Wednesday 7th November 2007

Staffordshire Senior League

Rocester Reserves 4 Foley 1

The Romans reserve team produced some of their best football of the season on Wednesday evening when Foley visited Hillsfield for a Staffordshire Senior League fixture, and ran out comfortable winners by four goals to one.

Recent signing Mark Bailey enjoyed a great start to the game by scoring the first goal and then setting up the second, and from then on the result was never really in any doubt.

Bailey sent Rocester on their way in the 17th minute with a neat glancing header from Richard Owen's free kick, and just four minutes later he provided a superb cross from out near the right corner flag to the far post, where Gavin Reynolds rose to head number two.

Foley had two great chances to get back into the game, both falling to their centre forward Steve Day. After bursting in from the left he saw his low shot deflected clear, and just moments later when the visitors attacked again he blazed high over the bar when well-placed on the edge of the area.

Rocester effectively ended the contest in the 35th minute with another back-post header, Gavin Reynolds (left) was once again the man in the right place when he directed Gary Beardsley's fierce drive into the net.

The Foley forwards continued to misfire when Day went clean through only to scuff his shot, and Matt McPhail put his follow-up shot wide from six yards out.

After the break Rocester continued to press forward, and they had plenty of opportunities to increase their lead.

Neil Bennett headed narrowly over the bar; a Richard Owen free kick went the same way and further efforts from Bennett and Liam Sowter also cleared the Foley goal.

Eventually Sowter netted the fourth in the 65th minute with a lovely 25-yard chip that dipped under the bar with the goalkeeper a few yards off his line.

Tommy Smith and Paul Tortoishell continued their comebacks with appearances from the bench. Smith quickly earned himself a booking following a few niggles with Foley's Phil Beckett but he looked sharp and competitive.

Ryan Mitchell scored a consolation for the visitors three minutes from time, shooting past Karl Smith with an angled shot from the right into an empty net.

Rocester: Karl Smith; Mark Bailey; Paul Harvey (Matt Jackson 73); Neil Bennett; Mark Thompson; Richard Owen; Gavin Reynolds; Aaron Plant (Paul Tortoishell 70); Gary Beardsley; Mark Orpe (Tommy Smith 66); Liam Sowter. Subs not used: Phil Bull; Ashley Grocott.

Manager Steve Swanwick said afterwards; "We've been playing consistently well for several weeks now and things are starting to gel together nicely."

"Tonight we were able to play Richard Owen (right) in the team, and he brought the best out of everybody around him. He made a huge difference with his experience and talking, which galvanised the whole team together."

Owen's contribution was also highlighted by Assistant Manager Geoff Thompson and Coach Martin Meylan, who both picked him out for his efforts on the night.

Swanwick concluded; "It's been a good night for us, it's great to see supporters and club officials down here watching us which proves that the whole club is pulling together and heading forward."

The reserve team are next in action on Saturday when they take on ground-sharers Ashbourne United at Hillsfield, kick off 2pm. (This is Ashbourne's home fixture).

If you are not travelling with the first team to Stratford then please come down and give the reserve team your support.