ex Blue Ruben Soares Junior made it five with a low drive, Jack Nickless rounding off the scoring on 90 minutes.

Sambridge, (Moore 76), Fox (Madu 19 Sammons 41 ), Joynes, Clark, Ahern, Copeland (Hahn 46), Omolabi( Arthur 75), Dark, Russell (Agunbade 61), Paxman (Girling 71), Carlos (Stokes 60)