It was a game of controversy this morning at Farlington as Stronstad lost to new boys J.T.C Rovers 3-2.
Stronstad were looking to build on last weeks excellent 2-2 draw against Icomm FC but old habits appeared in Stronstad’s play.
First Half Action
Stronstad for the second week were slow out the traps and they soon found themselves 1-0 after only 10 minutes of play as the JTC Rovers player beat the offside trap and then rounded Ian Privett before walking the ball into the empty net to give JTC Rovers the opening goal.
This goal gave Stronstad the wake up call they needed and they started to get the ball down and pass the ball around and they created a few chances with maybe the best chance falling to Dan Moore after some good play by Gary Cowell but Dan Moore fired wide when well placed.
JTC Rover were not playing great football and the only outlet they had was the ball over the top of the Stronsatd defence and it was only a well timed block from Ian Privett that stopped JTC Rovers from getting a second goal as again the offside trap was sprung.
Stronstad did get a goal back through Mark Betteridge as he managed to power into the JTC Rovers penalty area before finding the top corner with the JTC Rovers keeper having no chance of stopping to make the score 1-1.
The confidence was flowing through Stronstad and they put together some great attacking football but rarely tested the JTC Rovers goalkeeper but then came the turning point of the game.
JTC Rovers put an attack together and managed to work their way into the Stronstad penalty area and with Jorge Morrison-Cooke marking his man the player cut back and despite Jorge Morrison-Cooke making contact with the ball the JTC Rover put in a spectacular dive and even though no one appealed for the penalty the referee pointed to the spot for the penalty.
The JTC Rovers player placed the ball on the spot before beating Ian Privett to make the score 2-1.
This caused Stronstad to lose their way and players became angry with each other and JTC Rovers then took the game to Stronstad and maybe could have had a second penalty as the JTC Rovers player beat Ian Privett to the ball but went tumbling but the referee awarded a goal kick instead of the penalty.
Half Time: - Stronstad 1 J.T.C Rovers 2
Second Half
After a few words from captain Gareth Spicer things still did not go Stronstad’s way and too many passes were miss placed and also communication broke down as Stronstad struggled to break down a stubborn JTC Rovers defence.
The closest Stronstad came to scoring was when a free kick from Rich Gillam found its way through to the back post but Jorge Morrison-Cooke failed to connect and the ball drifted wide.
James Clarke who had a quiet game showed some battling quality and powered into the JTC Rovers penalty area but the defender managed to clear the ball against James Clarke and the ball floated harmlessly over the bar and the danger was averted.
JTC Rovers then got the killer 3rd goal as yet another long ball was played over the top of the Stronstad defence and the JTC Rovers player powered a low shot that Ian Privett got his hand to but could not prevent the ball from going in to make the score 3-1.
Things could have got worse for Stronstad as JTC Rovers were finding big gaps in the Stronstad defence which was a big concern for Stronstad as they pushed to get a goal back.
JTC Rovers also hit the bar with Ian Privett well beaten but the ball cannoned off the bar and the ball was cleared to safety.
Stronstad came close to pulling a goal back as substitute Steve Beech met a Gary Cowell cross but his header was too close to the JTC Rovers goalkeeper.
Things were going all wrong for Stronstad and they were lucky not to be down to 10 men as Jon Way the last man brought down the JTC Rovers player as he advanced through on goal but the referee only awarded the free kick but nothing came out of this.
Just before full time Stronstad did get a goal back from another dubious penalty as a Stronstad player was fouled in the box.
Mark Betteridge stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way and make the score 3-2.
Full Time: - Stronstad Utd 2 J.T.C Rovers 3
