Holwell Sports 3-0 Radford (EMCL)

RADFORD BATTLE BUT DROP TO BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE

Radford faced a confident Holwell outfit who are unbeaten in 2013. Manager Alf Stacey stressed the importance of not conceding early and to keep it tight. Radford took the game to the home side and were playing well for most of the first half. Radfords Dom Leivers set Bernado Alves free on the left wing and the striker put over a fine cross for Adam Mahl who laid the ball off to Stuart Marshall but the Holwell keeper saved his goalbound effort. The home side came forward on twelve minutes and a cross to the far post found a striker who headed just over. The game ebbed and flowed with Radford giving as good as they got against their higher placed rivals.

Radford were unlucky to go a goal down midway into the first half. Holwells centre half Kieron Foster put his side 1-0 up on 22 minutes. He got on the end of a corner in the six yard box, and at the same time he charged into the Radford keeper forcing the ball into the net. It was an obvious free kick to Radford but everyone was surprised when the referee allowed the goal to stand. Radford fought back well and worried the home keeper with two long range efforts that went wide of the goal. But Two minutes before halftime Radford conceded a second goal and again it came from a header by Foster, this time at the far post.

The home side dominated the second half but due to some stout defending and excellent goalkeeping from Ryan Swift Radford were coping well. Jahred Russell and Ryan Dawkins saw shots from outside the area go wide. On 80 minutes Holwell sub Ben Smedley shot over from close range, but as 90 minutes approached an attempted clearance from a Radford defender was collected by Ryan Swift. Amazingly the referee awarded a freekick for a passback. The freekick was awarded 12 yards from the Radford goal. The kick was taken by Jay Kirkby, it took a deflection off a defender in the Radford wall before landing in the back of the Radford net.

















Radford FC 2-5 Aylestone Park (EMCL)

The visitors took the lead as early as the third minute. Radfords keeper failed to hold on to a ball crossed into the box and Lee Dube's effort hit the post before landing in the net. Four minutes later Sam Taylor's angled header landed in the corner of the Radford goal afer he beat Carl Shepherd to the ball. Radford were 0-3 down on 11 minutes when another cross found Sam Taylor who tapped in from close range.

Radford came back at the visitors and came close to scoring from a Jahred Russell free kick from just outside the area. Radford's Sheriff Babatunde centred for Louis Ratcliffe but his shot hit the side netting. Just past the 30 minute mark Aylestone's keeper Edwards did well to keep out a Jahred Russells low drive.

On 34 minutes it started to look better for Radford when Stuart Marshall rifled in a 20 yard half volley to pull a goal back. Two minutes later Jahred Russell scored from a superb 25 yard drive. Radford were now playing well but as usual their joy was shortlived when Radfords keeper Martins Apenitis was harshly judged to have brought down an Aylestone player in the area. Sam Taylor stepped up and converted the spot kick for his third and his teams fourth goal.

Radford began the second half in confident manner forcing the Aylestone keeper into two good saves, one from a Russell free kick and another from a Carl Shepherd header from a corner. Aylestone came close on the hour mark when a Luke Towers shot was just over the bar from 16 yards out. Radford conceded a fifth goal in the 82nd minute when a ball crossed to the far post was swept home by Gary Seal.

Gedling MW 2-1 Radford (EMCL 16-02-13)

Hopes were high on Saturday as Radford took the field. They had been playing well in their last few games while Gedling had been on a long stretch without a win. The home side took the initiative in the early stages forcing three corners in the first five minutes. Both teams were having trouble keeping the ball. Poor ball control and passing was making the game very scrappy.

Around the twenty minute mark Gedling were getting the better of midfield. Jarrod Westcarr crossed for Ben Middleton but his reaction was slow and Radfords defence were able to clear. Four minutes later Middleton missed with a free header when he was found unmarked in the box from a Felix Hogg cross. The reprieve was shortlived. The ball was flicked over the Radford defence Westcarr shrugged off Adam Mahl to run on and score.

