Apologies for the delay in getting the report out a message on the laptop came up saying a network bridge adapter was not working as it should be which to me may as well mean the M25 Dartford Bridge is blocked. The awaited game against the much favoured Alysham was upon Rocklands and listening to the other coach’s comments regarding size and skill of the Alysham side would the lads be up for the challenge. All was quiet as the long drive well it seemed a long drive to Alysham as I know two players were contemplating the up and coming match, this could be the defining match of the season for both teams.
Chatting before the game as the nets went up admiring the E type Jaguar at the same time Joe T had suffered an injury in a school game hurting his groin. We rallied around to see if we could get Joey on the pitch to start but it wasn’t to be. Joe T required a bit more work to get him ready for a testing match. Alysham warmed up in orange with the subs or team groupies over seeing proceedings with what appeared to be cigarettes. Each to their own warm up procedure but I’m sure the cardio vascular system wouldn’t respond too well to that style of warm up.
Matty lined up in goal with Sam, Luke H, Luke C and Joe S in front of him. Louis, Ewan and Joe G in the middle of the park would have to be on top form today. Outside of them the strong running pairing of Eliot and Steffen leaving Robbie up front. Rocklands began well challenging for the ball and started to find their passing game releasing Eliot and Steffen at every opportunity. The midfield were shutting down their counterpart’s well hustling for the second and first ball. Alysham had the first corner and as the ball sailed over the box Alysham nodded the ball into the net. First on the score sheet were Alysham.
4 min: Rocklands 0 – 1 Alysham.
Rocklands responded well by going forward and exerting the pressure on Alysham with Alysham trying to find the strikers with long balls over the top but the centre backs were closing them down well. The Alysham striker tried out wide but Luke H had him in his pocket. Rocklands were playing well stopping Alysham from playing the ball through the middle on the ground. Rocklands were using the ball to do the work very well at times and it was after a ball through to Robbie and once again he turned his man with ease and hit the ball low and hard into the Alysham net to level the score board.
15 min: Rocklands 1 – 1 Alysham.
Ewan in the middle of the park was having a great game nipping at the heels of the Alysham players disrupting the flow of their game and when he had the ball distributing it very well. But Alysham had another corner and would that produce a similar result as on the 4 min mark? Again the ball sailed over the box area and again the ball went into the back of the net.
17 min: Rocklands 1 – 2 Alysham.
The pressure was on again for Rocklands who at times were playing the better football but Alysham were still on the hunt for another goal as they took another corner but Matty made the save. It was about this time Kevin who once again ever dependable was running the line and noticed Joe S was struggling to run, Joe T was to go on in such a tricky place to play. Joe S so keen to play had pinged his hamstring playing for the school earlier in the week. It was around this time after a tussle with Luke H the front man for Alysham threw a wobbly shouting at the referee and duly kicked the ball from the field of play. No card or warning was presented to him following such an outburst. As the Alysham coach took his player from the field of play it was obvious that this was going to be a challenging game to referee. The referee would have to take control of the game to avoid another outburst. The Rockland players stood bemused as the player walked off to more ranting and raving to himself.
The midfield were doing a lot of work breaking up play and finding Steffen or Eliot out wide. Luke C was having his usual collected game in the middle of the park alongside Joe T who was back to his usual marshalling duties rallying his troops well. Matt made another good save to deny Alysham and quickly fed the ball to Sam who in turn found Steffen. Steffen had the go faster button already pressed and was on his way with the fullback on his shoulder behind him and cut across the goal to fire a shot just wide. The pitch was not helping at all as it appeared to be more akin to a bad rugby pitch with bobbles and cut up patches all over the park. This was not helping with ball control at all and didn’t really play into Rocklands quick passing game.
Halftime: Rocklands 1 - 2 Alysham.
A keenly fought first half but the referee didn’t quite have the control of the match as he should have had. Both sides fairly even playing different styles of football at times. The half time break brought a change of plan by Steve and Greg to play a bit more attacking football and slightly more pressure higher up the pitch. Steve and Greg had asked Kevin to pitch in at half time as Kevin has a very good view and understanding of the game of football. A stirring conversation from Kevin reminding the lads that this could be a defining moment in the season of Rocklands and not to be bullied off the ball compete at every level and every chance. They soaked it up and began the second half with immediate pressure higher up the pitch becoming the hunter not the hunted.
