Saturday 9th September 2006 – F.A. Vase 1st Qualifying Round

Blidworth Welfare 0 Rocester 2

A nervy start could have cost Rocester dearly in this F.A. Vase First Qualifier at the Welfare Ground on Saturday. However their Central Midlands League opponents failed to capitalise on two gilt-edged chances inside the opening ten minutes and the Romans went on to make them pay.

Blidworth’s spirited opening had goalkeeper Paul Wood scurrying from his line to block Carl Regan’s shot from point-blank range after several defenders had made a mess of clearing a corner, and Rocester escaped again when Jahmel Russell fired into the side netting following his darting run into the area.

But Rocester quickly sorted themselves out and, despite not reaching any great heights, took control of the game.

Matt Moran’s neat footwork on the edge of the area teed a great chance up for Mark Ruddock only for him to shoot wide from ten yards, and there were also chances for Kevin Millward and Wayne Johnson as the home defence became stretched.

Wayne Johnson’s header from a Kevin Millward corner was palmed over the bar by Mark Frost for another corner, and this time, with 38 minutes played, the inevitable breakthrough came when Nick Ward raced in at the far post to head Millward’s next kick past Frost.

Six minutes later Mick Ede’s headed clearance was cleverly touched on by Moran for Ruddock to chase, and the striker finished superbly with a low drive from 18 yards to make it two-nil.

It was job done for Rocester, who then comfortably contained the hard-working home side even though they kept plugging away manfully.

Chances were at a premium until Blidworth began to take a few risks late in the game.

Six minutes from time they nearly pulled a goal back when Russell broke into the area and forced a good diving save from Wood.

Then Rocester missed two excellent chances as they exploited the gaps left at the back.

Martin Gadsby, who had shown some good touches throughout, sent Moran away and with just Frost to beat he rolled his effort a foot wide, then substitute Marc Hubbard did well to worm his way clear but took too long to get in his shot and the danger was snuffed out.

Blidworth: Frost; Buchanan; Greaves; Crowder; Pollard; Mitchell (Keating 45); Webster; S.Ward; Regan (Bollington 67); Russell; Westwood (Tatterson 67). Subs not used: Armstrong; Reed.

Rocester: Wood; M.Ede; Douglas; Owen (Hubbard 65); W.Johnson; Brown; Gadsby; N.Ward; Ruddock (Maxwell 76); Moran; Millward. Subs not used: P.Johnson; P.Ede.

Scorers: Rocester – Ward (38) & Ruddock (44).

Red / Yellow Cards: None.

Referee: Mr. D. Hardman (Sheffield)