12/11/11 – Baston 8 – 5 Peterborough Rovers Reserves
Baston entered this game following the news that manager Tony Bedford had resigned from his post. Current Assistant Phil Davies took over for this game with Baston keen to get back to winning ways.
Baston started much the stronger, and were ahead early as Greg Rawlinson raced onto Scott Waters’ through ball and slotted past the keeper for 1-0. Baston doubled their advantage in no time as skipper Tom Bedford played through Rawlinson again who made no mistakes and made it 2-0. Baston were 3-0 in no time at all, this time Rawlinson crossing for Scott Waters to deftly volley past the keeper. This goal seemed to kick Rovers into life.
Peterborough Rovers then started to play some football, and after half an hour a pinpoint cross from the left was headed back across goal well for 3-1. They were back within a goal just moments later as a combination of defensive hesitation and some nice skill from Rovers striker Defraine, led to the visitors pulling another goal back for 3-2.
Baston hit back instantly as Mindy Valys raced 70 yards from right back, and onto a Craig Bullivant ball, before tucking it by the keeper for 4-2. The game was still yo-yoing though as Rovers pulled it back to 4-3 after 40 minutes as the Rovers’ strikers shot was deflected past the hapless Clarke. In an end to a thrilling half for the neutral, Baston scored again before the break as Bullivant released Rawlinson to complete his first half hat trick and make the score 5-3 at half time. It could have been 6-3 but Bullivant was ruled offside as he took it round the keeper.
Baston looked more solid after the break with the introduction of veteran Barnett into the back four, as they moved the impressive Hames to full back. Baston made it 6-3 as Ben Hudson’s reverse pass found Rawlinson in down the left, as he smashed it across the keeper into the far corner.
Baston were coasting, and should have been 7-3 up as Hudson squared for Buivydas to convert home from close range, but the assistant referee called offside despite the ball going backwards, and the cross coming from the byline. Rovers sensed a way back into the game and scored two quick goals, with Valys giving away a soft penalty for a push on the burley substitute making the score 6-5 with 15 minutes left. Ryan Jones came off the bench on the wing, and showed great speed and determination to beat the defender to the byline and pass the ball back for Ben Hudson to score, and Baston added a bit of gloss to the scoreline in the last few minutes as Rawlinson got on the end of Mantas Buivydas’s flick and slotted past the keeper for his fifth goal.
Man of the Match: Greg Rawlinson
Baston: Rob Clarke, Mindy Valys, Justas Poderis, Tom Hames, Jacob Parkin (Matt Barnett), Mantas Buivydas, Scott Waters, Tom Bedford (c) (Steve Clay), Ben Hudson, Craig Bullivant (Ryan Jones), Greg Rawlinson
