At times life follows sports or is it sports follow life either way Rocklands lined up against Toftwood and after the earlier encounter where Rocklands lost the home game was the early season encounter going to repeat itself?
Following on from the Stalham game where we saw a uniform growth from everyone on the pitch, these are informative times and a period of growth and understanding physically and mentally which is mixed with confusion and what we are supposed to do and what we love to do. We need to take our hat off to the youth of today as we can all look back and say it wasn’t like that in my day but we were not faced with some of the dilemmas that today’s society throws up at the youth of today.
Society is competitive as sport is at times, parallels can be drawn from each arena. It is how we and they use these parallels to develop and from the Stalham game Rocklands really are growing from strength to strength. But could they carry this into the game against Toftwood?
As Kevin took to the line Steve and Greg gave the lads a final team talk, Matt lined up in goal with Joe S and Luke C in the middle of the back four along with Joe T and Luke H outside of them. Joe G and Louis midfield, Steffen and Eliot playing out on the wings leaving Robbie and Matt H up front.
The game began at a frantic rate of knots and with Charlie sitting this one out due to an injury he along with Sam, Jack and Ewan shouted encouragement from the side line. Toftwood in yellow were pushing hard for the early goal attacking well and testing the back four but nothing was getting past Luke H, as always putting in early but fair hard tackles. This was going to be a fast hard game and as Toftwood are leading the table an important game for all concerned although Rocklands have a game in hand.
Robbie popped up with his tricky feet proving difficult for the Toftwood defence and put a shot deflected goal ward. It was Toftwood’s turn to attack and drove a shot from range but Matt was up to the shot and collected well. As Rocklands went forward Steffen and Joe G were linking up well as the left side was proving to be a rewarding probing attack, could we use the left to mix it though and keep Toftwood on their toes. Both sides were going at it hammer and tongs. Who would score first?
As Toftwood were finding it difficult to penetrate the back four a long range shot hit the cross bar and rebounded out and fell to a Tofwood player who drilled it into the Rocklands net.
10 mins: Rocklands 0 – Toftwood 1.
It was not long before Rocklands were back on the attack and won a corner but could they make it count? Joe S with new boots again rose above everyone else and headed it goal bound only for it to hit the post ahh so close. Both sides were quick on the break and applied pressure at every opportunity.
One of the Toftwood back four bravely dived in low to clear the incoming ball and got caught with a boot to the proverbial swede. Luckily his father was on hand already in his paramedic kit and dressed his wound and he took his place back in position resembling ala Terry Butcher bandage around his head.
The game restarted and Steffen was again on the attack firing in a long range shot. Luke C and Joe S were again superb marshalling the back line with Joe T keeping the Toftwood strikers in check, Toftwood had not used the side Luke H was guarding as once again Luke H was solid as a rock. Joe G and Louis were putting in the miles and trying to find the wide or front players. Matt H and Steffen were working well finding each other pushing forward.
The rolling subs began and as the lads went off for a breather and a quick drink Rocklands again penetrated the Toftwood defence but the ball was not falling for them. Was this going to be another one of the games that slipped away? Another great delivery by Robbie was met by Rocklands toward the Toftwood goal but again it just wasn’t falling right. Joe S with new boots was defending well with Luke C clearing the line well. Matt was collecting and finding Joe T wide and Joe T released Steffen to thunder down the left. Ewan playing in the middle with Joe G was having a great game with extra bite going in and showing great skill with his footwork.
Rocklands couldn’t quite get their passing game going as the final third it just wasn’t rolling for them. Robbie had another crack at goal after a lovely pass from Ewan found him. Joe G dinked a ball over one the collected the ball before it hit the ground and found Matt H to have a shot on target. Sam was covering his man well and turning into space finding his mid field or the front two.
Toftwood in clearing there lines found Robbie in the middle who promptly volleyed it into the back of the net.
46 min: Rocklands 1 – 1 Toftwood.
At this moment Craig overheard Robbie’s mum saying well persisted and as the scenario unfolded this deserved the Bruceism of the week.
Halftime: Rocklands 1 – 1 Toftwood. A close fought match with both sides attacking but could Toftwood keep up the pace in the second half?
Ewan again found Matt H who went in for a 50 – 50 with the keeper. Rocklands were on the attack again and it was Matt H repaying the favour finding Robbie who after his namesake Robbie Fowler spun his man and nutmeg him shot at goal only for the keeper to push it away but Robbie wasn’t giving up and grabbed the rebound smashing it into the back of the net.
55 min: Rocklands 2 – 1 Toftwood.
Rocklands were beginning to edge it now taking the fast pace up a gear and the ball was falling right for them. Toftwood were just slowing down from the frantic earlier pace. Steffen unloaded a free kick goal ward and at this point Steffen moved into the centre and Rocklands were quicker on the break now. Joe G found Steffen who turned his man and from a sharp angle shot just wide of the post. Matt was called into action from a long range shot but his hands were strong like the team in front of him. Toftwood attacked and after a clearance mix up tapped the ball over the line.
70 min: Rocklands 2 – 2 Toftwood.
Toftwood were punting it forward at every opportunity to attempt to gain the advantage but Rocklands were staying switched on. Rocklands had another set piece which was headed goal ward but the Toftwood keeper saved well. Toftwood back on the attack and for some reason the Toftwood player off the ball falls to ground and the referee awards the penalty??? Matt lined up against the penalty and saves it well. Karma. Rocklands with their tails up drive forward and Robbie hits the shot beats the keeper and the ball hits the crossbar and FALLS BACKWARDS over the line before bouncing back out. The linesman claiming he did not see it but as he had a better view he at least should have seen it fall backwards over the line as it was clear to the crowd on the line it went over. The referee stayed with his linesman no goal. With the Toftwood players shouting we have the best defensive record in the league and starting to argue Robbie had another shot at goal which rebounded again and Robbie followed it up and headed it into the net.
80 mins: Rocklands 3 – 2 Toftwood.
The referee blew for the end of the match and Rocklands had a deserved victory and well persisted. Every one of the Rocklands team came off the field of play knowing they had played together as one as a unit once again. Smiles beamed on every one of their faces. All of the team played there part in victory once again.
Everyone has their own reasons for driving themselves forward be it in life or sport but one possibility could be the dislike of defeat, the dislike of losing. Knowing that you maybe gave up too easy which haunts you more than the actual loss. There are usually two types of people heart and stomach or head, the former feels the moment they feel good and go with the latter being more controlled before seizing the moment. They both have merit and there is no wrong or right way but both have to have a fire burning, a desire to drive forward. This fire has to blaze at times as sometimes you have to have self-belief beyond reason. Life is like sport or is sport like life?
Rocklands are developing this amongst a fantastic group of lads. MOM again could have been any of the team. Ewan had a great game in the middle Matt H, Jack once again, Steffen. Matt saving the pen, Eliot charging runs, the back four staying strong any of them. But Robbie put in the hat trick in a big top game therefore Steve and Greg decided Robbie MOM.
