With the news that Warren Town had recorded a 4-0 win in the first game, it was important that Rovers recorded a win of their own in order to stay within a point of the leaders.
The first attack of the game made clear the team's intent. A flowing move on the left saw the ball drop to Alfie who,with just the keeper to beat,slotted home low and to the left. It was 1-0, and even as the management duo of Brad and Chris urged against complacency,Alfie turned provider and played Riley in on the right hand side of the box. His goal-bound drive took a deflection and beat the keeper to put the Rovers two up.
Rovers were unlucky not to immediately make it three as their confidence flowed and Woodcote looked shaken by the early pressure. First Mus, who was a handful all day, missed from close range, then Riley pulled one just wide after good work from Josh wide on the right. Woodcote started to build from the back and, with their confidence returning, were unlucky themselves on two occasions, with Jack B and Tyrell both clearing off the line after Luke had blocked with his feet.
Rovers fought back and Alfie scored his second and Rovers third from distance. It was the sort of goal that left everyone dumbstruck. Struck from outside the box it looped over the keeper and dipped just under the crossbar, to a momentary silence, as all those watching took in the quality of what they'd seen before both sets of spectators applauded the quality of the strike.
There was time for one more piece of drama before the half ended as Jack B struck a loose ball from just inside the Woodcote half, in a carbon copy of a Jack F strike earlier in the season, with the same result, it struck the bar, bounced onto the goal line and was cleared. In both cases a more ridged goal construction might have lead to goals but it wasn't to be.
At half time Alfie took his first break of the season and Riley moved between the sticks, with Luke also taking a rest.
In the absence of Riley and Alfie, Josh took a turn up top and, early in the half, his persistence, chasing down what looked like a lost cause, led to a fourth as he stabbed home, past the onrushing keeper.
Dorrell, Jack D and Jack F along with Man of the Match Mus kept the pressure on from midfield with their energy and running. Luke and Alfie returned to the fray and with Luke acting as target man knocked a number of long balls down for Alfie to run on to as he chased yet another hat-trick. Eventually that pressure paid off as Alfie's shot was cleared and the ball broke to Jack B on the right. He made up for his first half miss by cutting back and, with the keeper off his line, steered the ball left footed into the net from well outside the box. Along with Alfie's in the first half,another goal of the season contender put the icing on the cake.
Hayden had captained the team to their biggest win of the season with another mature central defensive display.
The clean sheet was a bonus as Rovers look to reduce the goal difference deficit inflicted on the first day and, for the first time, the Oranges finished a game scoring something other than three. With the shots coming from all sort of places, they proved they are not a one man team.
The three points keep Warren Town looking over their shoulder in the run in to the end of the first half of the season.
Riley
Josh
Jack B
MOTM: Mus
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