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After a mixed preseason, new Newbury Forest Reserve Team Manager Justin Caesar was as keen to see a good performance from his team as he was to pick up 3 points in their first game in Division 1, following their promotion.

Romford Royals posed a physical threat and showed this early on when Andrew Koumis was ushered off the pitch and into the surrounding barriers within 2 minutes, causing momentary concern. Soon after Justin Caesar was being warned by the referee after a late challenge of his own.

Newbury started promisingly, keeping the ball very well for the first 25 minutes. They nearly had an early breakthrough 15 minutes in, when Justin Caesar’s defence splitting pass found Jason Reynolds-Blanche, whose chipped shot curled to hit the stanchion, with the follow up being blazed over the bar from close range by Andrew Koumis, earning him an early nomination for the Wooden Spoon Award! Romford took this as a wake up call and began to attack more. Newbury, however, soaked up the pressure and regained control of the half.

After a rousing half time team talk, Newbury began the second half the way they ended the first; with spells of good possession. 10 minutes into the second half, Newbury finally got the goal their performance deserved. After a patient build up, the ball was played out to debutant Scotty Emmons who picked out Jason Reynolds-Blanche with a precise cross, allowing him to score with a deft, flicked header!

The celebrations didn’t last too long as Romford again responded by attacking more, peppering the Newbury goal with shots from long distance. Their persistence paid off as they were gifted a free-kick midway into the Newbury half, from which they delivered a ball into the box. The first ball wasn’t properly dealt with and fell to one of their players unmarked, and he finished from close range.

Newbury’s reaction was a positive one, with the manager already having made one substitution, he made another to sure up the midfield, moving Reynolds-Blanche to the wide right position to provide extra width. With15 minutes left in the game Tom Alexander picked up the ball just inside his own half, and after going on a determined, mazy run, managed to work it out to Emmons, who drove a long angled shot across the keeper into the corner of the net!

Solid defending from the front by Newbury negated any attempts or hopes of a Romford revival, Newbury however were not quite finished. With 85 minutes gone, Reynolds-Blanche broke down the right hand side and picked out Emmons with a tempting cross, played between the keeper and his defence, only for Emmons to find his diving header tipped over from point blank range!

It was an impressive performance from Newbury, with every player working hard to ensure they came off the pitch with the win they deserved.  The performance and result sets the standard and provides a good start to the season for the Reserves, who next entertain Aston at home, knowing that nothing other than 3 points and another good performance will suffice!

Now for the ratings

Adam Nicoll (GK) 6/10
George Watmough (RB) 7/10
Joe Woodward (CB) 7/10
Justin Caesar (CB) 7/10
 Tom Alexander (LB) 8/10
Dave De Rijk (CM) 7/10
Richard Grove (CM) 6/10
Jason Reynolds-Blanche (c) (AM) 8/10
Scotty Emmons (LWF) 8/10
Andrew Koumis (CF) 6/10
Wazim Ali 6/10

Goals:
Jason Reynolds-Blanche
Scotty Emmons

Assists:
Scotty Emmons
Tom Alexander

Man of the Match:
Tom Alexander