A stunning day greeted the gathering crowd at Rocklands and what a grand sight it was mown pitches with fresh new markings all the hard work of Pete and Steve and the other Rocklands coaches contributing to the making of a fine place for sport.
Following the loss to Dereham last week Rocklands were hoping for better things this week but the start of the season has Rocklands up against the top tier of the A league. Wymondham in the pre-season handed out a walloping to Rocklands, would Rocklands bounce back from last week’s defeat?
Pete was the man in black in the middle with Kev once again running the line. Matty lined up in goal with Joe T and Luke H in the middle of the back four with Sam and Eliot on the left and right. Steve and Greg moved Luke C in the middle with Joe G, trying to cover the gap left by Louis’s injury. Ewan and Steff filled the wings leaving Marcus and Robbie up front. Jack was waiting in the wings with Joe S out with injury. With tea and coffee being served by the ladies we took our places beside the pitch as the sun beamed down without a cloud in the Norfolk sky.
Rocklands started well with good shape and passing the ball well, could this be a sign of things to come? Rocklands were stringing two or three passes together in triangles and moving forward well. It wasn’t long before Matty was called into action saving well from the fast attacking Wymondham on the break. However the lads were still trying to get the ball forward and Joe G stopped a Wymondham break and found Steff who ran strongly down the line with the Wymondham defence pushing it out for a corner. The delivery was put across superbly and from the clearance Luke H drove a low shot towards the goal with the Wymondham keeper collecting.
Rocklands continued pressing up the field with the team moving up as one but they had to be aware of the fast breaking Wymondham. Rocklands were on the Wymondham box passing well finding each other, Marcus pushed the ball back to Joe G who fired a shot towards the top left hand corner but it skimmed past the post. Rocklands had begun well and you could hear the lads communicating. Robbie lined up for the free kick awarded to Rocklands just outside the area and the resulting strike just whizzing over the crossbar. It appeared initially that the midfield was playing in a more organised manner.
Robbie got hold of the ball and found Marcus who puts in another cross which resulted in a corner which Wymondham cleared and broke heading down the right and crossed it finding the free man who hit it first time into the back of the net.
17 min : Rocklands 0 – 1 Wymondham.
However from the kick off Rocklands continued playing with composure but at times lost the ball with the wrong pass or poor touches which already in the A league it appears that any mistake is pounced on by the opposition. This definitely is not as forgiving as the B league. Steffen went on one of his renowned strong runs fighting his way through firing a shot on goal but the keeper saved well. Once again it was Steffen who provided a great cross for the marauding Ewan to hit it first time at the keeper.
The back four had to contend with the fast breaking Wymondham front pair and the majority of the time Joey T and Luke H had the measure but they would have to be on their toes as would Eliot and Sam. At 24 mins Joe G came off for Jack and with that Luke C moved back to partner Joey T in the middle of the back four. Luke H moved to the outside with Eliot moving into the middle with Ewan. However Wymondham continued to break quickly but Rocklands bounced back with a nice passage of play ending with Jack firing a low shot at a tight angle on goal. Rocklands lost the ball in the final third either by over hitting the ball or not finding the man and as a result from one of the losses in the final third Wymondham marched through the field to score the second goal.
30 min: Rocklands 0 – 2 Wymondham.
From the kick off Joey found Steffen and on the run Steffen let the ball bounce and fired it across the goal mouth as Rocklands tried to get forward. However it wasn’t long before Matty was called into action again with another fantastic save. Half time was approaching and Rocklands needed the break to collect their thoughts and regain some ground lost over the half as Wymondham played some lovely passages of play definitely the best footballing side to date to play Rocklands. A penalty was awarded and had to be taken twice as the referee had not blown to take the penalty. Matty went the right way but the ball ended up hitting the back of the net.
35 min: Rocklands 0 – 3 Wymondham.
Half time couldn’t come quick enough. The composure and accuracy had gone off the boil for Rocklands despite the early good passages of play.
Half time Rocklands 0 – 3 Wymondham.
Better things in the second half?
As the second half started Rocklands supporters were hoping for a favourable response from the lads and it began well with Steffen putting a shot just over the crossbar. Marcus took a knock on the 40 min mark and Joe G came back on as Marcus hobbled off. Rocklands were playing reasonably well but were lacking the accuracy of the pass and looked not to take options available to them. After moving the ball wide the option of coming back into the middle was missed at times as this could have put the Wymondham defence who I personally think at times could have been breached. But it was not to be as another penalty was awarded to Wymondham.
59 mins: Rocklands 0 – 4 Wymondham.
Soon after Matty was called into action again pulling of a fine save. Matty was doing his best to keep the score line down. But Wymondham wanted another and fired a long range shot which needed Matty to tip it over the crossbar. Eliot had a strong run crossing well but the Wymondham defence cleared and from this Wymondham built a passage of play that resulted in a well worked goal in the 75th minute.
75 mins: Rocklands 0 – 5 Wymondham.
As the ref blew to finish the game a subdued Rocklands left the field of play the lads knew they had not been at the top of their game today. They however did play arguably the best footballing side to date and it does not matter whoever is on the field of play at any given time giving the ball away in this league results in you getting punished. Whether that be by the pass or over hitting the ball the first touch you just cannot afford to lose the ball. Wymondham were first to the ball the majority of the time despite not being a physically imposing side they moved to the ball and turned away from their man and then they were off putting Rocklands on the back foot immediately. Steve and Greg picked Matty as M.O.M as he pulled off some great saves and kept the score sheet down.
Rocklands need to regroup and think about getting to the ball first control and composure on and off the ball and be quick with the ball. Rocklands can only do this by being switched on for the entire game. Your strongest strength is to play as a team every time you step onto the field and play smart thinking football. Rocklands are more than capable of playing good football in this league okay it’s nice to win but if you play well and lose you can come off the pitch with a little more pride intact. Irrespective who is on the field of play at any given time each and every one of Rocklands are more than capable of controlling the ball finding the space or the man with a well-judged ball as you are all intelligent footballers. So let’s start to get things back on track, even if you pick one thing at a time to rectify as the battle today may have been lost but the war or season carries on.
