With only a few weeks now until the start of their inaugural season, a depleted G&S went in to this Bank Holiday weekend friendly keen to prove their fitness. They started with a bare 11, mainly due to holidays, and were again bolstered by Os and John as stand-ins.
This weeks oppo were 2nd division outfit Junior Reds (playing in white) on what was a cooler morning than previous weeks, again at Flamingo Park.
The Whites started brightly and were soon testing the Blues’ back four with new pairing Minty & Jake having to show all their guile and experience early doors. In the first 10 minutes Os was injured when bravely throwing himself at the feet of an on-rushing striker to save well. After a few minutes stoppage he was able to continue as substitute keeper Stoney readied himself for a possible debut!
Minutes later in their first meaningful attack Lakey attempted an audacious overhead kick and was unlucky not to connect well.
On 13 minutes the again effervescent John lunged at a loose ball in the box. It fell to TJ who was gutted to see his chip go just over the bar.
Then the deserved breakthrough and what a goal it was! TJ this time controlled a forward ball neatly, before laying it square 20 yards out for Frenchie whose right foot drive was guided home like a rocket as it came across his body. The ball nestled in the bottom left hand corner with the keeper rooted for 1-0.
Then minutes later Rovers were in dream land as Frenchie finished a copy cat goal as he latched on to a loose ball from similar distance to finish, bottom left again, for 2-0 but this time with his left peg!
The Blues were on fire now and with their tails up started to take the opposition apart. Lakey put TJ through and his shot went out for a corner.
Then 3-0. Ant slipped the ball through to TJ who skilfully controlled and rounded the keeper with what is now a trademark goal.
With 30 minutes gone and Os unable to take goal kicks, the Blues were undone by some sloppy play. Rich’s kick did not travel too far and fell to a White, he was not closed down and slammed home too easily from distance.
Soon after Os saved well against the striker when clean through, palming the ball superbly for a corner to preserve the now 2 goal lead. 38 gone and a silly free kick was given away and Rovers were let off as it bounced off the top of the bar! There were no more scares before half time.
The second half was not as action packed as players tired, although tempers frayed over some quite petty matters (something Rovers will have to cut out during the real season!).
The flying lakey was put away with half an hour to go and crossed well, only to see the unlucky Ant unable to reach his ball (when will the young man’s luck change!?).
Lakey’s perseverance told on 65 when his brilliant skill and run took out their defence, before he slipped the ball to TJ who again calmly rounded the keeper for 4-1.
10 minutes later the ref missed John’s ‘goal’ as he scrambled the ball over the line but it was not given (despite the lino agreeing it had gone in). Minutes later Rovers were undone from a corner as Juniors headed home for 4-2.
10 minutes left and TJ blasted over from another blistering Lakey run and Jo shot over with only 7 minutes left.
Os then went off with only a few minutes left to rapturous applause (or was that for the veteran replacement making his debut?!). Keith was soon nearly tested as the lively striker was clean through and attempted a lob. It was covered however and cleared the bar. The whistle went and an all round solid performance resulted in another deserved Blues win.
