Greeted by a bright but breezy day Rocklands playing away made the journey to Toftwood.
Rob and Steve decided on playing 4-4-2 with Marc and Anthony up front. Toftwood in yellow with blue shorts kicked off playing right to left with the wind behind them.
With standing room only Rocklands pressed immediately. Starting from a pass back from Joe T to Sam who crossed it to Anthony who just missed connecting with the ball.
Previous to this move Toftwood took a corner resulting in Rocklands breaking with only eight and a half minutes on the clock Eliot hit a thundering shot hitting the post and rocking the goal itself!
A sign of things to come?
Rocklands playing good football, using the pitch and the ball to good advantage and always looking threatening.
However Toftwood were not without intent and with thirteen and a half minutes gone and against the run of play scored first, chipping over Matty, 1-0 Toftwood. Minutes later after a bursting run and pass by Anthony, Eliot had had other ideas and hit a cracking shot from the edge of the box leaving the keeper glued to the spot. 1-1. Rocklands continued to play it out from the back with Sam threading a pass to Joe T who flicked it onto Anthony who once again fed Mark where he chipped the keeper. 2-1 Rocklands.
Toftwood replied with a shot just over the crossbar and at times pushed Rocklands back but with Joe G and Eliot in midfield breaking and creating this left our centre backs Charlie and Joe S scooping up and feeding Luke and Sam wide. Joe S delivered a superb corner where again Anthony menacing up front was unlucky not to connect with. The keeper denied Anthony again from a quick throw in from Joe T. Toftwoods keeper was playing well with Matty little to do at times. Always a good sign.
Half time 2-1 Rockland’s and the aroma of good fresh coffee floated around the spectators as Paul Joe S dad continued his high standard of half time refreshments with croissants and coffee.
2nd Half – saw Marcus on for Joe G, Lewis for Ryan with Ewan replacing Mark after 3 mins into the 2nd half. Ewan had an immediate impact by scoring as the ball rebounded off him into the net 3-1 however despite the balls best effort Ewan’s good looks remain intact! Marcus was controlling midfield providing some great balls through to his front and wide men.
17 mins into the 2nd half Joe T came off with Mark going back on, Toftwood were having some success especially from set pieces but with continued pressure from Rocklands Toftwood conceded an own goal, 4-1. 2 mins later Anthony played in Ewan who provided a great finish for 5-1.
Were Rocklands going to sit back now, hell no as Marks goal was adjudged offside after receiving an excellent cross from Lewis; it must have been very tight. Ewan repaid Anthony the favour by playing a lovely ball in but Anthony still had some work to do but he calmly and accurately drove the ball past the keeper into the back of the net 6-1 Rocklands.
Toftwood were not giving up and scored in the 26th and 27th min after Rocklands failed to clear from set pieces. Full time Rocklands 6 – 3 Toftwood.
A good all round performance with some excellent football played. It’s coming together at times with good tempo football being played. Conceding goals from set pieces aside the future is as bright as the day was.
Rob and Steve choose Sam as M.O.M as he has made such great progress and playing with composure but everyone on the pitch put in a shift today and look what the result was. Well done all and every one of you.
As this is my first attempt at this thanks to my M.O.T.D team Bruce aka Alan Green, Dan aka Gary Lineker, Pete (the man in black), Anthony aka Lawro, Sarah aka Gaby and Joe G for technical assistance.
