Stafford Utd 3-3 Grange Rovers. Great game to end a great league season.

Stafford Utd 3-3 Grange Rovers

Dorrell, 

Jack B

Tyrell 

MOTM Tyrell

On the last day of the league season it couldn't have been closer in both the game against a rejuvenated Stafford Utd and in the final league table of the season.

The Oranges started with their destiny in their own hands. A win against Stafford Utd would have meant a league playoff against Warren Town. A win in that game and they would have claimed the league, leaving the Cup Final the following week.

The early exchanges were nervous with Stafford clearly not just there to make up the numbers and determined to play their part and Rovers finding it hard to take Chris and Brad's advice to relax and enjoy the game.

After some excellent goalkeeping from Ethan in the Red's goal twice denying  Alfie and once Riley,  Dorrell eventually broke the deadlock. A third Alfie attempt fizzed out of the area at waist height and Dorrell spotted the keeper back-pedalling to try and get back on his line and hit a chip on the volley with his weaker left foot, which looped deliciously into the top corner of the net. 

The celebrations were short lived as Reds won a free kick for hand ball, which might have been ball to hand. Jacob stepped up and demonstrated why he has a reputation as a dead ball specialist and gave the keeper no chance with a curling free kick. It was one all at half time.

After the break Stafford went ahead in the freakiest of circumstances. A decent spell of Rovers pressure ended with a Stafford break. A strong challenge on the half way line saw the ball loop back into the Orange penalty area, bounce awkwardly and beat the keeper. Nobody was to blame but Rovers now found themselves behind.

An early chance to pull level fell to Alfie by way of a penalty for hand ball, but yet again his hard low and on target strike was held by the impressive Ethan. 

Worse was to follow as " live wire"  Liam broke through the defence to score the individual goal that he had promised to all day.     

It looked like it was all over as Rovers threw caution to the wind with Jack B pushing into midfield and Dorrell joining the frontline. 

With three minutes remaining the ball fell kindly to Jack B on the edge of the area, who bought himself some space and delicately chipped the ball over the stranded keeper.

The balance of play changed with Rovers having nothing to lose. They continued to press and suddenly it was Stafford who looked nervous. As they dropped deeper Tyrell received the ball in his own half, looked up and fired it goal-wards, beating the keeper and emphasising that a lot of the Inters players are ready for the challenges that next season will bring on a bigger pitch in an 11-a-side league. 

Rovers looked to press again but it was too late. A hugely brave comeback and a brilliant season were brought to a close. 

Warren Town started the day 2 points behind and on the same goal difference so any win would see them top the league on goal difference. In the end it was a formality as Woodcote were unable to field a full team.

There is a friendly next week and the cup final the week after so the season is far from over. 

The boys in Orange need to be very proud of what they have achieved this year, league runners up and Cup Finalists, and who knows what would have happened if we had managed to fulfil all our fixtures in the second half of the season.

From back to front the lads have played the game the right way all season and should hold their heads high.

Luke has been ever cheerful, ever enthusiastic and ever present. His improvement as a keeper over the season has been immense.

Tyrell is a fearless and committed defender, never scared of a tackle, always strong, always full of energy.

Hayden has been reliable, the best quality any defender can have, quietly and effectively going about his business, winning more tackles than most, reading the game.

Jack B has added great distribution and occasional goal scoring to his solid defensive game as well as leading the back line with charisma and understanding.

Jack D is a fighter and a real team player, he'll play anywhere he's asked, to from goalkeeper to striker, but he does his best work in the engine room.

Riley, strong and dedicated to the cause, can really drive the game on from the centre of the park or in the hole behind the front men.

Dorrell, playing up a year, has guile, vision and skill that belies his age and stature.

Mus has been a great find, plays with a smile on his face. Once described as a "box of tricks", that pretty much sums him up.

Jack F runs all day, finds the space and despite his diminutive frame will get stuck in with the best of them.

Josh, enthusiasm personified and chipped in with some great goals.

Alfie, knows where the net is like nobody in the league but there's far more to his game, happy to track back and has, on occasion, found himself scrapping with the defence. 

Well done boys hold your heads high and be proud of your season and get #upforthecup.

Hilliers Athletic 0-2 Grange Rovers

Josh and Alfie scored the goals and Luke took man of the match for two vital saves in the second half.

While this reporter spent the weekend watching Charlton unravel, Rovers stayed very much on track.

One more win will see Rovers through to a league playoff against first half of the season winners Warren Town.

LAST GASP WINNER PUTS ROVERS IN CONTROL. GRANGE ROVERS 4-3 CAREW RANGERS

Alfie 3

Josh 1 

MOTM Jack B

Maybe it shouldn't have been this tense, but Rovers like to make it difficult for themselves.

 

At 3-0 up Rovers looked to be cruising but, as the players had been warned, Carew are no pushovers. The team in orange took to the field knowing that a win would take them top of the table with Hilliers having taken an unlikely, but well deserved, point against Warren Town.

 

The early signs were good and some neat passing led to Alfie’s first, followed quickly by his brace with Josh notching up an assist with an excellent cross. A double substitution by Carew meant a less physical, but substantially pacier, front line. With this the game changed and a Grange Rovers midfield of Jack F, Riley and Dorrell, that had been bossing the game, found themselves missed out as Carew started knocking long balls into the channels for this new attack to chase. Hayden and Mus stepped up to this challenge and Jack B marshalled them as, leading by example, he crunched into every challenge and drove the Oranges forward, bringing the ball out of defence and distributing it to the midfield. One such intervention lead to the ball falling to Riley whose long range shot nearly beat the unfortunate keeper only for Josh to make sure with the ball striking the back of the net. 

Had Rovers seen the half out then it might have been all over, but a late corner gave Carew the hope they needed. They clearly work hard at set plays and, yet again, a long looping corner was bundled in at the back post.

 

The half time team talk was all about the role of the midfield in pressing the ball. However, early in the second half, Rovers midfield found themselves in front of the ball in an incisive passing move from Carew, that was beautifully converted by Michael who beat the onrushing keeper at the near post.

 

At 3-2 doubt crept in as the Royal Blues began to believe they could get back into the game and with the change of momentum their third goal was inevitable. Perhaps Rovers were lacking Jack D's steel in the centre of the park as he generously took a turn between the sticks. Hayden and Jack B found themselves fighting a desperate re-guard action and as the midfield tired they were increasingly outnumbered. When the next Carew goal came it was, again, from open play and there was nothing Jack D could have done about it.

 

Bizarrely this was when Rovers came alive again. Players like Jack F and Dorrell were still full of running and Riley full of fight, and Alfie, while he had to drop deep, started to make things happen.

"How long ref?" came the shout from Jason, the Carew manager. "Less than a minute" was the reply.

 

It felt like the opportunity to go clear at the top had passed until a ball from Mus that landed at Alfie's feet just outside the box unlocked Carew one more time and Alfie claimed another hat-trick. Chris launched a water bottle into the air and everybody in orange let out a cry of relief.

 

Jack B picked up man of the match for a solid display which was disciplined and courageous.

 

Rovers are now 2 points clear and have a possible league and cup double entirely in their own hands. They are already cup finalists and winning the second half of the season would force a playoff against first half winners, Warren Town, for the league trophy.