Stronstad returned to action after a 3-week break with a game against J.T.C Rovers who beat Stronstad in week 2 of the season in controversial fashion. The match only went ahead after some good teamwork to clear two puddles on the pitch before the match went ahead. First Half Action
From the first whistle this game was an end-to-end affair as both teams looked to settle early in a match that only just passed a pitch inspection moments before. From the first whistle Stronstad was struggling to deal with the pace of the JTC Rover front two who were asking questions of Stronsatd centre back pair Jeff Needham and Gareth Spicer. Only some poor finishing kept the scores level. At the other end Stronstad could and maybe should have taken the lead against the run of play. The ball was played to Steve Beech who’s round the corner pass released Robert Pearson but his delightful chip floated over the keeper and landed the wrong side of the net to keep the scores level.
Robert Pearson and Stronstad were left to rue that miss as JTC Rovers took the lead. Stronstad had conceded a free kick about 40 yards from goal. The JTC Rovers player played a great ball into the box that evaded everyone and some how found the bottom far corner of Ian Privett’s net to open the scoring.
This was a blow to Stronstad and it became evident, as simple passes were being miss-placed and there were big holes all over the park and JTC Rovers were exploiting these holes as they looked to extend there lead but yet again failed to hit the target.
Chances for Stronstad were very limited but they did have a couple of chances with Gary Cowell firing over from outside the penalty area and Robert Pearson shooting wide but the next chance they had resulted in a goal.
Gary Cowell collected a loose ball and from his long ball Robert Pearson rose highest and headed the ball back to Steve Beech who controlled the ball before finding the top corner of the JTC Rovers goal with the keeper rooted to the spot from 20 yards out to draw the teams level.
This goal should have lifted Stronstad but then came the old Stronstad from 2 seasons ago. Straight from kick off Stronstad gifted JTC Rovers another goal. A mix up on the Stronstad left saw the JTC Rovers play collects the ball before sending in a delightful ball. Ian Privett came out but was inches away from getting a touch. The JTC Rovers forward came in behind Ian Privett and got the touch to score his sides second goal.
Just before half time things could have been worse as a quick counter attack by JTC Rovers saw a JTC Rovers player square the ball to the unmarked striker but a puddle that was swept out before the game came to the rescue as it stopped in the mud and Ian Privett dived on the loose ball.
Half Time: J.T.C Rovers 2 Stronstad Utd 1
The second half was an explosive half right from the whistle. Stronstad with the wind behind them looked to use this as an advantage and it paid off straight away. Robert Pearson closed the JTC Rovers defender down which saw the loose ball collected by Gary Cowell. Gary Cowell then released Robert Pearson who beat his man in the box. With no where to go Pearson turned back and moved towards the byeline and his attempted cross thundered into the back of the net. At first the referee gave a goal kick but after talking to the linesman gave the goal.
This was Robert Pearson’s first goal of the season but the joy was shorted lived as yet more sloppy defending saw JTC Rovers score almost straight away. The ball was not stopped by two Stronstad players and this gave the JTC Rovers player a chance to slot past Ian Privett to make the score 3-2.
Stronstad needs to get back into the game quick and they again pulled level. A Robert Pearson corner was only half cleared by JTC Rovers to Gary Cowell. Gary beat his man before playing a great ball across the JTC Rovers penalty area where Robert Pearson took control of the ball. Pearson touched the ball to James Clarke but the JTC Rovers keeper parried his low shot but Robert Pearson was on hand to finish from close range.
Stronstad were now starting to see more of the ball and winning most of the tackles in the centre of the park with Nick Crocker trying to drive the team forward. From another Stronstad attack the ball was again in the back of the JTC Rovers net but was ruled out for offside. Steve Beech’s inch perfect pass released Robert Pearson and his cut back found James Clarke who scored from close range but the linesman flag was raised and the goal chalked off.
In the 75th minutes JTC Rovers scored what people thought was the winner as Stronstad gave away a free kick. From the resulting free kick a great ball into the Stronstad box saw the JTC Rovers player head past Ian Privett from close range to make the score 4-3.
To their credit Stronstad never gave up and they did pull a goal back in the 85th minute. Stronstad won a free kick deep in the JTC Rovers half and from the free kick Gareth Spicer found the head of Nick Crocker whom’s header across goal found Adi Card. Adi Card then cut the ball back to the 6 yard box where Rod Robertson bundled the ball home from close range to score his first of the season.
With time running out Stronstad might have snatched the winner. Another free kick from Gareth Spicer was floated into the JTC Rovers 6 yard box where James Clarke rose highest but he got too much on the header and the ball went over.
Full Time:- J.T.C Rovers 4 Stronstad Utd 4
