A Baltic wind whipped around the Rocklands football pitch which cut through the parents about to watch the friendly between Rocklands and Hellesdon this despite the hot drinks supplied by Amanda safely tucked away in the pavilion out of the elements. Although can we find a stool so Amanda can reach the top cupboards!
Hellesdon play in the A league, two divisions up from Rocklands so this was possibly a good measure of where the lads are currently. Hellesdon in yellow tops black shorts playing from left to right began immediately putting passes and combinations together attacking both flanks.
Rocklands back four of Luke, Charlie, Joe S and Sam with Matty in goal were getting a little more activity than usually expected. Our midfield Louis, Joe G centre mid with Eliot and Joe T playing on the wings trying to contain the Hellesdon midfield this left Anthony and Ewan up front.
Although Hellesdon were putting some lovely combinations together culminating in some excellent deliveries into the area Rocklands were holding them well with Joe G breaking play up well and changing with Louis to who would go forward with Ewan and Anthony. Eliot and Joe T had the making of their opposites at times and took advantage of that delivering some balls into the area to create some half chances for Anthony and Ewan but the Hellesdon back four held firm and played the ball out from the back attacking either route one or using the sides.
The 14 min brought the first goal following a goal mouth scramble resulting in Hellesdon going 1 up.
Hellesdon 1-0 Rocklands.
Rocklands carried on from the kick off in a similar vein trying to contain the Hellesdon playmakers which they did well at times however on the 19th min Hellesdon struck again.
Hellesdon 2-0 Rocklands.
2ND Half.
Rob and Steve brought on Reece for Anthony, Ryan for Joe G and Callum for Sam with Mark replacing Ewan. Sam came back on for Joe T who got a knock during play. Anthony came back on a little later for Sam. Anthony was now marauding on the left wing making some great strong runs taking the inside or outside line. This resulted in Reece chasing down the passes and putting pressure on the keeper, we were getting behind Hellesdon at times but still no clear cut chances. The final ball not quite falling right for Rocklands. Hellesdon struck again 27 min into the 2nd half.
Hellesdon 3-0 Rocklands.
Ewan replaced Charlie at centre back as this was a friendly all the subs were being used in a rolling manner. Rocklands mid field appeared to be playing deeper at times leaving open space between them and the strikers but Ryan was putting his foot in and chasing down play well. Joe G came back on for Louis but this didn’t halt Hellesdon progress adding a 4th goal at 30 min into the 2nd half.
Hellesdon 4-0 Rocklands.
Matty was at this stage the busiest person on the pitch making some tremendous saves both reactionary and conventional. Despite taking a knock while leaping and punching the ball clear only for it to fall to a Hellesdon player to shot again but Matty again denied Hellesdon all the while trying to shake off the knock he took a few minutes earlier. Hellesdon continued shooting but Matty denied them. The 5th goal went in but Matty had given his all under the circumstances, making some great saves, kicking out of hand finding the wings at times very well.
Hellesdon 5-0 Rocklands.
Although this was a friendly and it was an extremely cold day we know the lads can play at that level of football or at the very least push teams from the higher divisions as we have done in the past. That being said the score in this instance does not fully reflect the lad’s football we know they can play.
Many thanks to Pete aka man in black for referring and Dan and Paul (who had just finished playing tennis!) for running the line with Pete’s new electronic buzzing linesman flags. Where this electronic signal or buzzing sensation ends up remains a mystery to all but Pete
