Saturday 12 January 2013

St Andrews 0-4 Radford (EMCL)

The visitors were impressive in the early stages and were stringing together some good passing moves. Three signings in midweek were making their debut for Radford and the management made several positional changes from the side that played last weekend. Will Gordon came close when he struck the bar from a twenty five yard free kick ten minutes into the game and Samir Boulghassoul came close to scoring for Radford on fifteen minutes but after beating a player in the area his shot flew across the face of the goal and out for a goalkick.

St Andrews first effort on goal came on twenty minutes when Jordan Lever was played through on goal but the Radford keeper forced him wide and his shot hit the side netting. Radford were having the greater share of possession and on the half hour a long goalkick found Samir Boulghassoul who outmuscled his marker, ran into the area and swept the ball past the St Andrews keeper. Radford continued to impress in the remaining fifteen minutes of the first half and went in leading by the one goal.

Five minutes into the second half Radfords keeper Martins Apenitis made a brilliant reaction save to keep out a goalbound effort, but that was the last real moment of uncertainty for the efficient Radford defence.Just after the hour mark Will Gordon found himself running into the St Andrews area but he failed to go down after he was ankle tapped, he stayed on his feet but his shot was blocked. Radford scored a second goal around the 75 minute mark when Gordon hit a 25 yard screamer into the home sides net. A minute later Martin Allen set up Jarrod Russell whoose low shot beat the diving St Andrews keeper.Radford made it a certain away win on 82 minutes when a move on the right wing led to the ball being crossed into the area for Jarrod Russell to finish. FT 0-4












Saturday 5 January 2013

Radford 0-2 Graham Street Prims EMCL

Radford were competing well for much of the first half and as half time approached 0-0 was looking acceptable. But it all turned bad on 40 minutes when Stuart McCulloch was sent off. The midfielder had left the pitch for treatment asking the referee's assistant, but after being waived back on by the referee he was cautioned for leaving the pitch without the referees permission. The assistant did not support the player and then McCulloch was shown the red card for swearing at the referee. One of the Radford management team stood face to face with the referee giving him a tirade of abuse. Amazingly the second of the management team who did not abuse the referee was given a red card!

As the second half began Radford were still doing well but on 58 minutes a ball played over the top of the Radford defence set a Prims player free, as he raced into the area he was brought down by Alberto Salas and the referee awarded a penalty. Salas was the last defender and was shown the red card reducing Radford to nine players. Jim Rushby stepped up to take the penalty and beat Martins Apenitis with his spot kick. Not long after Radford's Will Gordon saw red for a challenge that was adjudged to be violent by the referee and the home side were down to eight players.

Radford went 0-2 down on 75 minutes when Jim Rushby finished from close range but Prims never really bossed Radford even though they were down to eight. With ten minutes remaining Radford put on Richard Derby, Gareth Ellis and Ayokunle Abbis. With two minutes remaining Ellis sustained an ankle injury and had to leave the pitch leaving Radford with 7 players. As 90 minutes was reached Prims had a player brought down in the area and as the player fell to the ground the referee blew for full time!