Perfect Sunday morning for football, BEAUTIFUL sunshine with GORGEOUS clear blue skies!
We knew our opponents today in Docklands were going to give us a stern end of season test. We couldn’t believe before kick – off, for the 2nd game running we had bear 11 players, including using an outfield player (Jack) between the sticks in goal. Taxi didn’t have a lot to do when picking the team, the main change was swapping Brad and Wayne just like how it finished against Strickland 2 weeks ago.
From kick – off we were on the front foot, with Wayne breaking down the play and Stocky spreading the ball from side to side it looked like we had the perfect mix in the centre-midfield.
We were having a lot of success down our left side with Phil combining with Ben and Rooney. After numerous corners we got our break through. Phil managed to lose his marker and nod home into the bottom corner. I think the defender on the line should have done better but IT WAS ONLY WHAT WE DESERVED!!
We knew that we had to limit the amount of shots at Jack which we succeeded in doing, until the half hour mark. Docklands right winger produced a remarkable cross which picked out their forward 2 yards out (unmarked). I don’t know how he managed it but he volleyed miles over.
MASSIVE LET OFF – This was the turning point in the game in my opinion!
This gave us the kick we needed and as usual Rooney produced another one of his “solo goals “. He picked the ball up out on the left, skipped past the fall back which left him 1 on 1 with Dockland’s Manager at centre half. Rooney turned inside which left their manager for dead and uted a great finish into the far corner... NUMBER 20 OF THE SEASON!!
Then Rooney produced a carbon copy of his 1st. Receiving the ball on the left again he knocked the ball past the fall back, stepped past the centre back and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the far top corner… NUMBER 21 OF THE SEASON!!
Ben T was screaming for the ball to be played across the goal for an easy tap in, but when Rooney has his sights on goal there’s no stopping him!
Rooney can sometimes be called “greedy” but after being our most prolific goal scorer for the last 4 seasons, he can be as “greedy” as he likes! His running off the ball is “second to none” over the course of the game he has ALWAYS covered the vastest amount of distance. QUALITY ALL ROUND PLAYER – who could walk into any team we have ever faced.
3 – 0 HALF TIME
For the 1st time this season everything at half time was productive and encouraging. We knew we played good football in the 1st half and goals were totally on the cards in the 2nd if we carried it on.
The 2nd half started slow, maybe we could have blamed it on the heat of the morning Sun or maybe we had taken our “foot off the pedal”. Either way we were cruising for 3 easy points.
The Ref on the day had a nightmare, he was easily influence by both teams into giving rash decisions. He awarded Docklands a dubious free-kick on the edge of our penalty area to my surprise. He told ME I handled the ball, when it clearly struck me on the chest. From the resulting kick, their forward found the top corner leaving Jack no chance!
The goal knocked the wind out of our sails but I personally couldn’t see Docklands breaking through our stern defence again. We were breaking through their defence with ease, Phil should have put the game to bed with the CLEAREST opening of the game. Again it was ALL down to some great work from Rooney. Rooney managed to wiggle through the Docklands defence and square the ball to Phil. Phil was 4 YARDS out, centre of goal, and with an open goal. The keeper was at the front post and Phil managed to hit him with the ball. Granted it was on Phil’s weaker RIGHT foot but that was defo “miss of the season”!
Rooney then got his deserved hat-trick. It all started at the back between Brad and Kav in defence and with a direct punt through the middle by Kav, Rooney ended up one on one. Rooney used all his composure, rounded the keeper and slotted home with simplicity.
This is the point Dockland fell apart. The arguments which they were having made them fall apart!
Shortly after, Stocky punished Docklands with a great finish to get his name on the score sheet. Ben T and Stocky were on the same wave length down the left side. After a couple of slick one two’s Stocky smashed it home from 25 yards into the bottom left corner. Normally he sets up the goals so it was nice to see him get in on the action.
The next goal came within 20 seconds of Stock’s, again ALL ROONEY. Dockland took centre and passed the ball straight to their keeper. With us LOGGING up the pitch Rooney SPRINTED straight after it. He managed to charge the keeper down and run on to score his 23rd of the season!! Docklands couldn’t handle Rooney pure fitness and power!!
Cracking 4 goals and made all by himself !!
Final whistle 6 – 1
With one game left of the season and the best position we can wish for is 2nd, this was a great result!!
Last game is against Stanley Lions on Sunday 1st May 2011 – HOPE EVERYONE TURNS UP AND GOES OUT WITH A BANG!!