A few long range shots had the Alysham keeper collecting the ball Rocklands were applying the pressure and Alysham were becoming fractious and with the Alysham player post a cool down period back on the pitch would it be long before another outburst stopped proceedings? Matt H found Robbie who flicked a superb cross floating high and just the right pace to find a towering Steffen to header it just over the keeper. Steffen had equalised with such a perfect floating dipping header to beat the keeper.
45 min: Rocklands 2 – 2 Alysham.
The goal of the season? Possibly, great team work and build up to it. Rocklands were again playing good football and dominating most of the play and possession. Louis and Joe G in the middle were playing really well between them stopping high and low balls distributing it well onto the running forwards of Matt H, Robbie, Jack and Steffen. Joe G found Steffen and split the back four of Alysham but Steffen was deemed offside a certain goal which would have done Rocklands proud.
Robbie and Steffen were finding each other at will with Robbie almost through on goal. Jack was applying the pressure high up the pitch as he usually does so well mixing it well with Matt H. The back four were collecting most of the through the middle balls well from Alysham. Luke C and Joe T finding Sam who was putting some lovely crosses over into the box. Matt’s goal was being protected well. The interlinking play from Rocklands split the opposition at will and put tremendous pressure on Alysham this combined with Alysham not having a lot of possession lead to Mr Angry raising his voice once again Alysham were vocal for all the wrong reasons. The set pieces from Rocklands were excellent in delivery and spot on target. It was from a corner the ball rebounded out to Joe G who took a touch and hit it through the crowded box low and hard only for the keeper to just get his hands to it. The keeper was keeping Alysham in the game. Another corner saw Joe G again aim for goal on the volley from the keepers punch out alas the ball went wide. Alysham had a rare foray into the Rocklands half only for the cross to go for a goal kick. But the Alysham player decided to throw the corner flag into the hedge and again launch into a vocal burst of savoury language. Again the referee had no control of this tight game. There is no excuse for this behaviour whether be it on the sports field or socially. Regardless of circumstances there must be a known boundary and acts like this lets the person and the team down.
The game continued and was getting tight but Rocklands had the majority of possession and play, Robbie had a chance running onto a through ball but it went just wide of goal. A shout for hand ball?? The back four again are superb Luke H having the striker in his pocket for most of the game and Sam supplying Steffen well down the side line. This left Luke C and Joe T to do what they do well calm and composed on the ball finding the wide players at every opportunity.
Alysham collected the ball in the middle of the park and went wide to the left with the Alysham player cutting back in and hitting a long range shot that skimmed past the inside of the post for a goal. A good goal scored against the run of play.
73 mins: Rocklands 2 – 3 Alysham.
Could the lads come back from having so much of the play and possession but still be a goal down, a true test of character about to unfold in the dying minutes of the game. But it was character in buckets from the lads as they pressured the Alysham midfield and back four. Sam delivered a ball down the line to Steffen who whipped his man again and cut inside going goal ward shooting but a mix up and pressure on Alysham had taken its toll and the ball bounced off an Alysham player for an own goal.
74 mins: Rocklands 3 – 3 Alysham.
A great reply and a period of sustained pressure contributed immensely to the own goal. In the final few minutes Rocklands hounded the goal with Steffen putting Matt H in on the keeper tapping a ball through resulting in a corner for Rocklands. Rocklands were really putting the pressure on as the referee blew to finish the game.
Rocklands had the majority of possession and play in the second half out playing Alysham with quick passing football. Again they knew they had the beating of this much lauded team. All players that graced the park for Rocklands on the worst pitch in the league with a similar view towards the behavioural out bursts played together as a team putting one of the league leaders under pressure.
Everyone had contributed to the match Louis had a sterling game in the middle playing really well, Steffen with his strong runs with Eliot on the other side doing the same. Ewan in the middle shutting the opposition players down as does Jack up front. Superb delivery from set pieces Robbie and Jack. Any of the back five who again were firm under pressure, but Steve and Greg said Joe G for MOM strangely as did Bruce and Steffens Dad. A great effort all round for the lads on a difficult pitch and at times difficult circumstances.
Rocklands have grown from a small close knit village team into a team that has a chance of winning the league just as much as the other leading teams have but we have to really put it together for the last remaining games of the season. Believe, believe beyond reason finish strong and you all can be in there with the chance of crossing the line in front but most of all play football to your best and enjoy playing as a team attacking and defending as one. No one team or person deserves respect, respect is earned. There is no need to fear any team or player, fear is just an illusion. Logical thought and calmness puts paid to fear but how far Rocklands can go is not an illusion. Believe beyond reason and concentrate for 80 mins every Sunday and you will find out. I for one as do others, know Rocklands can do it
