Post by bigstew on Sept 5, 2011 12:09:26 GMT
Manchester Rovers v Didsbury Colts
Cringle Fields, Levenshulme, 11:00
Sunday 4 September 2011
Rovers Starting Line Up
GK - Riccardo Sattaur
RB - Anthony Wainman
CB - Ross Thompson
CB - Stew Townsend
LB - Andy White
RM - Michael Masterman
CM - Damian Mulholland
CM - Francisco Mauricio
LM - Dave Harris
FW - Paul McNeill (C)
FW - Dennis Balidawa
Manchester Rovers' foray into a new League started on Sunday with a tough opening match against a Didsbury Colts side who last season reached the League Cup Final, finished 3rd in this division, missing out on promotion on goal difference.
With Rovers' new home ground unavailable the match was played at Cringle Fields, Levenshulme and a healthy squad of players arrived in good spirits, excited by the prospect of a new football season following some impressive pre-season results against opposition in the Division above.
First Half
The match started at Rovers' pace, with neat interchanging of passing between midfield and strikers creating an opportunity for Paul McNeill after just 2 minutes which he was unable to convert.
Rover continued to control the game for the first ten minutes with Didsbury unable to live with the pace and movement of the Rovers front 6, with Dennis, Dave and Bills pulling the Didsbury defence apart time after time, but despite the continued pressure and numerous chances created, Rovers failed to convert.
Just as it seemed it was to be one of those days for Rovers, some neat work by Michael Masterman down the right hand side found Dennis in space just inside the Didsbury penalty area. After a touch to move the ball out of his feet, he rifled the ball left footed to the keepers right giving the despairing Didsbury No.1 no chance - 1-0 to Rovers and finally a chance converted.
Despite Rovers leading, as the game progressed, Didsbury began to settle, switched to a more direct style and visibly grew in confidence as Rovers continued to squander their opportunities with Dennis, Mo and Bills (repeatedly) missing chances to extend the home team's advantage.
Then a sucker punch, Didsbury broke on the counter at pace down the right hand side. The Didsbury right winger drove in a low cross which found the feet of the Didsbury No.9 who with unerring precision hammered the ball first time passed Ricardo into the net - one chance, one goal... Didsbury were level against the run of play.
With the goal seemingly knocking the wind out of Rovers their play became patchy. Rovers started to dwell on the ball and stop playing with movement, pace and imagination... the equaliser galvanised Didsbury and a hopeful long ball from their centre back was well flicked on by the tall No.8 and with Ricardo narrowing the angle, Didsbury's No.9 took the shot early firing across goal into the bottom left hand corner - two chances, two goals... the Didsbury No.9 was really showing the Rovers front line how to finish.
The shock of conceding 2 goals in quick succession from the only 2 chances given away in the first half meant Rovers had to lift their play and start getting back to the basics of passing and moving. A number of chances came Rovers way before the interval but none converted...
Half Time
Manchester Rovers 1 - 2 Didsbury Colts
Rovers Manager Graham Kenny expressed disappointment with the finishing of the team and insisted that players hit the target when through on goal, but the main focus being to come out second half and put in a performance to take the game by the scruff of the neck and show character.
Second Half
Rovers, now attacking up hill, started to find their rhythm again straight from kick off with Bills beginning to find his touch and holding the ball up well. Interchanging of passes between midfield and strikers started to resemble how Rovers had started the match with Didsbury again looking out of sorts at the back.
Dee and Mo started to dominate in midfield with both players repeatedly winning the aerial battle and working box to box.
Then the breakthrough, with some good work again down the right hand side, with Anthony and Michael working well in tandom, the ball bounced into the Didsbury area and the Didsbury defender handled the ball - penalty to Rovers and a chance to get back on level terms early in the half.
Having had his confidence knocked by missing guilt edge chances (repeatedly) in the first half, Bills grabbed the ball and placed it purposefully on the spot, determined to make up for his (repeated) lack of finishing in the first half. With half the Rovers side unable to watch as he strode up to the ball, with a slight pause, Bills converted the penalty high into the top left hand corner - 23 chances (19 of which were for Bills), one goal... Rovers were on level terms.