It took just two minutes for Radford to equalise. A Jahred Russell corner found Adam Mahl who headed in from 12 yards. On 32 minutes Gedling re-took the lead. There seemed to be no problem when Michael Coyle recieved the ball at his feet at the centre of Radfords defence but poor control led to Jarrod Westcarr robbing him and running on to slot the ball past Jon Caunt in the Radford goal. Just before half time Radford had a chance of an equaliser, Michael Allen took advantage of a mistake in Gedlings defence. Unfortunately for Radford his hastilly taken shot went a foot wide of the goal.

Radford brought on Louis Ratcliffe for Jahred Russell at the start of the second half and his pace and willing to take players on began to cause problems. The quality of both sides football didn't improve in the second half. Gedling Miners nearly stretched their lead on 65 minutes when a quickly taken free-kick found Ashley Whitt whose shot flew just wide of the Radford goal.

For the last twenty minutes Radford were the better side. On 75 minutes Louis Ratcliffe cut inside from the wing, beat two players before unleashing a 20 yard shot that flew a foot over the Gedling crossbar. It wasn't until the third minute of time added on that it looked as though Radford would find an equaliser. The ball was played into the Gedling area to Michael Allen who looked to be brought down but the Referee waived play on, the ball fell to Tom Tyler and his shot hit the post and rebounded to safety. Seconds later the whistle sounded for full-time.

Radford 0-4 Barrow Town (EMCL)

The visitors had the better of possession throughout the game. Their ball control and movement off the ball was far better than any side that had visited Radford this season. Radford were competitive without realy threatening the Barrow Town goal except for an Adam Mahl header that hit the bar on 16 minutes. It looked as though the teams would go in at 0-0 at halftime but on 44 minutes Sherrif Babatunde lost possession 25 yards out, the ball was played into the Radford area and Michael Coyle was adjudged to have fouled a Barrow player. Cam Gray stepped up to blast the spot kick past Martins Apenitis.

Just three minutes into the second half Michael Paparozzi put the visitors two goals up. Jamie Allen put over a cross for the striker who scored with a well taken half volley. It was 0-3 on the hour mark when Tom Cooper split open the Radford defence with a pinpoint pass for Carl Adam's to run on and chip over the keeper. Radford were working hard against second placed Barrow but were to concede a fourth goal on 90 minutes from substitute Lewis Allen.

Radford 2-3 Radcliffe Olympic (EMCL)

Radford brought several new players into the club over the last few weeks and after the win at St Andrews the club were hoping for a good result against Radcliffe Olympic. Things were not to go Radfords way early in the game when an attempted headed clearance by Matt Baker flew past keeper Ryan Swift to give the visitors a first minute lead. Radcliffe put the Radford defence under pressure in the first fifteen minutes, but the home side then began to get it together and play some decent football. Radfords Louis Ratcliffe was played through by Ben Wallace but a defender came in with  last ditch tackle to save the visitors. Radcliffe came forward through Eddie Price who put over a pin point cross for Jack Smith to head inches wide from twelve yards out. The sides went in at 1-1 at halftime when Radford got a deserved equaliser on 42 minutes. The ball was cleared from close to the visitors goal and landed at Antoine Combes feet and a low stinging shot beat the keeper from just outside the area.

An evenly contested game continued into the second half but as the match progressed Radford became the more dominant side. Radford took the lead on 72 minutes when Ben Wallace played Louis Ratcliffe through and the striker beat the diving keeper with a low drive from just outside the area. The confidence was showing in the Radford play and Ben Wallace was looking particulary impressive. In the 89th minute Radcliffe got a free kick midway into the Radford half, the ball was played into the Radford area where Ryan Smith scored after the goalkeeper had fumbled the ball. This was a sickener for Radford, but worse was to come in the second minute of time added on. Radcliffe got a winning goal when the ball was deflected off Matt Baker for his second OG of the game.

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

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!