2nd game of the season and The Rose travelled to a team who have started the season brightly and lots of rumours are flying around about, but The Rose travelled with thoughts of the local Manchester derby ringing round everyones heads.
The Rose's favourite ref was on guard as we arrived at the pitch and his stand up comedy act started from the minute we arrived, good old Jon Molloy..
The game started with Limeside all over The Rose and dominated the start of the first half, first goal of the game fell to the home side with some slack defending and there lad struck hard and low and got luck with a deflection off Chris Asprey's calf and sneaked in at the back post, 1-0 limeside, the game continued the same way and limeside pressurised well and was solid in the middle of the park leaving the two central midfielders for the Rose Danny G and Brady running round like headless chickens, Limeside got another goal from a set piece this time with a free Limeside player at the back post who headed home well to take the game to two nil.
At this point the Rose looked really beaten and couldn't produce any good football anywhere on the pitch and certain problems leaked through with a number of chances coming for the home team and a few signs of bad discipline especially from the right back Joe Ryan, with the usual scream or two threw in for good fun, up steps the Limeside talented right winger with a little space, cuts inside the make shift left back and smashed home with a cracking finish to make the game 3 nil, a fourth for the home side followed before the end of the half...
Half Time
After a few tactical changes and the introduction of Lee Scanlon, the Rose started the half brightly and finally started to produce the expected football of some of the quality individuals they have in the team, following a second substitution Mark Roberts on for Ingis the Rose finally got there first goal and following a nice through ball from Danny G, Tez ran through clear of the defence and finished well curling the ball round the keeper inside the front post, now we had a game and the Limeside team were on the back foot.
More constant pressure in the Limeside half and following a scramble from a Rose of Lancaster corner, and some shirt pulling the referee/comedian blew for a penalty which under pressure Michael Brady put away nicely. The game continued the same with the Rose dominating the second half and mainly from midfield creating more and more chances, with a nice move down the right hand side, Michael Hoggard ran in behind and crossed the ball for an oncoming shuttle of Mark Roberts who slotted home to take the game to a thrilling last ten minutes.
Unfortunately even though the Rose continued to pile on the pressure and throw everything at Limeside for the last ten minutes, they defended and held on well and even created a couple of chances of there own and even though the Rose deserved a point from this game it wasnt to be, final chance fell with a free kick on the edge of the Limeside box, which after a heated debate was left in the hands of Murdoch to smash home but instead he decide to do a ridicously little lob over the bar which finished the Rose's hopes off and seconds later the final whistle was blown.
Overall not too bad of a result, the old saying "its a game of two halves" definately applies to this game and the Rose move onto the third game still looking for there first win but will be more then up for it after a solid second half performance and with finally a full strength team with no absentee's
Moment of the match
Has to be the Limeside's third goal, a strike wayne rooney would of been proud of and no keeper would have chance of saving
Debate of the match
Was Murdoch wearing these for his free kick??????
Onto next week against Fitton Hill another team that have won their opening three games and should be another good battle at the Cathedral
