Monday 24th March 2008

Polymac Services Midland Football Alliance

Biddulph Victoria 0 Rocester 1

Dave Shaw's 58th minute goal was enough for Rocester to see off old rivals Biddulph Victoria on Easter Monday.

Dean Latham's long drop kick was cleverly fed into Shaw by Vics old boy Martin Heath, and the in-form striker blasted it emphatically past Dan Read to record his 31st goal of the season.

Along with the sloping pitch at Tunstall Road, the weather conditions played a big part in a game that was played in a confusing mix of freezing high winds and snow showers along with periods of bright sunshine.

However the Romans got their tactics right for both halves, and in truth this was a far more comfortable win than the narrow scoreline might suggest.

Even in the first half when Vics had the slope and weather advantage they were restricted to just one serious attempt at goal. That came when Ashley Lawton’s snapshot near the half hour mark was well stopped by Latham low to his left, and although Matt Platt got to the loose ball first he sent it into the side-netting and the chance was gone.

Playing on the break the Romans saw rasping shots from Mark Hodson and Dan Smith miss the target, then a neat build-up involving Dave Brown and Tommy Smith gave Shaw an opportunity to open his account for the afternoon but Read raced from his line and spread himself well to make a good save with his body.

Read was soon in action again, diving to his left to grab Ashley Sheridan’s header, and after the break he kept Rocester at bay with further blocks to twice deny Shaw.

Shaw eventually managed to break the deadlock, but Rocester were almost pegged back straight away when Lawton’s rising shot had Latham stretching to his right to make a fine save.

Using the elements cleverly the Romans went on to create a number of decent chances but failed to make any of them count. Hodson could easily have added a couple to his season’s total and Sheridan should probably have taken on the shot when he broke clear (pictured), but unselfishly he squared the ball to Shaw who got direction but not enough power in his shot and Read was able to gather it up.

Vics dangerman Lawton almost made Rocester pay ten minutes from the end when he looped the ball over Latham’s head only for the covering Dan Smith to shepherd it safely away.

Scorers: Romans – Shaw (58).

Vics: Read; Marrow; Hall; Kelter; Chandler; Daniel Smith; White; Hope; Lawton; Platt; Quinn. Subs not used: Mould; Murphy; Boast.

Romans: Latham; Dan Smith; Allen; Gadsby; Ruddock; Henderson (Heath 45); Hodson; Brown; Shaw; T.Smith; Sheridan. Subs not used: Maxwell; Bailey; Owen; Sowter.

Yellow Cards: Romans – Hodson.

Referee: Mr. N. Pratt (Tamworth).

Attendance: 128.

Romans Star Man: Mark Ruddock.