After a disappointing defeat last week, RHP came to Barkestone in search of a win in their last preseason game before the league openers next weekend. With blistering temperatures of around 30 degrees, it made for an interesting game of football.

RHP who turned up with 13 players this week fielded a few changes from the week before, with Luke McClymont and Nick Walker starting the game at full back. Ryan Ashley started in goal due to the missing Kieran Conway. Rhuel Samuels after his man of the match display against Bingham, won a start in central midfield alongside Tom Hill who came back into the side after missing the Flowserve game the week before.

The game started brightly for RHP, early pressure made by Rhys Stanley on the right hand side would be the story of the game. His pace was too much for there defenders to handle and he almost got in after only two minutes but the shot was just wide of the post.

The early pressure was made to count just 10 minutes in, a lovely passing exchange from defence to midfield eventually saw the ball on the left hand side with Adam Boddy teeing up nicely for Rhuel Samuels, who struck a curling effort into the top corner from outside the box. A brilliant finish from a player who is hitting some nice form at the moment.

The pressure continued to build for RHP, the pace of Leighton and Rhys on either side was too hot to handle for the defenders and they were making life a misery for the full backs, ball after ball being loaded into the box, but shots and headers just going wide or over.

Chris Self and Adam Boddy were getting plenty of the ball on the edge of the 18 yard box but a few efforts were unlucky and fired over again.

Signs of pressure came from Barkestone after around half an hour and they started to move the ball around a little more and try and bring in there own wingers into the game. Luke McClymont and Nick Walker doing well to thwart any sort of chances coming into the box.

A few changes saw new signings Luke Harvey and George Ryan enter the field and play at full back and central midfield respectively. George Ryan made an instant impression picking up a loose ball and tricking his out of two challenges before starting a counter attack. Leighton Nicholson latched onto the ball and ran a good 50 yards with the ball but could only fire a speculative effort over the bar once again.

5 minutes before half time, Barkestone’s first real chance came and they made it count. The ball was lobbed over Luke Harvey and into the path of the number 11 who calmly took the ball in his stride and slotted past Ryan Ashley who was kept relatively quiet all half and had nothing to do before that. A disappointing way to concede the visitors after dominating the entire half.

The half time whistle blew with the game at 1-1 somehow. RHP dominating large parts of the first half and could have scored 5 or 6 with better finishing.

The second half begun pretty much like the first, with an early RHP onslaught, this time however, more composed passing tired the opponents before striking at goal. A passing move all over the park of around 25 passes was then scooped over the bar once again by Chris Self. A hardworking display from him as always but he will feel a little disappointed with his finishing on this occasion.

The first goal of the second half came from an unlikely source. A not so unlikely charge out of defence from Conor Scott saw him run 70 yards of the pitch to score. A powerful run laid off to Rhuel Samuels who then gave the ball back to the enthusiastic defender who continued his run into the opponent’s penalty area before toe poking a lovely finish past the onrushing goalkeeper into the bottom corner. A strikers finish from the central defender who has been looking for that goal all preseason.

This gave RHP momentum as the game went on. Another quick move a few moments later saw Chris Self take the ball away from two Barkestone players with slick footwork before slicing a through ball into the path of Rhys Stanley who motored past the full back to fire a ferocious effort into the top corner from a tight angle. A wonderful finish from a player who has been in red hot form all preseason.

Barkestone tried to push players forward as much as they could but the strong defensive partnership of Jordan Boas and Conor Scott came to light again. They dealt with the pressure very well all game and cleaned up pretty much everything in their paths. A brilliant partnership has formed between the pair this preseason.

Ryan Ashley also made himself known in the second half, a few corners from Barkestone were strongly sweeped up by the stand-in goalkeeper and his kicking was spot on as it created counter attacks on numerous occasions.

Luke McClymont and George Ryan who finished the game playing as full backs were very lively in the second half bombing forward helping out the wingers and having a couple of chances of there own which weren’t too far away.

Tom Hill was full of energy in the midfield and made countless tackles once again to stop any counter attacks from the opponents.

Nick Walker continued to pull strings in CDM picking up balls from defence and starting some flowing moves. This in turn created the fourth goal for RHP as his vision picked out Leighton Nicholson in acres of space on the left hand side who delivered an inch perfect cross which was met by the head of Adam Boddy and into the back of the net to make the game out of sight.

With players tiring, probably due to the blistering heat, there was no let off from RHP who continued to bring the heat and apply pressure in search of more goals.

Another powerful burst from Conor Scott saw him go past three players easily before laying off a lovely through ball into the path of Rhys Stanley who again effortlessly beat his defender for pace before coolly slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 5.

RHP who controlled the final phases of the game had a few more chances but couldn’t add to an already impressive score line. The final whistle was welcomed by Barkestone who looked tired. A blistering hot performance from RHP on a blistering hot day and a perfect way to end pre season.

The defence and goalkeeper were solid and steady throughout. The midfield worked hard and ran a very hard engine all the way through the game. The strikers worked hard and ran the defence of Barkestone ragged and could of scored a hat trick each if it were for better finishing on the day.

The man of the match award was handed to Jordan Boas after a dominant display in defence. His graft was excellent and he showed of all his strengths and power to keep the Barkestone strikers very quiet.

A perfect way to end pre season and a good way to prepare for the start of the new season. Next up for RHP is the league opener against Holy Trinity. A tough first test in the Newark Alliance as RHP and Trinity will be regarded as two early contenders for the league title.

Managers Match Ratings:
Ryan Ashley - 8.5
Nick Walker - 8.7
Luke McClymont - 8.7
Conor Scott - 8.9
Jordan Boas - 9.1
Leighton Nicholson - 8.7
Rhys Stanley - 9.0
Tom Hill - 8.7
Rhuel Samuels - 8.9
Adam Boddy - 8.8
Chris Self - 8.7

Substitutes:
George Ryan - 8.7
Luke Harvey - 8.7

Man of the Match: Jordan Boas

Goals: Rhuel Samuels, Conor Scott, Adam Boddy, Rhys Stanley x2

Assists: Adam Boddy, Rhuel Samuels, Chris Self, Leighton Nicholson, Conor Scott