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Dave Shaw’s excellent hat-trick counted for nothing as Rocester failed to contain a much sharper and more purposeful Loughborough side on Tuesday evening. Dynamo were always in control, starting off at a high tempo and playing some neat passing football with pace and good movement off the ball. Rocester weren’t at the races during the opening half hour, and by then they were two goals adrift and already looking a beaten team. It at least says something about their never-say-die attitude that they twice fought their way back into contention and were still trying to get something from the game right up until the last kick. Despite the early dominance of the home side, sub-standard defending handed them all four of their goals. Kris Nurse netted the first in the 24th minute from what appeared to be a harmless situation wide on the right. He easily turned inside his marker and as a huge space opened up in front of him he took a couple of paces forward and planted the ball past Latham with all the time in the world. Seven minutes later it was two-nil when Neil Bennett allowed a long high clearance to drop behind him assuming it would run through to Latham. It was a poor misjudgement and Joe Jonas nipped in to lob the ball over the stranded goalkeeper into the empty net. At last, the Romans finally began to show some urgency and pattern in their play, and Shaw hauled them back by first winning a corner and then rising majestically at the back of the six-yard box to head Rory Maxwell’s resulting flag kick back across the goal and into the far top corner of the net. With their tails up, Rocester were straight back on the offensive with Nick Ward bursting through the middle. His incisive pass to Maxwell was fired goalward but Matt Nurse failed to hold it and Mark Orpe pounced on the loose ball only to see Kevin Spriggs clear it off the line. Orpe then had another great chance when he was put clear by Maxwell, but his shot rolled wide of the far post. Having wasted opportunities to level, Rocester were made to pay just seconds before the interval when Jonas came in unchallenged at the back post to head in Dan Johnson’s corner. Rocester laboured their way through much of the second half, and were fortunate to escape when Kris Nurse crashed a 25-yard free kick against a post with Latham well beaten. With only fifteen minutes remaining Shaw renewed hope with a delicate header from Maxwell’s floated free kick to notch his second goal, but once again having got within touching distance Rocester hit the self-destruct button and conceded a fourth. The ball was all too-easily given away in the centre circle and Kris Nurse carried the ball into the area with embarrassing ease before calmly slotting it past Latham. Shaw completed his hat-trick two minutes from time with a quality half-volley from Adam McMahon’s left wing cross, but in truth the 4-3 scoreline flattered a disappointing Rocester on the night. Romans Star Man: Dave Shaw – A quality hat-trick. Scorers: Dynamo – K.Nurse (24, 77); Jonas (31, 45). Romans – Shaw (42, 75, 88). Dynamo: M.Nurse; Spriggs; D.Johnson; Hart; R.Nurse; Harding; Jonas (Ross 90); Rutter (McLarnon 73); K.Nurse; Brennan; Moriera. Subs not used: Folwell; McShane; Betts. Romans: Latham; Smith; Allen; Ward; Ruddock; Bennett (Hodson 53); Maxwell; Henderson; Shaw; Orpe (McMahon 66); Gadsby (Sowter 78). Subs not used: P.Johnson; Brown. Yellow Cards: Romans – Ward & Shaw. Referee: Mr. C. Marsden (Leicester). Attendance: 85. |