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.
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