Wednesday 5th March 2008

Staffordshire Senior League

Rocester Reserves 2 Newcastle Town Res 3

League leaders Newcastle went away with the points from this entertaining game but from Rocester's point of view it was a night of missed opportunities.

The Romans had a number of decent chances during the first half but ended up going in at the break a goal down after Otis Fox had used his pace to slot the visitors into a 25th minute lead - a goal that came against the run of play.

Rocester could quite easily have been a couple of goals up before Fox struck, but Rory Maxwell fired over the bar from a great position on the left of the area, and Gary Beardsley was twice narrowly off target with a 20-yarder that drifted just wide of the post and a lob that dipped agonisingly over the bar.

Both sides had chances early in the second half - Karl Smith saving with his feet to deny Newcastle's Ben Mills at one end while Kyle Esplin should probably have done better when his low shot was saved at the back post by Phil Bruce in the visitors goal after a break by Beardsley.

It proved a costly miss as Newcastle went straight down the other end and doubled their lead with David Harper's impressive 67th minute overhead kick.

Three minutes later the visitors were handed a third goal when Karl Smith came out to catch a cross only to collide with one of his own defenders and lose his grip on the ball, leaving Andy Archer with a straight forward shot into the net.

A nicely weighted through ball by Ben Henderson released Beardsley (left) to pull a goal back in the 75th minute, and the lively Beardsley then carved out an opening with a great run down the right that ended with Esplin setting up Gavin Reynolds for a crack at goal, but his effort was well held by Bruce.

Newcastle's pace up front made them dangerous on the break, and Ashman burst past James McCarron before blasting a foot too high.

Ashman again caused problems down Newcastle's left flank, and this time his pass inside was collected by Tim Barrass and as he burst into the area Karl Smith tripped him and a penalty was awarded. Smith, however, made amends with a fine diving save to keep out Ashman's spot kick.

Seconds from the end Maxwell sent Beardsley clear to poke home a second Rocester goal but it was too late to matter.

Romans: K.Smith; Plant (Jackson 60); Thompson; McCarron; Henderson; Lamburn; Reynolds; Owen; Esplin; Beardsley; Maxwell.