Post by bakerkeeper on Sept 9, 2014 12:05:43 GMT
After a faltering draw on the opening day of the season the second game saw a very positive performance from the Rovers Saturdays, against a physical Staly Lions, to earn a well deserved victory.
With Stuart Mason back at the helm again after an unfortunate injury to his pride on the opening fixture (he had to attend a wedding), Stu named a slightly amended 11 but stuck to the now familiar 3-5-2 system (no we will not be referring to it as a 3-2-3-1-1). Rovers spirits were high after a good display of football the previous week, and as a team were determined to right the wrongs from our opening game and come away with 3 points. However we got off to the worst start possible with a soft goal that snuck in at the near post, this was no reflection on the team but in honesty keeper error! 1 – 0 Lions.
This however fired up the team, quickly we broke to the other end of the pitch and, with a concerted amount of pressure, were level within what felt like minutes with a partially injured James Gilmartin, scoring an outside the box screamer from the left hand side, that the keeper could only watch. 1 - 1
Thereafter followed a period of dominance for Rovers with even the Captain, James Price, getting in on the goals, taking on as many Staly Lions men as he could find before slotting it home. 1 -2 Rovers
Shortly after Pricey’s goal was reinforced (and made very forgettable) by a beautifully hit goal from Andy Thomas. He took the ball well outside of the area and lobbed the Lions keeper with accuracy and speed. We went in at half time 3 - 1 Rovers, with more to give.
The second half saw a slight resurgence from Staly Lions, they were making their physical presence felt in midfield with a couple of unsightly incidents, ‘the Don’ Uyime Donatus even taking a kicking whilst on the floor, and Lions managed to grab a goal back. It was an unfortunate header from a long throw that saw our very own George Solomon, recently subbed on by Bills (standing in for Stu on the side line as he was called into defence for the team) netting where the Lions could not. 2 - 3 Rovers
Rovers soaked up the mounting Staly pressure, made a couple of subs, and responded in the best possible way: with the game being killed off nearing the end with a brilliantly taken volley from Liam Wilson; his left foot hitting a sweet shot the was in the net before the keeper could blink. 2 – 4 Rovers.
From there Rovers saw the game out to a well-deserved victory. This was a massive team performance, with special mention to Chris Ashley, Liam Gilbert and Stu Mason in a makeshift back 3, that exemplified the quality football and fight that Rovers are all about, but the whole team has a reason to be proud of their performance.
Well played lads.