Saturday 12th August 2006 – Polymac Services Midland Football Alliance

Rocester 0 Cradley Town 0

“Two points dropped” was the verdict of Romans boss Damian Grocott after Saturdays Polymac MFA opener at Hillsfield.

“We had more than enough chances to have won easily and I’m disappointed that we couldn’t make any of them count.” He added.

His frustrations were understandable. Rocester made all the running and should have won at a canter.

Visiting goalkeeper Paul Maynard was first called into action in the 7th minute, spectacularly tipping Adam Baum’s 20-yarder away for a corner, and then five minutes later Mark Ruddock forced an error from defender Pat Power that resulted in Baum driving a low shot across Maynard’s goal.

The Romans continued to press forward and they nearly broke the deadlock again in the 24th minute. Baum battled well to win the ball in the centre circle before sending Kevin Millward away down the right, Chris Rowley stepped over Millward’s low cross and Baum, who had continued his run into the box, aimed his shot towards the bottom left-hand corner only for Maynard to grasp the ball at full length just in time.

It was more of the same after the break. Baum clipped the bar with a cross shot from a wide position on the right; Ruddock scooped the ball over the bar from close range after Cradley failed to clear David Brown’s free kick; and neither Baum or Ruddock could get a decisive touch during a goalmouth scramble in the dying moments.

Rocester were almost made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal ten minutes from time when in a rare Cradley raid substitute Mike Forrester curled a shot against the bar from the corner of the area.

Line-ups:

Rocester: Wood; P.Ede (Johnson 74); Allen; Brown; Heaney (M.Ede 70); Millward; Gadsby; Rowley; Ruddock; Baum; Caswell (Hubbard 65).  Subs not used: Clarke; Owen.

Cradley Town: P.Maynard; Martin; Adrian Crowther (Forrester 45); L.White (Clark 70); Hamilton; Power; Yap; Andy Crowther; S.Maynard (A.White 70); Clifton; Bradley. Subs not used: Burden; Gazanfar.

Referee: Mr. Kuzmanovic (Lichfield)

Attendance: 83

No bookings.

Rocester Star Man – Adam Baum.

Burton Mail