Tuesday 18th October 2005

ROMANS BEATEN IN CUP ON PENALTIES

Rocester 1 Chasetown 1 a.e.t. (Chasetown won 6-5 on penalties)

Rocester were cruelly dumped out of the Staffordshire Senior Cup- beaten on penalties after they had more than matched their high-riding opponents for two hours of highly competitive cup football.

The Romans made an early breakthrough when new signing Nathan Gallagher opened the scoring after five minutes. Tommy Smith played the ball into the penalty area from the left and Chasetown's hesitant defence allowed it to run across the box. Gallagher stole in at the far post to guide the ball home.

Chasetown threatened from set-piece routines and it was from Simon Truman's 31-minute free kick they levelled.

Duncan Horler made a good run to the near post and he was able to supply the finishing touch to Truman's kick.

Horler burst into the area in the 37th minute and looked set to notch his second with a powerful drive, but Paul Wood made a fantastic reflex save to deflect the ball away for a corner.

At the other end, Paul Tortoishell smacked the post with a 25-yard free kick just before the interval.

Wood was called into action twice to deny Lee Gough early in the second half but it was Rocester who gained the upper hand.

They forced Chasetown back for the final 15 minutes and Mark Ruddock twice came within inches of clinching a winner with two far post headers from Craig Hancox corners.

The first went wide while the second appeared destined to find the net until Steve Ulfig stuck out a leg and hooked it off the line.

Extra time failed to separate the two teams so it was down to a penalty shoot-out to decide who would meet Walsall in the second round.

After five penalties each it was 5-5. Ruddock fired Rocester's sixth spot kick high over the bar leaving Adam Smith to decide it in Chasetown's favour.

This was Rocester's best performance of the season. On this showing it won't be long before Michael Rowe's side get a victory under their belts and start to climb the league table.

Rocester: Wood, Gallagher, Poole, McCarron, Allen, Ruddock, Caswell (Payne 110), Collins (Rigley 65), Tom Smith (Bagley 75), Tortoishell, Hancox.