2023_24 Season – Match Report 04

Date – Saturday 12^th August 2023

Competition – Staffs County Senior League – Premier Division

Venue – Hillsfield, Rocester

Rocester FC v Madeley White Star FC

Kick-off – 2:00pm

Result – Rocester FC 1-2 Madeley White Star FC

 

Following a good start, this turned out to be a really disappointing afternoon...

 

In fact, for the first 25 mins or so, the Romans had the upper hand, and after just 10 mins, Rocester took the lead when following some frenetic action in front of the visitors' goal, Sam Bates despatched a 'well-aimed' shot into the back of the net!

 

Less than 10 mins later, following yet more pressure, the Romans were awarded a penalty. Unfortunately, the Madeley 'keeper anticipated well and dived to his left to save the shot to deny the Romans from extending their lead...

 

The Romans would come to rue this missed opportunity as just on the half hour, Madeley were awarded a free kick on the left wing and deep into the Rocester half, the resulting cross found one of Madeley's forwards in space to the right of the Romans' 18 yd box...

 

Unfortunately, the defence failed to deal with the incursion and the well-taken shot found the top corner of the net to restore parity...

 

 Half-time score - RFC 1-1 MWSFC

 

Following the restart, the game seemed to become somewhat 'scrappy' with little or no return for all the effort - for either side...

 

However, Madeley seemed to have taken heart from the earlier proceedings and made it count part-way through the half when Rocester succumbed to pressure from the left and conceded a second goal...

 

And as if to 'rub salt into the wounds' of the 'Rocester Faithful', the Romans were reduced to 'ten men' for 10 mins as one of the players was 'sin-binned'...

 

However, Madeley didn't add to their tally during this period, but unfortunately, neither did Rocester - even when they had all eleven men back on the pitch - despite their effort and endeavour...

 

Full-time score - RFC 1-2 MWSFC