RISSC (London) continue to lead APFSCIL League

London Scottish SC 3-4 RISSC (London) - Sunday 23 November 2008

The RISSC (London) football team maintained their lead at the top of the APFSCIL League Division One with a hard fought 4-3 away victory over London Scottish SC on Sunday afternoon. The home side came into the match buoyed from collecting their first point of the season against Aberdeen SC the previous weekend.

At a wet and windy Civil Service Sports Ground in Chiswick, RISSC took a fifth minute lead through the versatile Chris Coleman, who this week was occupying a central midfield role. His central midfield partner Ray Logue added the second goal on twenty three minutes and when, shortly before half-time, PJ Meehan's right wing cross was diverted to the net by a defender under pressure from Michael Dunford, it looked like plain sailing for RISSC, who had another effort disallowed for offside.

The emergence of the sun at the start of the second half appeared to have a calming effect on the RISSC boys as an element of complacency led to the hosts reducing arrears on the hour mark. Some ten minutes later, nerves began to jangle somewhat, when Scottish were awarded a disputed penalty which they converted to narrow the gap to a single goal.

However, some swift relief was provided by substitute Louis Anderson, who, within two minutes, restored the two goal advantge. The RISSC boys, while unable to recover the poise and purpose of the opening half, remained in control until the final seconds when a lapse in concentration allowed the hosts to pull another goal back with a header following a corner kick.

Despite the late concession, there were resolute performances from Mick Conway and Jason Clifford at the back and manager Paul Franklin believes the players will have learned from the encounter and their focus will improve as the season progresses.

The team travel again next Sunday to face London Hibs, the only unbeaten side in the Division, for what promises to be a seminal encounter.

Team:
Darren Nolan;
Anthony Traynor, Mick Cusack, Mick Conway, Jason Clifford;
PJ Meehan, Ray Logue, Chris Coleman, Victor Carnevale;
Ricardo Paul, Mick Dunford

Substitutes:
Louis Anderson for Ricardo Paul
Fintan McKeown for PJ Meehan
Hugo Fernandes for Anthony Traynor