Report: RS Components 2-1 Sony UK TEC

As the old cliché goes “it was a game of two halves” on Friday evening as RS Components came back from conceding an early goal to win 2-1 against Sony UK Technology Centre in the Raspberry Pi Derby, on a night where charity was the real winner.

Employees from Sony the Welsh based manufacturer of the Raspberry Pi computer travelled to Leicester’s King Power Stadium to face the distributor of their products, RS Components, in aid of Children with Cancer UK.

Before kick-off more than £6,000 had already been raised through ticket sales, sponsorship and various related events. This continues to build on the £150,000 that has already been raised by RS Components for Children with Cancer UK since April 2017.

Following on from a 4-1 victory for RS Components in the inaugural fixture last year in South Wales, Sony arrived with revenge on the agenda and manager Gareth Boulding named a strong starting eleven, who provided him with the perfect start to proceedings.

Having started on the front foot with waves of attacks, Sony were awarded a free kick 20 yards out as Paul Britton fouled Shaun Williams after just two minutes, which the impressive Lewis James expertly dispatched past the helpless James Clark, sparking jubilant scenes.

This early setback was certainly not part of the game-plan that RS Components boss Andy Keenan had in mind and with the Welshmen continuing to surge forward following their opening goal there were a number of spectators fearing that the floodgates could open.

However, the hosts had different plans and despite Sony dominating the majority of possession and forcing a flurry of corners, the RS defence of Daniel Cooper, Andrew Mullin and Tom Large held strong and repelled every attack that was thrown at them.

They also provided a platform for some dangerous counter attacking football, with Nicki Young and Luke Cummins both looking lively in attack. The latter had a number of chances to pull his side level, however was thwarted by an excellent goalkeeping display from Jack Powell who pulled off a string of top-class saves.

Powell, a prop forward for Swansea RFC, showed that his talents stretch much further than just an oval ball with an outstanding display of confidence and agility. He dominated his area from every set piece and even managed to deny Vishal Chhatralia’s volley from 7 yards with a point blank save.

At the other end Sony continued to search for a goal to extend their lead, looking particularly dangerous on both flanks, however a mixture of determination from their opponents and the woodwork denied them.

As the sides retreated to the plush King Power Stadium dressing rooms at half time Sony were undeniably the happier side, however there was a feeling amongst the crowd watching that RS were still very much in the game after preventing the visitors from finding that elusive second goal.

And once the teams re-emerged from the tunnel it was clear that Andy Keenan’s team talk had produced the desired effect with RS Components starting to play some very good football and beginning to win the battle in the middle of the park. Substitute Mitchell Barratt was instrumental, dictating play at the heart of the midfield.

Meanwhile, Powell was continuing his heroics between the sticks to retain his side’s slender lead, although RS were starting to carve out more chances than they had during the first period. Their best chance came from a Milan Ceko corner, as the Sony defence failed to clear and Cummins’ strike sailed just over the upright and into the empty stand behind the goal.

Sony weren’t happy to settle for their 1-0 lead however and continued to push forward in search for another goal and coming close with some clever set-pieces. Sadly for them RS’s substitute goalkeeper Gavin Garscadden was in strong form, like his counterpart in the opposite goal.

It was clear that it was going to take something special to beat Sony’s goalkeeper and RS Components showed just how it could be done with a quick fire double to turn the game on its head.

A sumptuous ball from Andrew Bonar fed Nicki Young, who laid the ball into his strike partner Luke Cummins who fired the past Powell to claim the goal that his performance had deserved on 63 minutes. The goal was met with a large cheer from the spectators watching and provided a huge lift to the hosts.

That cheer turned into a roar just two minutes later as Cummins turned provider with a clever header to Nicki Young, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to complete the turnaround.

This was a bitter blow for Sony who had suddenly found themselves in a losing position having controlled large periods of the game, with RS finding their confidence and continuing to push for a third goal as Milan Ceko, Dan Waller and Alex Watt all went close.

Sony continued to fight until the very last whistle, but were unable to find the back of the net and were left to rue their missed opportunities in the first half as RS Components retained the trophy for another year.

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RS COMPONENTS: James Clark, Tom Large, Alex Watt, Andy Mullin, Mitchell Barratt, Daniel Cooper, Andrew Bonar, Dan Waller, Luke Cummins, Nicki Young, Tom Makra, William Wells, Jayson Holloway, Rad Ceko, Paul Britton, Milan Ceko, Joe Bennett, Vishal Chhatralia, Mike Buffham.

SONY UK TECHNOLOGY CENTRE: Jack Powell, Dan Lockyer, Neil Willis, Aled Warren, Tom de Vall, Lewis Hodder, Jon Williams, Tom Krol, Lewis James, Shaun Williams, Taj Bains, Ashley Goldworthy, Joshua Bench, Lloyd Pedersen, Steve Dalton, Vershal Sinyani, Curtis Edwards, Andrew Foster.

GOALS: Lewis James 0-1 (2), Luke Cummins 1-1 (63), Nicki Young 2-1 (65).