CHAMPIONES CHAMPIONES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The day of reckoning was here & Rovers new going in to this massive game that a point would clinch the title after a long, innaugural season.
The pitch was bobbly & the Blues started with another new line up due to training absentees! They started slowly & although on top the ball was just not being played to feet.
The breakthrough came on 25 when Arran whipped in a wicked corner from the right, Luke swooped in to beat 3 defenders to the ball to smash a bullet header from 5 yards in off the underside of the bar for 1-0!
Soon after Russ out skilled the left back, as he did all match, to cross to see Arran only shoot over. G&S' defence was keeping the hooped forwards quiet in a commanding display & it was quiet until the 40th minute. Russ found himself free on the edge of the box. He fired goalwards, the keeper clumsily parried & Rich was alert as ever to tap home from a tight angle to get the goal he so richly deserved for his season of hard work!!
Minutes later it was nearly a 3-0 half time lead when James crossed delightfully only to see Chris miss woefully in what was an excellent display from the buzzing midfielder.
The second half started as the first finished with Rovers fully in control. Some of the football was top drawer & what the crowd had waited weeks to see again. TJ was now on as an early double sub with Alex & was on fire. He totally annihilated the Falconwood defence to cross straight to Arran's head, but somehow the ball flew over rather than rest in the net. Arran was disappointed, but his performance was a great improvement on previous weeks & something we hope continues next season from the left footed danger man!
Minutes later it was the TJ show again, as he skinned his man AGAIN but the keeper did well to tip over his rasping drive.
With 25 to go one of the few lapses occurred & could have been costly against a fitter opponent. Dean decided to kick a through ball away rather than collect. In the panic a free kick was given away, from which G&S nearly conceeded but for Dean's magnificent diving save which saved his blushes. Russ nearly extended the lead when he took TJs ball, turned & curled it goalwards only to see the woodwork win the day.
With 10 to go a small worry descended on the crowd when, what was a 10 man opposition, somehow won the header from a corner to blot the G&S copybook to make it 2-1. But minutes later the 2 goal margin was restored when Ant, lively as came on, never gave up on a through ball. He blocked the defensive clearance which allowed Russ to fire home, again from close range.
There was still time for Robbie, playing yet another very steady calm role way above his young age, to fire over from Ant's neat flick & Chris shot wide again with seconds remaining.
BUT THAT WAS IT. THE WHISTLE WENT & AN ECSTATIC BLUE & WHITE THRONG BURST IN TO JUBILANT CELEBRATION AS THE TITLE BELONGED, DESREVEDLY SO, TO G&S ROVERS. BEERS WERE SHARED ON THE PITCH WITH THE CUSTOMARY BUBBLY SET OFF BY CAPTAIN MARVEL LUCA. HAPPY HAPPY DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
