A cold wind blew down the pitch as Thorpe arrived at Rocklands and the gathering crowd made a wise decision to drop into Amanda's cafe for a warm brew before confronting the icy wind to cheer the lads on. Rob arrivered dressed back in his shorts so all was well again with the gaffer. With the wind increasing slowly which side would be taking advantage of it?
It wasn't long before Pete just back from Barcelona and full of man flu which we all know is so much worse than the female version, just a sniffle when compared to man flu. Kevin our ever dependable linesman was at the ready warmed by Amanda's brew. Thorpe kicked off into the wind as Pete blew to start the match with Rocklands playing from right to left with Matty in goal and Charlie rallying his back four of Luke, Joe T and Sam on the left. Joe S was playing up from Sam and Eliot on the other side both strong runners with the ball. Ewan and Louis playing midfield leaving Anthony and Marc up front. A strong line up with good runners out wide and down the middle.
Rocklands began playing their passing game from the off with good strong runs from Joe S and Eliot. Anthony was unlucky early on not to latch onto a good cross from Joe S to pt his name on the score sheet. Thorpe were playing good passing football from the back out to the wide players. Thorpe's back four were holding firm. Rocklands were catching Thorpe on the break at times but the final pass just a little too weighted with the wind behind them. Thorpe broke away towards the Rocklands goal but Matty made a good save to stop Thorpe from opening the score sheet. Both sides were playing good football but it was Eliot's turn to storm towards the Thorpe keeper then cutting in and taking his shot well but it just went wide. Thorpe's keeper wasn't the tallest keeper and with the wind behind us would we challenge him? Joe S was delivering some cracking corners with Anthony just missing with the header. Joe T and Charlie were mopping up the Thorpe breaks with Sam on the left playing as Sam always does creating time on the ball and reading the game very well. Both Sam and Luke were using the width well putting Joe S and Eliot forward at every opportunity.
Marc took a peach of a free kick into the edge of the Thorpe box which resulted in another corner for Rocklands which Louis just missed the ball with his head by mm again. Rocklands looked to get the ball into the back of the net but it was just the final touch or the ball was just a little heavy. Eliot at this stage was the only one to test the keeper from range, should we have challenged the keeper from range more? How ever it wasn't long before Anthony crossing into the box found Joe S who put the ball into the back of the net.
35 mins Rocklands 1 - 0 Thorpe.
Soon after Thorpe cleared the ball from the box it was heading towards Marc where he chested it down onto his left foot to do a kick me up onto his right foot resulting in a 25 yd volley above the keeper and in the back of the net. A cracking goal and well deserved following the chasing down and pressure on the Thorpe back four.
36 mins Rocklands 2 - 0 Thorpe.
Pete blew for half time and a well deserved rest as the man flu was taking it's toll. But had we done enough as the Thorpe team would have the wind with them for the second half.
Thorpe brought on a new striker and it became clear they wanted to find him at every opportunity, Rocklands back four and midfield would have to be on there toes. Thorpe began to miss out the midfield and find their striker who played close to the Rocklands back four. We needed to stay tight to him and cut the supply to him. Ewan came off for Joe G in the middle but the pattern of play Thorpe had developed was begining to take its toll as Rocklands just missed the bounce or just a fraction late in breaking up the play. But the lads were holding it together. Eliot came off on 43 mins with Ryan coming on.
The Thorpe striker on 44 mins found the back of the net with Matty doing his best but the Thorpe striker turned and read the game well.
44 mins Rocklands 2 - 1 Thorpe.
Anthony came off for Reece to come on up front but Thorpe struck again in the 48th min.
48 min Rocklands 2 - 2 Thorpe.
Rocklands tried to push forward playing out from the back wide or down the centre with Reece unlucky to be offside on route with only the keeper to beat. Anthony came back on for Joe S. Joe G tackled well and found Anthony at times with some good interlinking play but the Thorpe back four again cleared down the right and with the wind behind them took a long range shot which Matty had no chance as it was high and fell just under the crossbar into the net.
56 min Rocklands 2 - 3 Thorpe.
Thorpe were taking advantage of the wind and playing the ball to the striker every chance they had. Eliot came back on for Louis but the damage had already been done as Thorpe scored again as Rocklands watched the ball go by into the goal.
63 min Rocklands 2 - 4 Thorpe.
Marc had a free kick against the wind, it was a good attempt on goal but the Thorpe keeper was equal to it and collected it. I was collecting opinion on MOM from the sideline, Sam had a great game making some sound tackles and reading the game well as did Joe T who also broke up play and supplied the midfield well. Charlie marshalling the troops well talking all the time seeing the game in front of him. But it was Marc for his work rate and finding the Marc of old with a special goal who got the nod.
As Pete blew the final whistle Rocklands were left wondering how the game slipped away, had we done enough in the first half, had we contained there striker? Did we do enough to stop the supply or break up play, could have we got first to the ball more, pressured more? This is not a case of criticism but one of evaluation and a learning curve as the talent is there as is the desire. We have strong runners,players who can read the game well but most of all players who want to play for each other and enjoy playing football. With the above ingredients present they have it all there to go forward, indeed they do.
