In the first half, two seemingly well matched sides battled out a half that looked like finishing nil-nil, until,with five minutes to go, Jack B took a quick throw on on the right, no one dropped to cover his position and a strong tackle saw two blue players through and Hayden was left exposed, and there was nothing Josh could do in goal.
Soon after, with new belief, the blues packed the box for a free kick, and after several scuffed clearances in atrocious conditions it was stabbed home.
At half time a dejected Rovers side needed an early lift, the team talk focused on better marking, attacking the loose ball, quality from set plays and defending from the front.
The second half, in hail and driving rain, saw a different Rangers turn up. It was clear early on that they wanted to get back into the game, and the pressure on the Carew Rangers defence was exactly what was needed. Every throw, every goal kick was defended five to ten metres higher up the pitch, as wave after wave of Orange attack was desperately snuffed out by Rangers. Jack D was resolute in the centre of midfield winning every ball and driving the team around him forwards. Alfie made darting runs and Riley made his physical presence felt, holding up the ball and linking play.
It was a goal from central defence that started the comeback. With the incessant pressure forcing several corners and Jack D delivering each one into the box, it was always likely that a goal would come from a corner. The ball was cleared to the edge of the box where the waiting Jack B struck a sweet half volley which flew into the back of the net.
The equaliser was an even sweeter goal which also came from a set play. A handball on the edge of the box saw the ref give the inevitable free kick. While several players saw themselves in the role, Alfie stepped up and left the keeper with no chance, rippling the net with a ball which looped in, just grazing the crossbar. On his reintroduction, Jack F ran his legs off in right midfield and Mus did the same in a slightly narrower role on the left, covering in front of the defence, when midfield general Jack D pushed forward. Jack B joined the attack whenever he could, which was made possible be the dependable and disciplined performance by Hayden.
The pressure continued and another corner caused havoc in the blues box, but the ensuing clearance led to a break and after both Jack B and Hayden tackles fell to blue shirts, Luke made a save which had as much influence on the game as any of the goals.
Playing from right back, Dorrell started to make mazey runs and linking up well with Riley and Jack D and enabled Riley to slip the ball through to Alfie to slot a simple third for Rovers.
After a nail biting 5 minutes Dorrell finished the match in fine style as he carried the ball from level with his own penalty area to cut in and strike from just outside the opposition's, as Orange players stretched to make the goal theirs and Blues to get their body in the way it dropped over the keeper and over the line.
The main difference between the first half and the second was the willingness to battle for every ball, a quality, along with his excellent corners, Jack D displayed throughout. He was awarded MOTM, but the whole team fought for the win in the second half.
All three fixtures were completed, despite the rain, and so the three points really count.
