Stronstad Utd vs J.T.C Rovers
First Half action from Farlington
It was another nice day for football today and you might have been mistaken to think it was only mid October as Stronstad were looking to make it a winning double weekend for manager Dave “Moggsy” Morling as yesterday his beloved Pompey won. Stronstad were sitting 2nd bottom of the league while J.T.C Rovers were currently 2nd in the league. If Stronstad played like they did in the second half of last week’s game then J.T.C Rovers will have a fight on their hands. The opening exchanges were all J.T.C Rovers as they got the ball down and played football and they scored the opening goal with barely 5 minutes on the clock. The ball was played into the 6 yard box where an unmarked J.T.C Rovers player smashed the ball home from close range to give his team the lead. It was soon 2-0 to J.T.C Rovers. Stronstad has won a free kick deep in the J.T.C Rovers half and from the free kick from Phil Ingram the ball hit the wall and rebounded nicely for J.T.C Rovers who went on the counter attack and before you could say “Man City have brought the league title” the ball was played across goal to an unmarked J.T.C Rovers player who calmly tapped the ball home to make the score 2-0. To their credit Stronstad battled back with new signing Sadiq Mohammad showing strength and control to get the ball down but his effort flew wide. Jeff Needham tried his best to get the scores level. From an Ian Privett corner the ball was swung to the far post where Jeff Needham under some pressure headed the ball wide. From the resulting corner Ian Privett pinged a ball to the near post where Mark Betteridge came steaming in but his effort flew over the goal from close range. Mark Betteridge had another site of goal when a floated ball to the far post was headed back across goal by Sadiq Mohammad to Mark Betteridge but his effort lacked power and the J.T.C Rovers keeper dived on the ball.
At the other end only some good goalkeeping from Jamie Nottage and some last ditch tackle from Paul McKay prevented J.T.C Rovers from extending the lead even further. Soon after the ball was in the back of the Stronstad net again. A ball to the far post found a J.T.C Rovers player who had time to collect the ball before finishing past Jamie Nottage to make the score 3-0. Things were not looking good for Stronstad as they shipped a 4th goal. Jamie Nottage did well to block a cross and from the resulting corner the ball was played into the 6 yard box where a J.T.C Rovers player got the all important flick to score. J.T.C Rovers where like sharks as with each attack they found gaps in the Stronstad defence and for the second week running Stronstad conceded a penalty after a tackle from Pete Hamilton saw the J.T.C Rovers player go down. The penalty was converted for 5-0 and it was not even half time. With time running out in the first half J.T.C Rovers got a 6th goal as the ball was bundled in from close range to end the game as a contest.
Half Time:- Stronstad Utd 0 J.T.C Rovers 6
Second Half
With the words of Dave “Moggsy” Morling ringing in the players ears Stronstad went out looking to get some pride back but they could not break down a stubborn J.T.C Rovers defence with Steve Beech trying to inject some energy into a tiring Stronstad team. At the other end J.T.C Rovers were opening Stronstad up like a newspaper as they created more chances with Jamie Nottage having an inspired game between the sticks with a string of fine saves. Jon Way also had to be alert as the ball was pinged across the Stronstad 6 yard box to where two J.T.C Rovers players were ready to pounce.
The game was over already before J.T.C Rovers scored two more goals to run salt into Stronstad’s wounds.
Full Time:- Stronstad Utd 0 J.T.C Rovers 8
Next 2 Fixtures:-
Next week we have a match against Prince of Wales who beat us 4-2 in the London Cup earlier this season then a match against AC Copnor who have a few former Stronstad players in their ranks. Details of the game will follow.
