Post by stevewood on Sept 8, 2013 20:49:13 GMT
Saturday 07/09/2013:
Milton Reserves 0 – 2 Rovers
Rovers Starting XI
1. Big Rob
2. Mike
3. White
4. Ade
5. Anto
6. Damo (c)
7. Bills
8. Ian
9. Woody
10. Mo
11. Andrea
Subs:
12. Nathan
14. Sanjay
15. Ben
After last week’s confidence boosting performance against last year’s Division B champions, Rovers’ second league match and first away day of the season saw them make the relatively long trip to Norden in Rochdale to play last year’s Division B runners-up, Milton Reserves. On inspection of last year’s league table there was only one point separating the top two so we knew the level of opposition would be of a similar standard. This gave the whole squad confidence going into the game.
With Manu being unavailable and Pricey injured during Thursday night’s eventful (unfortunately for the wrong reasons) training session, Rovers were without last week’s goalscorers and seemingly short of firepower up front. The ‘gaffa’ recognised this and drafted in the services of Bills as cover up front. Credit to Pricey though for turning up as Rover’s scarf wearing super-fan despite the injury.
The game started disappointingly flat for Rovers (much like the pitch which was again in superb condition). Milton were louder, first to every ball and put the Rovers defence under early pressure with some decent balls in behind the defence almost causing an early embarrassment. After such a lacklustre start the all too familiar shouts from the touchline could be heard from Stu, and with good reason to be fair. However, Rovers collectively stepped up a couple of gears and began to press quickly and higher up the pitch. Despite having a couple of fairly good players in the middle, without time on the ball they struggled and it soon became apparent their only way of playing was to hit balls over the top for their striker to chase.
After getting to grips with Milton’s tactics Rovers began to play their own football at their own tempo and chances soon came in front of goal with Bills poking past the onrushing keeper and just wide of the post from a difficult position after cleverly turning the centre back who was caught on his heels. The opening goal deservedly came after a good run into the box by Ian created space for Bills to take the ball into and just as he was about to shoot was taken to the ground by a combination of two defenders’ attempts to prevent the chance. The resulting penalty was calmly slotted into the bottom left corner leaving the keeper with no chance. It was only a matter of minutes before Rovers extended the lead to two through Andrea. Good pressure resulted in Milton losing possession and the ball rolling loose to Woody on the right touchline. A forward ball found Mo’s attacking run through the middle and after brushing off the attention of one defender, slotted a lovely ball in to Andrea who finished off a superb flowing move.
Half Time: Milton 0 – 2 Rovers
Rovers walked out for the second half believing we were capable of maintaining and adding to the first half lead. The referee however had other plans after he decided to give Milton a way back into the game by awarding them a penalty after 5 minutes after an Anto sliding tackle on the edge of the box near the by-line took man before ball. The marks left on the pitch clearly proved the tackle was made outside the box but the referee pointed to the spot and stubbornly refused to even inspect the pitch marks despite Rovers’ protests. Thankfully Milton’s penalty taker righted the wrong by blasting his effort high and wide of the top right corner. Nevertheless the sense of injustice at the awarding of the penalty motivated Rovers to see out the win.
The remainder of the half saw few chances created at either end with the exception of a couple of decent half chances for Rovers which unfortunately came to nothing. Milton were being pressed high up the pitch and were not afforded the time on the ball their midfielders seemingly needed to control the game. Despite being the lone striker, Bills never looked isolated up front thanks to the work rate of Andrea and Woody on the wings and the central midfield trio of Damo, Ian and Mo who combined brilliantly at times in breaking up Milton’s play and turning defence into attack with ease. Rovers’ back four contributed greatly to the win, learning from the mistakes made in the opening stages of the first half by dropping a few yards deeper to cut out the balls over the top and the communication was brilliant throughout meaning Milton never had a spare man to use as an outlet.
Full Time: Milton 0 – 2 Rovers
Back to back wins for Rovers to open the season marks Stu’s best start as manager of the Saturday 1st team and he can rightly feel proud of the two performances so far which have been disciplined and effective both in defence and in attack. What is possibly most pleasing is that both wins have been achieved with key players absent, which shows just how much we have improved as a squad since last year.
Man of the Match:
Mo
Brilliant ball control, superb work rate from first-to-last whistle and dominant in the centre of the park. His assist for Andrea’s goal was pure class, demonstrating exactly why he is such an important player to us.
