Ransomes Sports’ desire and hunger in their convincing 6-3 league win over Cockfield at Sidegate Avenue was fuelled by being “sick of losing”. Ransomes had come under enormous pressure after last week’s chastening defeat, and they wanted to stand up all together. This was not just a victory; it was an exorcism.
It has become evident that Ransomes youngsters are not going to learn game management at adult level without a good sprinkling of experienced players around them to offer encouragement and advice – they had that in abundance in this game. Cockfield started passively and were quickly dominated by a Ransomes side that carried a greater threat. The goal that started it all off for Ransomes was glorious. Crowded out on the edge of the box and out of ideas, Brandon Archer laid the ball off for Reece Dobson. He concentrated on the connection and it was sweet, his first-time shot curling and zinging into the top corner. It was a goal of real quality and the hosts were one up after 18 minutes.
There was then a worry for Ransomes on 28 minutes as they lost young defender Brandon Thomas to injury, but they needn’t have worried. His replacement, Josh Connick had only been on a minute before he set up goal number two for Brandon Archer. It was a slide rule pass through the lines that allowed BA to race through with the challenging defender unable to check his advance, and he slammed home in style, giving Reynolds in goal no chance. It was a fitting goal for Ransomes leading goalscorer has Reynolds had denied him earlier from opening his account with the outstanding save of the game.
At this stage of the match, everything was becoming too easy for Ransomes but on 37 minutes, they were exposed at the back and Nelson raced clear to score at the second attempt after Jack Friston had denied his first effort.
The Cockfield comeback was short lived as the hosts responded to this setback straightaway. Luke Andrews, who was Ransomes’ liveliest performer by some distance during the first half, earnt his side a free kick, and not for the first time during this opening period his incisive and direct approach had caused the Cockfield defence problems. From wide right of the edge of the penalty area, everyone was expecting Jack Severy’s delivery to be crossed into the box. Instead, he played a square ball off to Luke Andrews whose drilled shot from the edge of the box struck the base of the far post before going in to restore the two-goal home advantage.
Ransomes had two more soon after half-time, Jack Severy the provider on both occasions. On 46 minutes, his pass played in Brandon Archer with the striker relishing the opportunity provided for him to cooly add his second of the afternoon. Ten minutes later and Reece Dobson extinguished any Cockfield comeback hopes they may have had when he stooped to head home Jack Severy’s pacey in swinging corner from the right.
At this point, the visitors were barely weathering a storm, effectively it was game over. Whether Ransomes relaxed or Cockfield found a new energy, Towns did manage a second for the visitors on 69 minutes as his goal bound effort took a wicked deflection off Neil Calver to loop over Jack Friston.
Ransomes resurgence however continued when Harley Rush lifted a clever ball over the Cockfield defence. It was a measured, defence-splitting pass inviting Matt Oxbrow to show all his old guile and experience as he lifted his shot over Reynolds for the hosts sixth goal of the afternoon.
With just over 10 minutes remaining, a touch of defensive fragility allowed Whiting to yet again reduce the deficit for the visitors, but there was to be no spoiling role. They had spent the first hour of this match puzzling over how to get the better of Ransomes by which time they were already four goals adrift.
The home side came into this match having failed to score more than two goals in a league match all season, but Cockfield made things surprisingly easy for Ransomes to remedy this. Eventually however, the visitors stirred, and Ransomes momentarily looked a little skittish, but it was all “too little, too late” – the clock was always against them.
The importance of the senior players and their inclusion today certainly added a defensive organisation, and an unwillingness to make soft mistakes under pressure. Their constant advice and guidance enabled youngsters such as Callum Meadows, Luke Andrews, Josh Connick and Harley Rush to profit, and show more composure on the ball than they have in recent weeks, allowing this match to tell a story of redemption.