Now some may wonder about the headline but one of us will know why, well actually two of us know. Added to the match report will be a quote by Bruce which hopefully will be of a philisophical nature. So if any one hears one of Bruces qoutes we will enter it into the match report. Hence the headline as Bruce was quoting on the sidelines but as Rocklands travelled to Hethersett who we played in the cup and won we knew this would be a tough game as Hethersett are a good football side.
As we waited for the game to start with male section of the crowd proudly displaying the movember moustache conversation wandered from Norwich FC to the lads game last week in testing conditions, todays game conditions were bright in patches but the wind was a cold one. Rocklands began playing left to right and almost immediatly Luke H and Eliot were beating there man on the right. Alongside Luke H was Luke Le Quif with Joe S and Sam outside of him. Joe G and Louis in the middle with Steffen on the left and Robbie and Joe T. Ever dependable Matt in goal. Matt H and Ewan with Charlie waiting in the wings and it wasn't long before Ewan came on as Joe G went off feeling unwell and talking to him post match he said he didn't want to make any mistakes that would put the team at a disadvantage which sums up the team ethos that the lads have for each other and the team.
With Ewan in the middle of the park now he gets the first shot in on goal but the keeper is quick and has good hands. Both teams were playing well Hethersett hard and determined and Rocklands pushing the ball about wide and coming in attempting to find the front men Robbie, Steffen and Joe T. Joe T found Steffen for his attempt on goal but again the keeper was sharp and collected it. The Hethersett defence were absorbing Rocklands attack from the hard running Steffen on the left and Eliot from the right and both were cutting back in towards the goal and it was Joe T who again found Steffen who on goal but again the keeper was quick off his line and saved it well.
Both sides were playing good football with Rocklands creating more chances but Hethersett were also applying the pressure. The rolling subs started and Matt H came on for the hard working Steffen who after his quick cutting runs deserved a breather. Joe T was quick off the mark with a throw in to Matt H who charged towards goal and rifled a shot in but again the keeper did well to push it round the post resulting in a corner. Eliot stepped up and delivered a great ball to Matt H whose shot just went wide of the post. Hethersett's attack was scooped up by Luke C and Joe S at centre back who found Luke H or Sam out wide or Ewan and Louis in the middle to restart the attack. Matt had only been called into service a couple of times and as ever was depenable with good clearances and finding the wide players with his throws or kicks.
The game was only missing a goal and it was Hethersett who got the first chance from a penalty and as the ref blew for it Matt was getting ready to keep Hethersett from scoring first. Hethersett stepped up with Matt facing him and with Matt almost saving by going the right way but the back of the net stopped the ball and Rocklands were a goal down.
26 min: Rocklands 0 - 1 Hethersett.
Rocklands continued the push forward with Hethersett being strong in the tackle. Rocklands got a free kick a few yards outside of the area and after the pre match chat Joe S had secured points in rugby by converting the tries so who better to take it Joe S. From a fair distance out Joe S struck the ball well and sent it just whistling over the cross bar. Getting closer and closer but half time was approaching. Steffen played a superb ball crossfield to Eliot who cut back inside with the ball and found Robbie waiting who turned his man and had a shot goalward with the keeper again pushing it wide. Rocklands were applying the pressure and creating a lot of chances but the Hethersett defence were playing well absorbing all before them. Another strong cutting run by Eliot resulted in a shot but again the keeper was up to it. Halftime was rapidly approaching but Eliot was on the run again down the right side and put a lovely cross into the box and who did he find a brave Steffen sticking his head on the ball ala Johnson style into the back of the net.
40 min: Rocklands 1 - 1 Hethersett. This was a reasonable reflection of the action taking place although Rocklands did create more chances.
Halftime: The game was equal as per the score line but Rocklands created more therefore possibly pinched the half.
As the ref blew to start the second half Eliot began where he left off in the first half, Eliot was having an excellent game. Robbie had a crack after following a free kick awarded to Rocklands and a great free kick it was but again Rocklands were denied by the keeper.
Hethersett were on the attack following a loose ball by Rocklands who were just running into the Hethersett defence or forcing the pass just that little bit more than they normally would which in turn was resulting in some frustration at times hence the headline following Bruce's staement it's not clever and it's not funny but more on this later as it was funny. Hethersett were back on the attack and cut the ball back for them to put it past a diving Matt.
60 min: Rocklands 1 - 2 Hethersett.
Hethersett were ascending in control and it would be intresting to see how the lads responded to the challenge and after Jose and Arsene had a chat from the sideline would normal service resume?
Despite Hethersett gaining the upperhand Rocklands began the fight back and it was the keeper that fumbled and Matt H was on to it like a shot and dispatched the ball into the net.
70 min: Rocklands 2 - 2 Hethersett.
The way Rocklands were coming back was excellent , maintaining the flowing football combined with strong running and the pace remained the same as it was from the start. The game was moving towards Rocklands. And it was this pace that found Eliot heading down the line crossing for Robbie who still some work to do but as Robbie can only do he dinked and weaved his way round players and slotted it past the keeper.
71 min: Rocklands 3 - 2 Hethersett.
Following the restart Sam produced a peach of a pass to Eliot who cracked his shot onto the crossbar. The Rocklands defence was keeping it at bay after a re shuffle with Luke C moving to midfield and Charlie moving to centre back with Joe S going forward with his quick left sided runs and pinpoint crosses out on the left. But it was Eliot again going forward who was proving a handful for the now tiring Hethersett defence as he cut in and from distance unleashed a long range shot that flew past the keeper.
75 min: Rocklands 4 - 2 Hethersett.
Rocklands had control of the game now and got forward at every opportunity by either Ewan with the afterburners on down the side or Joe S flying down the left. It was Luke C's turn to turn his man and have a crack on goal but the keeper collected well. Once again Robbie recieved a great ball from the Louis and Robbie was twisting and turning his opponents inside out and then offloaded a great pass to Matt H whose shot just missed the inside of the post. All the watching men took a sharp intake of breath as Steffen took a gentlemans knock but after a short breather Steffen was back on form.
The defence was now in control and fending off the occasional attack from Hetherset Matt had very little to do. Robbie had another shot on goal but denied by the keeper. The game was near the end but Joe T had a long range shot which hit the crossbar and went in and as he ran back into position he passed the Rocklands spectators with five fingers held up indictaing that was five pounds owed to him by Dad and the reply was that it isnt clever or funny but all tongue in cheek. But a great shot which we all agreed was worth at least ten pounds! Let us know how you get on Joe T.
80 min: Rocklands 5 - 2 Hethersett.
Joe S was on another one of his strong runs down the left and found Steffen who cut inside his man and cracked a low hard shot under the diving keeper.
81 min: Rocklands 6 - 2 Hethersett.
Rocklands had another win under their belt, at times were under pressure and losing the game but they regrouped and played 80 mins of football at pace and kept their flowing game going for the whole 80 mins. This was a tribute to Rocklands stamina physically and mentally along with the game plan to play for the entire 80 mins.
A job well done all round, again any number of players could have been M.O.M, Joe T, Joe S, Luke C at the back, Sam for his putting the ball back into the mix or Luke H for linking well for Eliot to beat his man. Any number of them could have been M.O.M but it was Eliot who got it for his strong runs and excellent delivery of the ball into the area and dont forget the goal! Another excellent team effort where again everyone played their part in securing the win.
