First Half Action From Bransbury Park
At the beginning of the days the odds of a Stronstad upset were very slim due to players not being available for the game but with the news that J.T.C Rovers were themselves missing key players and only kicking off with 10 men Stronstad’s hopes were boosted but it was far from plan sailing.
J.T.C Rovers who had previously beaten Stronstad 5-1 earlier in the season started the stronger of the two teams and almost took the lead with a stinging striker that Robert Pearson managed to turn over as the ball headed for the top corner of the net. From the resulting corner a J.T.C Rovers player out jumped a hung over Paul “Macca” McKay and headed wide from 6 yards out. At the other end Stronstad were putting some good passing moves together but could not breach the J.T.C Rovers defence. Mark Gear then tried to give Stronstad the lead as he collected the ball before beating a couple of men but his effort went flying over the bar.
J.T.C Rovers were looking dangerous going forward and they managed to open the scoring after 15 minutes of the match. The ball was played into the Stronstad penalty area and as Paul “Macca” McKay and the J.T.C Rovers player challenged for the ball the ball ricocheted to the J.T.C Rovers player who calmly slotted past a stranded Robert Pearson to give his team the lead.
This goal lifted J.T.C Rovers and they continued to pressure the make shift Stronstad defence and they were gifted a goal from an unlikely source. Stronstad won the ball in their own half but the ball was nipped away and as the ball rolled towards the Stronstad penalty area Dan Moore got a toe to the ball which teed the J.T.C Rovers striker up nicely who then blasted a shot into the far corner with Robert Pearson rooted to the spot. In some people’s eyes this should have been game over as J.T.C Rovers were looking comfortable going forward but at the back they looked shaky and they almost conceded a goal as the ball was whipped into the centre, Steve Beech connected with the volley wrong and it flew well wide of the target.
After this miss it should have been game over as J.T.C Rovers won a penalty. The ball was played into the box and a lunge by Paul “Macca” McKay who appeared to win the ball was penalised and the referee awarded the penalty. From the resulting penalty the ball was badly missed as it bobbled wide of the target. J.T.C Rovers were almost awarded a second penalty as Jon Way stretched for the ball in the box but lucky for him he did not connect with the J.T.C Rovers striker who stumbled but the referee deemed that Jon Way had won the ball.
Half Time:- J.T.C Rovers 2 Stronstad Utd 0
After the half time talk manager Andy Stamp wanted Stronstad to go back to basic and get the ball down and pass the ball around which they did and this created a few chances for Ian Privett, Dan Moore and Steve Beech but they could not convert the chances but then Stronstad were given a lifeline in the match. A foul about 25 yards out from goal saw Dave George bend a great free kick which the J.T.C Rovers keeper could only push against the post and in to give Stronstad a lifeline.
This goal lifted Stronstad and they continued to attack J.T.C Rovers who looked like they had not come out for the second half but still the final ball for Stronstad was missing and good attacking chances came and went. At the other end Gary Cowell, Jon Way, Dave George and Paul “Macca” McKay were standing firm and really Robert Pearson was not tested (That’s how I got so many photo’s by the way) as Stronstad looked to get back into the game.
Stronstad were winning a few free kicks in decent areas and Dave George was given a few chances to recreate his first free kick but his first effort lacked the power and the second was well saved by the J.T.C Rovers keeper. From the 3rd free kick Stronstad almost scored from a free kick that any professional team would have been proud of. From a free kick the ball was knocked to the side of the J.T.C Rovers wall which found Luke Roystone who fired the ball across goal but Steve Beech was inches away from converting. Steve Beech had another sight of goal as ball was played through but his low drive across the goal was well saved by the J.T.C Rovers goalkeeper.
The warning signs were their for J.T.C Rovers to see but they never learned and that missed penalty returned to haunt them. The ball was played into the J.T.C Rovers penalty area and a defence headed the ball out only as far as Roger Campbell who was wearing the captains arm band and he showed some unbelievable tekkers to send the ball into the top corner on the volley to send the Stronstad players delirium as they had drawn level.
Stronstad were playing some excellent football with Ian Privett and Luke Roystone battling away and with Stronstad spreading the ball around with confidence this raised Stronstad who in the first half could have been dead and buried.
There was only going to be one winner in this match as some J.T.C Rovers players began arguing with each other and Stronstad knew this was the best chance to win the match and they delivered the 3 points that showed one of the best come backs in recent Stronstad history. Dave George started the move with a raking ball to the wing where Dan Moore did well to get the ball and cross it in where Steve Beech rose like a salmon and headed the ball home from close range to put Stronstad into the lead with 5 minutes to play. This was the first goal that Steve Beech had scored in a long time and you could see the relief in his face as the ball struck the J.T.C Rovers net.
It could have been worse for J.T.C Rovers as the ball was again played into their penalty area where Roger Campbell controlled then volleyed goal wards but his effort hit the post and went across the goal where Steve Beech slotted home but his effort was ruled out for offside which some Stronstad players could not believe.
Full Time:- J.T.C Rovers 2 Stronstad Utd 3
Next up from Stronstad is a league game against Newcombe Arms Blues next week at King George with a 1030am kick off
