Thetford Rovers 3-3 East Harling The first team went into the local derby still looking for to make it back to back wins for the first time this season following the impressive win away at Sprowston Wanderers the previous week. The visitors were able to name 10 of the starting 11 from the win at Sprowston with Chris Mango Marlow coming in for Keith Sivier being the only change. The first half an hour was a relatively scrappy affair with neither team able to carve out any real goal scoring opportunities despite the home side having the lion share of possession. It was the visitors who were to take the lead though with their first shot of the game. Matt Magic Johnsons persistence paying dividends when he was able to rob the defender out on the touchline and lay an inviting cut back to the edge of the box for an inrushing Jack Big Bad Barnett to smash in an unstoppable strike off the underside of the crossbar to score his second goal in as many games. This gave the visitors new found belief and nearly doubled their advantage only 3 minutes later when a flowing move resulted in the tenacious Marlow seeing his half volley from 8 yards out cleared off the line. With the back four Robbie Bushell, Hayden Iles, Nick Catchpole and Ryan Giroud Laws looking solid and in complete control the home sides goal came out of nowhere. The Rovers winger taking a quick throw in which found the home sides midfielder just inside the box who went down very easily under a Marlow challenge and the ref inexcusably awarded a penalty much to the surprise of everybody else on the pitch and people watching on the touchline. The resulting penalty was tucked away confidently into the Harling net by a Rovers forward giving Jamie Woodcock no chance in the visitors goal. The second half got underway with Harling now kicking down the slope which enabled them to press the Rovers defenders deep into their half a lot easier. The pressing paid off 15 minutes into the second half when a delightful Hayden Iles through ball found a well timed run from Johnson who managed to get himself between the defender and goalkeeper only to see all three players collide and the ball ricochet kindly off Johnson and into the net. Rovers then managed to equalize in equally untidy fashion and once again had the ref to thank for a very fortuitous goal. The home sides captain launched a hopeful cross into the box which Woodcock caught superbly only to be fouled very late indeed by the rovers forward and the ball squirmed out of his two hands and into the net with the referee somehow crazily claiming that neither Woodcock or the forward touched the ball or each other and awarded the goal to the player that crossed the ball. Rovers then took the lead for the first time in the game 15 minutes from time when the Rovers impressive number 9 managed to intercept a loose defensive pass and round Woodcock from and put into the empty net from a tight angle. The visitors then introduced Liam Bobbin in place of Barnett and switched to a 4-4-2 moving Tom Catchpole upfront to partner Johnson. Moments later it took a flying save from Woodcock to keep the visitors in the game turning the ball round the post when a long range effort was destined for the top corner. Harling opted to make another change in bringing off Marlow and replacing him with Rhys Lynn and moving to a 4-3-3 with only 5 minutes remaining. It was to be an eventful 5 minutes with first Tom Catchpole having his penalty appeal turned down despite even the Rovers management team agreeing that it was a stone wall penalty. Then the home goalkeeper was in action acrobatically turning the ball away for a corner. with a minute left on the clock, Callum Bray swung in a dangerous corner which had to be put behind for a corner on the other side. Harvey White took the resulting corner and it was equally as dangerous, however this time Tom Catchpole was able to make a late run across his marker and thump a volley with his weaker foot high into the roof of the net to spark a mass celebration and give Harling the final say in the local derby. Overall a point was maybe a fair result on the reflection of play and we move onto next weeks game at home to UEA looking to go three games unbeaten. As a group we have a come along a way in 3 months and with important players to return from injuries and suspensions in the near future things will no doubt be a lot brighter in the second half of the season with lots of competition for places. On the day we have to be proud of the way everybody dug deep and battled to the end to earn a vital point even when everything was going against us. Keep it up lads!!!!!
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:19:52 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015