The penalty restored Rovers confidence and suddenly the play flowed effortlessly with Michael and Anthony combining well down the right hand side and Mo pulling the strings in centre midfield.
Again with some great work down the right hand side, with the trio of Michael, Anthony and Dennis working Michael into a good position he cut the ball back to Dave Harris 18 yards out. With a flick of the hips to cut the ball onto his right foot, Harris unleashed a thunderous driving, swerving shot into the Didsbury top right hand corner - what a finish to a great move... 3-2 Rovers and it was game on.
Rovers continued to control the game with Didsbury only creating half chances, with Riccardo making a superb double save to deny the No.9 his hat-trick.
Changes were then made with Dennis replaced by new signing Christian Phoenix and Mo replaced by Christian Phoenix look-a-like Alex Pentecost.
Both players immediately put their mark on the game, and in Alex's case the Didsbury right backs face and the Didsbury left backs thigh...
Rovers continued to make chances but with changes made to the Didsbury striking partnership, the Rovers defence had to contend with more pace and trickery.
As Didsbury broke, their substitute drove into the box with Stew Townsend in pursuit and as the Didsbury player looked to come inside he took a leaf out of Masterman's book and dived looking for a penalty... not given and a stern talking to from the referee, who had a strong performance throughout.
As the ball broke, Rovers moved the ball quickly up the pitch, and as it arrived at Christian's feet just outside the penalty area, he hit a quality left foot drive heading for the top corner only to see the Didsbury keeper at full stretch pull off a great save.
With Rovers pushing for the all important 4th goal, Didsbury started to find channels to run into on the counter and it was a run into the left hand channel that created a chance for their No.9, and with good composure he completed his hat-track with aplomb - 3-3 the game was level.
Both teams began to press for a winner, but as legs grew tired the game became patchy with no real chances created.
The referee blew for full-time...
Full Time
Manchester Rovers 3 - 3 Didsbury Colts
Cringle Fields, Levenshulme, 11:00
Sunday 4 September 2011
Rovers Starting Line Up
GK - Riccardo Sattaur
RB - Anthony Wainman
CB - Ross Thompson
CB - Stew Townsend
LB - Andy White
RM - Michael Masterman
CM - Damian Mulholland
CM - Francisco Mauricio
LM - Dave Harris
FW - Paul McNeill (C)
FW - Dennis Balidawa
Manchester Rovers' foray into a new League started on Sunday with a tough opening match against a Didsbury Colts side who last season reached the League Cup Final, finished 3rd in this division, missing out on promotion on goal difference.
With Rovers' new home ground unavailable the match was played at Cringle Fields, Levenshulme and a healthy squad of players arrived in good spirits, excited by the prospect of a new football season following some impressive pre-season results against opposition in the Division above.
First Half
The match started at Rovers' pace, with neat interchanging of passing between midfield and strikers creating an opportunity for Paul McNeill after just 2 minutes which he was unable to convert.
Rover continued to control the game for the first ten minutes with Didsbury unable to live with the pace and movement of the Rovers front 6, with Dennis, Dave and Bills pulling the Didsbury defence apart time after time, but despite the continued pressure and numerous chances created, Rovers failed to convert.
Just as it seemed it was to be one of those days for Rovers, some neat work by Michael Masterman down the right hand side found Dennis in space just inside the Didsbury penalty area. After a touch to move the ball out of his feet, he rifled the ball left footed to the keepers right giving the despairing Didsbury No.1 no chance - 1-0 to Rovers and finally a chance converted.
Despite Rovers leading, as the game progressed, Didsbury began to settle, switched to a more direct style and visibly grew in confidence as Rovers continued to squander their opportunities with Dennis, Mo and Bills (repeatedly) missing chances to extend the home team's advantage.
