Saturday 26th November

Polymac Services League Cup 2nd Round

Leamington 4 Rocester 1

ROCESTER took a brief break from their disastrous league campaign to travel to Leamington for a League Cup tie, but their present problems were compounded before they even set off for the match by the non-appearance of strikers Lee Bagley and Tom Smith, writes Ian Cruddas.

Manager Michael Rowe then saw his re-shuffled side fall a goal behind after just six minutes when a wicked bounce of the ball deceived defender Carl Allen, leaving Leamington’s Richard Adams a clear run on goal to slot the ball past Paul Wood.

Soon afterwards, Wood made a fine save to thwart Joshua Blake and Allen made a goal-line clearance from Ryan Howell’s diving header before a further element of luck led to Leamington’s second goal after 25 minutes.

Captain Darren Tank miscued his shot in front of the Rocester goal but the ball spun into the path of team-mate Neil Stacey to fire home.

Soon after the interval, Wood made another brilliant save from Adams’ angled drive and the young Rocester side suddenly began to grow in confidence.

They pulled a goal back on the hour mark when a free-kick into the penalty area was only half-cleared and Tom Poole crashed a shot into the net from 20 yards out.

While the Romans failed to create a further chance of levelling the scores, it was a complete injustice to their second-half performance that Leamington went further ahead in the 89th minute with a powerful header from substitute Nick McFarlane following a free-kick.

And the hosts added insult to injury by hitting a fourth in the third minute of stoppage time through Blake.

GOALS: R Adams 6, Stacey 25, McFarlane 89, Blake 90 (Leamington); Poole 60 (Romans).

LEAMINGTON: Kelsall, Tank, Parisi, Stacey (McFarlane 59), Titterton, J Adams, Rodman, Howell (S Thompson 80), R Adams, Blake (M Thompson 72); subs not used: Coleman, Shepherd.

ROMANS: Wood, Gallagher, Poole, McCarron, Allen, Ede, Hubble (Ruddock 68), Collins, Tortoishell, Bayliss-Rowe, Hancox; subs not used: Barnett, Bloor, Richards.

ROMANS FORM RATING: poor first half, good second half.

ROMANS STAR MAN: Paul Wood — made two top class saves.

REFEREE: E Mitchell (Loughborough).

ATTENDANCE: 364.