Real Rosehill with their young side dominated the play today to secure all 3 points against a good Rottingdean Village Sunday Side.
Rottingdean have had a great start to the season only losing one game in four against good opposition.
Rosehill were missing the experience of Nathan Bowen in defence but still had the ever dependable Beck in the side. Not the singer Beck but the footballer Beck who can be seen for about 200 yards from the A23 with his glowing ginger hair.
Today armed with a new captains armband he led a resilient Rosehill side who played to their strengths in what was a tight game at times as the scoreline suggests but our play and posession told a different story.
Rosehill pushed forward from the start in a 4-2-3-1 formation which is unusual for Sunday league football given that most teams hoof and play the long ball. Rosehill knocked the ball around as they are accustomed to with pass and move football They could have been a couple up before they scored the opener on 6 with a penalty following some good link up play.
A few minutes later Adam Diney got a ball straight in the face and was so forceful that he had to come off to be replaced by the young Jack Davies who had to show what we all know he is capable of and this was his chance to impress.
Rottingdean got forward well on a number of occasions with their tricky winger but Rosehill defended brlilliantly and broke up play each time. Rosehill continued to press forward with Drew and Mike Jones in defensive midfield linking up well with Jack Davies, Danny Stearman and Ben Stonham. Touches of brilliance and one touch football was no match for Rottingdean and the speed and non stop running of Craig Anderson presented Rosehill with 5 or 6 more chances which they were unable to convert.
Against the run of play Rottingdean scored from a strike in the six yeard box following a Rottingdean header and the finish was clinical. If there is a weakness in Rosehill it is defending corners and set pieces and balls into the box at height.
Marky Martin was superb linking up with the defensive midfield and midfield and went on a couple of runs on the right and Rosehill were unlucky not to capitalise even more. Gary Anderson was once again classy in breaking up the play on the left hand side and Chris Beck and Max added to the defensive qualities of Rosehill.
Rosehill had a penalty appeal turned down on 28 minutes following a mistimed tackle on Danny Steaman. Jack Davies came close on 32 minutes with a long range strike which was pushed around the post by their keeper. On 38 minutes Ben scored from a tight angle for Rosehill to go into the break a goal up.
Coming out for the second half Rottingdean went to 4-3-3 and pushed forward. The forwards and midfield of Rosehill broke up every attack but the long ball was the only option and Rosehill were resilient in breaking up every attack that Rottingdean had. They continued to push forward and Rosehill did not clear their lines from the long ball with the Rottingdean forward scoring with a lob with 4 Rosehill players around him. a very clever strike. This was definitley against the run of play and Rosehill had to dig deep to get all 3 points.
With Craig and Danny chasing down the Rottingdean defenders at every opportunity and the midfield of Jack, Ben, Drew and Mike breaking up Rottingdean attacks before they started and converting into attacks.
Dan Shrubb replaced Ben Stonham on 68 minutes and his usual trickery and 5 nut negs were no match for Rottingdean. Rosehill continued to press on both flanks with Marky and Gaz "Chav" Anderson and Drew and Jack dropping in to accomodate their movement forward.
Rosehill could have had 5 or 6 goals but could not convert their chances, unlucky once again. On 78 minutes after some great play on the left from Shrubby and Stearman Rosehill got their lead back following Danny's cross into the box for Drew to score with a deft header, clinical.
Rosehill continued to press and could have had a couple more, seeing the weekness of the Rottingdean defenders on the left and right sides and were unluckly not to increase their lead.
Rosehill ended the game worthy 3-2 winners but we need to be more clinical and take our chances as posession does not mean goals! This will come I am sure!
Great performances from everyone and the workrate of all the Rosehill players was second to none.
Three players were up for man of the match, Drew "I Take No Prisoners" Michael, Marky Martin who did not put a foot wrong going forward or defending and Jack Davies who was pure class going forward and defending. The final decision was down to Drew's mum Debbie who gave it to Jack for his outstanding performance and never say die attitude. A great performance given that he is Rosehill's youngest player at 16.
All players were great once again and the competition for places is strong and there cant be many, if any teams that have the strength of squad that Rosehill do.
We are more like a family and that was clearly demonstrated on the field today. Rosehill remain one of two teams still unbeaten in the Premier, the other being the mightly Millhouse.
Onto next week and a tough task against AFC Brighton and Hove in the second round of the SCFA Sunday Challenge Trophy. We need to defend in numbers and to go forward in numbers to get through to the last 16. If todays performance is anything to go by then it is looking good for Rosehill.
Cheers Tone and Gaz
