The morning sun rose as the penultimate game of the season against the title hunting Alysham travelled to Rocklands for the home tie and after the away encounter would the fireworks continue?
The sun was not as warm as it looked and after a warming cup of tea the supporters of both sides made their way to the side line. Whatever the result was going to be you cannot take away from the lads that they have had a fantastic season and have developed into a footballing side and have become the team to beat. Judging from the previous pre match comments from opposition coaches that don’t try and play football as they will pass around you and beat you every time, is high praise indeed.
Joe S required some patching up pre match and Paul has now joined the press box along with Danny and I. Paul took over the reins of reporting as we got Joe S ready for the match and the bar has been set high after Danny and Paul’s reporting. Fleet Street beckons.
The Norfolk FA had a presence at the match as Pete took to the middle of the pitch to bring the two teams together. Steven Matt H’s dad kindly took the lino flag in the absence of Kevin who was tucked up in bed feeling under the weather.
Matty lined up in goal with his trusty back four of Luke H, Luke C, Joe T and Sam on the outside. Joe G, sitting just in front of the back four with Louis. Eliot and Steffen ready to pounce down the outside with their strong runs. Ewan and Robbie up front.
As Pete blew to start the match Rocklands were off hunting the ball down playing the triangles to keep the ball. The intent was there and it wasn’t long before Ewan fired a shot toward goal hitting Robbie on the way. Alysham were prepared to run with the ball knocking it over to the right or centre paths. Luke C was standing solid as he always does. Luke C has got good skilful feet matched with a good football brain spotting trouble before it happens and Alysham were denied entering the box.
Eliot was off at every opportunity with his trade mark strong runs and had the beating of his man every time. Louis was pressing up the pitch and his hard work was rewarded with a corner which Steffen contributed to with his pressing of the opposition. Knowing you have someone coming at you at speed combined with Steffen’s strength every time you collect the ball must be every defenders nightmare.
Eliot fired in a rasping shot that the keeper pushed around for the corner. Was a goal beckoning?
16 min: Rocklands 1 – 0 Alysham. Robbie fires the ball into the net to open the scoreboard following Eliot’s shot being pushed away. Robbie’s initial shot was saved by the keeper but he made sure with the follow up shot.
Steffen’s pressure almost made way for another goal but the keeper saved well to deny Steffen. Eliot continued to put some cracking crosses over into the danger zone. Matt H came on for Ewan as Alysham were starting to gather some momentum winning a corner and as the delivery came across Matty made a great clearance but Alysham had another shot from range and Joe G was on the post to clear the shot and deny Alysham scoring. Alysham continued to win corners and press forward but the back four were doing their job well and cleared their lines well. Alysham were confined to mid to long range shots but at this point in the game pressure was leaning towards Rocklands.
Joe T was doing the talking directing well and encouraging the lads as he does so well. Sam and Luke H had the attacks covered with both either protecting the ball or denying the Alysham strikers. Louis had been eating raw steak again and was on top of his game winning the aerial battle. Joe G found Robbie with a good ball and as Robbie spun his man and found Steffen who slammed his boot through it toward the goal but the keeper pushed the ball round the post for a corner to Rocklands.
As the referee blew to end the first half which flowed well as the match went from end to end Rocklands had reasonable control of the game but Alysham were getting back into the game.
Half time: Rocklands 1 – 0 Alysham.
Joe S came on for Sam and moved to centre back with Luke C, Joe T moved to left back. Jack came on for Robbie. Alysham started off as they left the first half with early pressure on Rocklands from a corner but once again the defence were standing firm and determined clearing their lines well.
Rocklands began to assert themselves again and it was now a corner to the home side. Jack always delivers a peach of a corner but as it floated into the danger zone no one attacked it. The Alysham keeper had a huge kick from hand and it regularly hit the ground between the halfway and the box which helped Alysham’s game immensely and it was from one of these that Alysham fired a low shot goal ward. Matty pulled off a class save with his fingertips diving to his right pushing it around for a corner.
But it wasn’t long before Eliot was on the ball again and beating his opposite cutting back in and floating a cross in for Matt H who aimed it just to the outside of the keeper and the ball just went wide. Following an Alysham booking for bringing down Steffen who was on his way towards goal Jack stepped up to take the free kick but the keeper collected it well and duly put the ball over the top towards the Alysham strikers. Matt punched the ball clear with Joe S making the final clearance.
With Eliot and Steffen terrorising the mid field and back four of Alysham they were at their best supplying each other with balls over the top or just into the middle for Matt H or Jack up front and with each shot on goal the keeper did well saving them. Rocklands were penetrating the Alysham defence and getting into the box really very well.
Ewan came on for Joe G and was immediately at work finding Eliot with a pass that once again took off rounded his man and cut back in thinking he was going to fire a trademark Eliot shot off but crosses it into the box. Robbie came back on for Matt H and Joe T puts across a high ball into the box with the headers going astray.
Jack delivers another great ball from a corner and Louis gets on the end of it volleying it but the keeper makes the save. But Alysham find another corner which Matt punches clear and it’s Eliot latching onto the ball running in the middle channel just missing Robbie with the pass but Louis hammered another shot in again the keeper collects it well. Eliot again into the action and finds Steffen who presses the faster button and roars off cutting in and hits the best shot of the match only to hit the inside of the post.
Robbie finds Steffen again who beats his man and fires his shot for it to beat the keeper but a defender was on his line and cleared well. But the best was saved till the last few minutes of the game where from a defence clearance Louis found Steffen who crossed the ball to the other side of the pitch where Eliot picked it up and put it into the path of Matt H who spun and shot but just skimmed the crossbar.
As the referee blew to finish the match Rocklands had won a crucial match but more importantly had won in style creating chances and denying the opposition any real clear cut chances. It was a game of contrasting styles as Alysham played a direct game with Rocklands playing some great set pieces and a flowing passing game. Rocklands defended corners well today with the defence rock solid and set up the passing game.
Rocklands managed the game that unfolded in front of them very well with the whole team concentrating for the entire 80 minutes. Another tough decision for Steve with MOM but my fellow pundits and Steve were in agreement. Once again it could have been any one on the field of play but it was Eliot who got the nod.
With Rocklands taking top spot in the league the lads walked off the pitch with their heads held high each and every one had given their all. The final game is nearing and win or lose no one can take it away from Rocklands that they have set about with a plan to play flowing football and have had a fantastic season. A season to be proud of, Rocklands can go into the last game with belief and strength beyond reason.
