Firstly apologies for the delay in getting the match report done following a fantastic game against Stalham. This reporter kept losing the file while writing the report which was most inconvenient but the website helped immensely and as it turned out the afore mentioned reporter was at fault due to a lack of keyboard speed. Never mind the show goes on, after the laptop was reassembled due to a collision against a hard surface.
Rocklands travelled to Stalham and on a cold blustery morning parents and the lads weaved the way towards Stalham for kick off. This displays parents dedication by transporting football teams around the Norwich region at the early hours on a Sunday morning wavering the warm confines of home and the smell of fresh coffee and newsprint from the Sunday papers but and it is a large bonus apparently we are all to be well looked after in our advancing years to come.
The wind was cold and quite blustery as Rocklands arrived at Stalham and as we caught a glimpse of Robbie’s parents having warm coffee and snacks from a reputable American restaurant chain in the confines of a warm car we made our way across the field of play to take our positions to see if we could continue our run of good form. Rocklands won against a ten man Stalham at home and Stalham at home played very good football with ten men and both the players and coaching staff Steve and Greg would have to be on their toes if we were to repeat the victory we had at home. As I am lead to believe the Stalham coach is a county FA coach therefore Steve and Greg may be in for a tough morning.
Charlie suffering from an injury was sitting this match out but was keen to cheer the lads on and as he mingled with the team Steve and Greg distributed bibs as a clash of colours was going to make it tough for the referee. Rocklands lined up with Matt in goal and a revised back four of Luke H, Luke C, Joe S and Joe T with Joe G and Louis in the middle with Steffen and Eliot on the outside. Ewan and Robbie completed the formation up front. Matt H, Jack and Sam waiting for the rolling subs to begin. Kev dependable as ever ran the line.
With the wind behind Rocklands the game began, and Rocklands were quick off the mark distributing the ball well playing triangles as the ball moved up field. Anyone who watches Rocklands will have noticed that Luke C and Joe S make their own time on the ball and wouldn’t look out of place driving a combi van with surf boards on the top but as they were called into play pace and control suddenly come into play sweeping and stopping the Stalham attack. Joe S and Luke C found the outside players every time responding well with the correct decision. Luke H again was stopping everything that came before him. Rocklands had the early pressure on Stalham but could they make it count?
Steffen was on the ball and found Robbie who still had a bit to do but the silky skills and great feet from Robbie went round the defender and beat the keeper by dinking the ball under him.
10 mins: Rocklands 1 – 0 Stalham.
Rocklands at this point were playing good passing football playing it out from the back where Luke H and Joe T were finding Steff or Eliot lurking wide ready to inject the pace into the game. Ewan was proving a handful running onto the Stalham defence but Stalham were holding firm batting away the half chances Rocklands had on goal. Louis and Joe G in the middle were covering the ground and trying to break up play as best they could. Doing all the messy aspect of football that at times goes unnoticed, Mascherano is a good example and of course being an ex-Liverpool player well what can I say.
Meanwhile Joe S was having a superb game with Luke C at centre back injecting pace and halting the Stalham attack. And it was one of Joe S’s attacks and perfect deliveries to Robbie who narrowly missed the goal. Ewan was playing just behind Robbie at times and flicking some lovely balls goal ward to the running on Robbie or Steffen. However it was Eliot’s turn to drive from range with the keeper doing very well to save it. Joe T was directing the troops well communicating, directing passages of play.
Matt was called into action only a few times from the Stalham attack but responded well collecting everything before him. The rolling subs began and as some grabbed a quick breather and a well-earned drink Sam and Matt H came on with Jack to follow minutes later. Sam slotted in with the back four and Matt H and Jack headed upfront or wide. Jack was chasing every loose ball down up front working his socks off along with Matt H who was proving a handful for the Stalham defence. Sam as always distributed the ball with great control and accuracy finding his man.
But Stalham were fighting back getting themselves into the game a little more and it was a long range strike that even Petr Cech wouldn’t have got to that evened up the score board.
40 mins: Rocklands 1 – 1 Stalham.