Then a sucker punch, Didsbury broke on the counter at pace down the right hand side. The Didsbury right winger drove in a low cross which found the feet of the Didsbury No.9 who with unerring precision hammered the ball first time passed Ricardo into the net - one chance, one goal... Didsbury were level against the run of play.
With the goal seemingly knocking the wind out of Rovers their play became patchy. Rovers started to dwell on the ball and stop playing with movement, pace and imagination... the equaliser galvanised Didsbury and a hopeful long ball from their centre back was well flicked on by the tall No.8 and with Ricardo narrowing the angle, Didsbury's No.9 took the shot early firing across goal into the bottom left hand corner - two chances, two goals... the Didsbury No.9 was really showing the Rovers front line how to finish.
The shock of conceding 2 goals in quick succession from the only 2 chances given away in the first half meant Rovers had to lift their play and start getting back to the basics of passing and moving. A number of chances came Rovers way before the interval but none converted...
Half Time
Manchester Rovers 1 - 2 Didsbury Colts
Rovers Manager Graham Kenny expressed disappointment with the finishing of the team and insisted that players hit the target when through on goal, but the main focus being to come out second half and put in a performance to take the game by the scruff of the neck and show character.
Second Half
Rovers, now attacking up hill, started to find their rhythm again straight from kick off with Bills beginning to find his touch and holding the ball up well. Interchanging of passes between midfield and strikers started to resemble how Rovers had started the match with Didsbury again looking out of sorts at the back.
Dee and Mo started to dominate in midfield with both players repeatedly winning the aerial battle and working box to box.
Then the breakthrough, with some good work again down the right hand side, with Anthony and Michael working well in tandom, the ball bounced into the Didsbury area and the Didsbury defender handled the ball - penalty to Rovers and a chance to get back on level terms early in the half.
Having had his confidence knocked by missing guilt edge chances (repeatedly) in the first half, Bills grabbed the ball and placed it purposefully on the spot, determined to make up for his (repeated) lack of finishing in the first half. With half the Rovers side unable to watch as he strode up to the ball, with a slight pause, Bills converted the penalty high into the top left hand corner - 23 chances (19 of which were for Bills), one goal... Rovers were on level terms.
The penalty restored Rovers confidence and suddenly the play flowed effortlessly with Michael and Anthony combining well down the right hand side and Mo pulling the strings in centre midfield.
Again with some great work down the right hand side, with the trio of Michael, Anthony and Dennis working Michael into a good position he cut the ball back to Dave Harris 18 yards out. With a flick of the hips to cut the ball onto his right foot, Harris unleashed a thunderous driving, swerving shot into the Didsbury top right hand corner - what a finish to a great move... 3-2 Rovers and it was game on.
Rovers continued to control the game with Didsbury only creating half chances, with Riccardo making a superb double save to deny the No.9 his hat-trick.
Changes were then made with Dennis replaced by new signing Christian Phoenix and Mo replaced by Christian Phoenix look-a-like Alex Pentecost.
Both players immediately put their mark on the game, and in Alex's case the Didsbury right backs face and the Didsbury left backs thigh...
Rovers continued to make chances but with changes made to the Didsbury striking partnership, the Rovers defence had to contend with more pace and trickery.
As Didsbury broke, their substitute drove into the box with Stew Townsend in pursuit and as the Didsbury player looked to come inside he took a leaf out of Masterman's book and dived looking for a penalty... not given and a stern talking to from the referee, who had a strong performance throughout.
As the ball broke, Rovers moved the ball quickly up the pitch, and as it arrived at Christian's feet just outside the penalty area, he hit a quality left foot drive heading for the top corner only to see the Didsbury keeper at full stretch pull off a great save.
With Rovers pushing for the all important 4th goal, Didsbury started to find channels to run into on the counter and it was a run into the left hand channel that created a chance for their No.9, and with good composure he completed his hat-track with aplomb - 3-3 the game was level.
Both teams began to press for a winner, but as legs grew tired the game became patchy with no real chances created.
The referee blew for full-time...
Full Time
Manchester Rovers 3 - 3 Didsbury Colts