Saturday 1st March 2008

Staffordshire Senior League Cup Semi-Final

Stretton Eagles 3 Rocester Reserves 2 (AET)

The Romans’ second string lost their second semi-final of the season when they went down 3-2 after extra time against Stretton Eagles in Saturday’s replayed tie.

Rocester had been ordered to replay the match after mistakenly fielding two ineligible players in their 2-1 success a week earlier, but with a number of players unavailable this time around they were always going to struggle to repeat the win against a highly-rated Stretton side.

The gale-force conditions played a big part in the game, but surprisingly both sides scored when they were playing against the wind.

Tom Ellerton gave Stretton a 10th minute lead, but Rocester clawed their way back into contention twelve minutes from the end when Mark Orpe volleyed home an equaliser to send the tie into extra time.

Chris Giles and Alex Britton looked to have made it safe for the home side when they each scored in extra time, however they were given a run for their money when Orpe netted his second goal of the game seven minutes from the end.

Rocester pushed forward to try and find a late equaliser but in the end Stretton held on comfortably to reach their third cup final of the season.

The reserves are away to Goldenhill Wanderers on Saturday (2.30pm), before taking on Norton at Hillsfield on Wednesday evening (7.30pm).