Despite my plea to Lesley about trying to write without gloves on a cold cold morning. Lesley was standing fast and not about to pass over some lovely warm gloves. However Paul came to the rescue and what a relief to retain some heat. Stalham were starting to exert some pressure and their own game plan was coming into action as they started to put Rocklands under the kosh. But the lads battled on with Jack up front putting pressure on the keeper and being rewarded with the corner, he was having a great game with a high work rate.
Halftime: Rocklands 1 – 1 Stalham. Rocklands had some good chances and possibly should have been ahead by a larger margin but Stalham were fighting back. Rocklands pinching the first half over Stalham.
From the kick off Steffen found Matt H who ran straight at the defence and rifled a shot which hit the post and rebounded back out to him but the keeper was off his line quicker the second time and collected the following shot well.
Bruceism of the weekend was quicker quicker, which was the right answer as Steffen found Matt H with a quick ball straight off his feet and over the top for Matt H to run onto. This was proving to be successful as Stalham were on the back foot again as Rocklands broke forward. The pressure was swapping across to Rocklands. The early quick ball was the answer again as Eliot broke through finding Matt H forcing the keeper to push the shot round for a corner. Eliot and Jack delivered some excellent balls into the danger zone.
Louis and Joe G were covering the ground trying to shut down the Stalham attack before it began putting in the miles. Eliot was found by the mid field and he charged forward towards goal cutting it back finding Jack who dinked it back to Eliot to tap in but the goal was disallowed as the linesman had his flag up and the referee blew for a goal kick. So Eliot and Jack could not have been offside and with the angle could the linesman see if the whole ball had crossed the line. Never mind the man in the middle is in charge and no goal was the result.
Another Rocklands attack resulted in Steffen taking a free kick from distance against the wind which just came off the Stalham wall. As the ball came off the wall Stalham went forward and Joe G defending took a bang and went down as Stalham went forward and following a goal mouth mix up Stalham poked the ball in to score.
70 min: Rocklands 1 – 2 Stalham.
Now in the past we have seen Rocklands have faded slightly in the dying minutes of a game, was this to be different?
Steffen was on form and bumping players challenges off with ease as the referee let the game flow instead of blowing up for fair but strong challenges. After all football is a contact sport. Joe G found Steffen on the left who promptly ran straight at Stalham beating his man and cut into the centre of the field and from the halfway circle let rip against the wind with a shot with such force that the keeper was glued to the spot as it hit the back of the net. Steffen spun around and ran back towards his teammates encouraging them to go, let’s win this game.
75 min: Rocklands 2 – 2 Stalham.
The lads appeared lifted by this and it was palpable that they could march on. Steve and Greg had already change the formation to three at the back and Joe S was back on after the sole of his boot completely came away from the upper so please Nike another pair?
Steffen went close again after Jack found Steffen and Matt H again going forward cut the ball back to Robbie who just went wide off the post. The match was in the final breath as Rocklands were applying pressure high up the field and going for the win having the upper hand. The referee awarded a corner and up steps Eliot to produce a peach of a corner and who leapt above everyone?
Joe S rose above all with exquisite timing and headed the ball with force into the net; the referee blew to end the game and what a game it was.
80 mins: Rocklands 3 – 2 Stalham.
Rocklands had a fantastic game but for me the palpable drive to win the game was a first. Steffen began it by his challenges and goal and the manner he played the game in. This was the catalyst that ignited the team whether players were on the side lines or on the field of play all stood and encouraged their mates, their team buddies on. Be it a pat on the back an arm around or acknowledgement of a pass or missing a pass they rallied themselves and went as a group forward physically and mentally. They believed.
Steve and Greg played a huge part in this and should not under estimate the contribution Jose and Arsene put in but as always we can’t play, it is up to the lads in the middle at the end of the day. As for MOM Steve and Greg wanted two MOM and that would be Steffen for turning the game around and Jack for his unselfish hard work up front and as we can only have one mug shot Jack was chosen but the MOM is Steffen and Jack. Steve and Greg asked me to have a special mention for their unsung hero Joe G doing all the dirty sometimes unseen work. But this is a special victory for the whole team who rose together and win or lose they believed in themselves. Belief and hope is a mental strength that drives you, if you believe, anything can be achieved and collectively as a team belief is unstoppable.
