Post by thelittlerussian23 on Feb 1, 2012 18:03:39 GMT
Kelly - GK
Alison McG – RB
Cris – CB (Capt)
Sarah Newman – CB
Kath – LB
Chloe – RM
Rachel G – CM
Nat – CM
Rachael B – LM
Jen – CF
Lena – CF
Rovers were thin on numbers this week following a few matches with fifteen plus available, but the eleven players who were on hand continued the team’s winning start to 2012. Alison McG returned following her one match suspension and Rachael Brown played her first ninety minutes for the club in a familiar 4-4-2 system. Ashton are one of the team’s close to Rovers in the league and having been beaten by them the last time they met, the home team needed to put in a good performance to ensure there was no repeat.
The two teams displayed very different styles; Rovers like to play the ball on the floor as much as possible whereas the majority of Ashton players seem to enjoy a long-ball game. Rovers found this tactic frustrating in the first half - defensively, kicking the ball long whenever the greens’ lost the ball up front, worked for Ashton for a period. Lena broke the deadlock midway through the first half though; slotting the ball to the goalkeeper’s left after being put through following good work from Jen and Rachael B during a penetrating Rovers attack. Rovers could have been 4-0 up at the break following long-range shots from Chloe and Rachel G and seeing Lena’s effort cleared off the line. The Ashton ‘keeper, to give her credit, had a very good game.
At half-time Rovers talked about trying to spread the play more to exploit Rovers’ superior fitness as Ashton tired. Ashton did not create a lot after the break and were mainly reduced to long-range efforts – ten or so of which sailed high and wide, allowing Rovers time to regroup. There was almost a sting in the tail when Ashton were awarded a penalty in the last five minutes after the referee judged that Jen had handled the ball in the area. The Ashton player blasted the ball down the middle though and Kel maintained her position and was strong enough to keep it out.
So it ended 1-0 and over the ninety minutes that was a fair result with Rovers playing the better football. They will be looking to extend their winning run to three games, against Failsworth on Sunday.
Players’ player of the match – Kelly. It has been noted a number of times since she’s been playing in goal that Kel is quite fearless, and she had another great game between the sticks this week, culminating in a penalty save in the last five minutes. Well played Kel.
Follow Rovers on Twitter at twitter.com/#!/manroverswfc
Alison McG – RB
Cris – CB (Capt)
Sarah Newman – CB
Kath – LB
Chloe – RM
Rachel G – CM
Nat – CM
Rachael B – LM
Jen – CF
Lena – CF
Rovers were thin on numbers this week following a few matches with fifteen plus available, but the eleven players who were on hand continued the team’s winning start to 2012. Alison McG returned following her one match suspension and Rachael Brown played her first ninety minutes for the club in a familiar 4-4-2 system. Ashton are one of the team’s close to Rovers in the league and having been beaten by them the last time they met, the home team needed to put in a good performance to ensure there was no repeat.
The two teams displayed very different styles; Rovers like to play the ball on the floor as much as possible whereas the majority of Ashton players seem to enjoy a long-ball game. Rovers found this tactic frustrating in the first half - defensively, kicking the ball long whenever the greens’ lost the ball up front, worked for Ashton for a period. Lena broke the deadlock midway through the first half though; slotting the ball to the goalkeeper’s left after being put through following good work from Jen and Rachael B during a penetrating Rovers attack. Rovers could have been 4-0 up at the break following long-range shots from Chloe and Rachel G and seeing Lena’s effort cleared off the line. The Ashton ‘keeper, to give her credit, had a very good game.
At half-time Rovers talked about trying to spread the play more to exploit Rovers’ superior fitness as Ashton tired. Ashton did not create a lot after the break and were mainly reduced to long-range efforts – ten or so of which sailed high and wide, allowing Rovers time to regroup. There was almost a sting in the tail when Ashton were awarded a penalty in the last five minutes after the referee judged that Jen had handled the ball in the area. The Ashton player blasted the ball down the middle though and Kel maintained her position and was strong enough to keep it out.
So it ended 1-0 and over the ninety minutes that was a fair result with Rovers playing the better football. They will be looking to extend their winning run to three games, against Failsworth on Sunday.
Players’ player of the match – Kelly. It has been noted a number of times since she’s been playing in goal that Kel is quite fearless, and she had another great game between the sticks this week, culminating in a penalty save in the last five minutes. Well played Kel.
Follow Rovers on Twitter at twitter.com/#!/manroverswfc