League Table:
Although only early days, the league table makes for some good viewing for those who haven’t seen it yet!
full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do;jsessionid=2DC23BF3E5FA206E7E2CBB11B94A7023?psSelectedSeason=462663928&psSelectedDivision=6812786&psSelectedCompetition=0&psSelectedLeague=3194634
Milton Reserves 0 – 2 Rovers
Rovers Starting XI
1. Big Rob
2. Mike
3. White
4. Ade
5. Anto
6. Damo (c)
7. Bills
8. Ian
9. Woody
10. Mo
11. Andrea
Subs:
12. Nathan
14. Sanjay
15. Ben
After last week’s confidence boosting performance against last year’s Division B champions, Rovers’ second league match and first away day of the season saw them make the relatively long trip to Norden in Rochdale to play last year’s Division B runners-up, Milton Reserves. On inspection of last year’s league table there was only one point separating the top two so we knew the level of opposition would be of a similar standard. This gave the whole squad confidence going into the game.
With Manu being unavailable and Pricey injured during Thursday night’s eventful (unfortunately for the wrong reasons) training session, Rovers were without last week’s goalscorers and seemingly short of firepower up front. The ‘gaffa’ recognised this and drafted in the services of Bills as cover up front. Credit to Pricey though for turning up as Rover’s scarf wearing super-fan despite the injury.
The game started disappointingly flat for Rovers (much like the pitch which was again in superb condition). Milton were louder, first to every ball and put the Rovers defence under early pressure with some decent balls in behind the defence almost causing an early embarrassment. After such a lacklustre start the all too familiar shouts from the touchline could be heard from Stu, and with good reason to be fair. However, Rovers collectively stepped up a couple of gears and began to press quickly and higher up the pitch. Despite having a couple of fairly good players in the middle, without time on the ball they struggled and it soon became apparent their only way of playing was to hit balls over the top for their striker to chase.
After getting to grips with Milton’s tactics Rovers began to play their own football at their own tempo and chances soon came in front of goal with Bills poking past the onrushing keeper and just wide of the post from a difficult position after cleverly turning the centre back who was caught on his heels. The opening goal deservedly came after a good run into the box by Ian created space for Bills to take the ball into and just as he was about to shoot was taken to the ground by a combination of two defenders’ attempts to prevent the chance. The resulting penalty was calmly slotted into the bottom left corner leaving the keeper with no chance. It was only a matter of minutes before Rovers extended the lead to two through Andrea. Good pressure resulted in Milton losing possession and the ball rolling loose to Woody on the right touchline. A forward ball found Mo’s attacking run through the middle and after brushing off the attention of one defender, slotted a lovely ball in to Andrea who finished off a superb flowing move.
Half Time: Milton 0 – 2 Rovers
Rovers walked out for the second half believing we were capable of maintaining and adding to the first half lead. The referee however had other plans after he decided to give Milton a way back into the game by awarding them a penalty after 5 minutes after an Anto sliding tackle on the edge of the box near the by-line took man before ball. The marks left on the pitch clearly proved the tackle was made outside the box but the referee pointed to the spot and stubbornly refused to even inspect the pitch marks despite Rovers’ protests. Thankfully Milton’s penalty taker righted the wrong by blasting his effort high and wide of the top right corner. Nevertheless the sense of injustice at the awarding of the penalty motivated Rovers to see out the win.
The remainder of the half saw few chances created at either end with the exception of a couple of decent half chances for Rovers which unfortunately came to nothing. Milton were being pressed high up the pitch and were not afforded the time on the ball their midfielders seemingly needed to control the game. Despite being the lone striker, Bills never looked isolated up front thanks to the work rate of Andrea and Woody on the wings and the central midfield trio of Damo, Ian and Mo who combined brilliantly at times in breaking up Milton’s play and turning defence into attack with ease. Rovers’ back four contributed greatly to the win, learning from the mistakes made in the opening stages of the first half by dropping a few yards deeper to cut out the balls over the top and the communication was brilliant throughout meaning Milton never had a spare man to use as an outlet.
Full Time: Milton 0 – 2 Rovers
Back to back wins for Rovers to open the season marks Stu’s best start as manager of the Saturday 1st team and he can rightly feel proud of the two performances so far which have been disciplined and effective both in defence and in attack. What is possibly most pleasing is that both wins have been achieved with key players absent, which shows just how much we have improved as a squad since last year.
Man of the Match:
Mo
Brilliant ball control, superb work rate from first-to-last whistle and dominant in the centre of the park. His assist for Andrea’s goal was pure class, demonstrating exactly why he is such an important player to us.
League Table:
Although only early days, the league table makes for some good viewing for those who haven’t seen it yet!
full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do;jsessionid=2DC23BF3E5FA206E7E2CBB11B94A7023?psSelectedSeason=462663928&psSelectedDivision=6812786&psSelectedCompetition=0&psSelectedLeague=3194634