2023_24 Season – Match Report 15
Date – 13th October 2023
Competition – Staffs County Senior League – Premier Division
Venue – Hillsfield, Rocester
Rocester FC v Leek CSOB FC
Kick-off 7:45pm
Result – Rocester FC 2-2 Leek CSOB FC
The Romans put in a valiant effort to grab a vital point despite losing their ‘keeper after just 20 minutes (as a result of a nasty tackle,) and then being reduced to ‘ten men’ midway through the second half...
Rocester made a good start as they dominated the opening exchanges and were rewarded in the 15th minute when Rhian Graham picked up the ball out on the right. As he ran into the Old Boys’ area, he saw off a number of challenges before unleashing his shot to find the back of the net to put the Romans ‘one up’…
Just 5 minutes later and we saw CSOB on the attack. However, as Lewis Jackson bravely pounced onto a loose ball in the 18-yard box, a CSOB forward appeared to put in a rather reckless tackle which left Rocester’s ‘keeper with a deep gash (down to the bone), just below his left knee…
The supporters were incensed, but their protests fell on deaf ears as the officials ruled that the challenge was fair!!!
Needless to say that the injury prematurely ended Lewis’s game as he was rushed up to the A&E – where he spent the rest of the evening waiting to be ‘stitched up’…
As Rocester didn’t have a reserve goalkeeper on the bench, central defender, Scott Abbey agreed to the unenviable task of taking Lewis’s place between the sticks…
For the remainder of the first half, to a man, the Romans played like their lives depended on it as they continued to dominate proceedings and rarely giving the Old Boys room for manoeuvre…
Half-time Score; RFC 1-0 LCSOBFC
Following the restart, it appeared that CSOB had responded to their ‘half-time’ talk, and for the first few minutes, they really started to apply the pressure. As a result of their effort, they were rewarded in the 48th minute as former Rocester favourite, Jack Dundas, found himself unmarked and in possession in front of Rocester’s goal. His shot gave Scott Abbey no chance of saving as it found the back of the net to equalise for the visitors…
CSOB continued to ‘call the tune’ and within seconds of the restart, they were pressing forward up the right. Unfortunately, Rocester ‘new signing’ Josh Hewett was ruled to have made a reckless tackle and was awarded a straight red card!!! Oh the irony!!!
Within seconds, the Old Boys were pressuring Rocester’s defence again, and once again, they found the back of the net as George Mealey took advantage of the situation to put the visitors ahead…
Now the Rocester ‘faithful’ were to be heard muttering ‘not again’ as they expected the worst…
However, having lost their, goalie (with not so much as a word for the perpetrator), then having a central defender being sent off and also having conceded two quick goals, it seemed to motivate the Romans into action…
And so from having their backs up against the wall, they took the game to the opposition…
They pressed, they harried, they never gave up and to a man they showed what it means to pull on a Rocester shirt!
Obviously, they didn’t ‘have it all their own way’ as the visitors took advantage of their superior numbers and their quick breaks – which kept the Rocester ‘faithful’ on the edge of their seats – so to speak…
But the defence ‘dug in’ and Scott Abbey rose to the challenge in goal. In the meantime, it has to be said that the Romans played some really excellent football ‘up front’ and the lads just never gave up…
Then in the 87th minute, we were awarded a penalty and Isaak Walsh stepped up to the plate and buried his shot to equalise…
The Romans continued to show the same levels of commitment and endeavour right up to the final whistle for a well-earned point against ‘top four’ opposition!!!
Final Score: RFC 2-2 LCSOBFC