Saturday 1st September 2007 – F.A. Challenge Cup Preliminary Round

Rocester 1 Wellington 0

Dave Shaw continued his excellent start to the season by bagging his fifth goal in as many games to send Rocester through to the 1st Qualifying Round of the F.A. Cup, where they will have home advantage against their old adversaries Chasetown in two weeks time.

The in-form striker ended Wellington’s stubborn resistance when he rose to meet Ashley Sheridan’s 56th minute corner with a meaty header that whistled under the crossbar, beating goalkeeper Mark Priday plus the two defenders covering on the line all ends up.

Chances were few and far between as the Herefordshire side got men behind the ball and looked to attack Rocester on the break, but in truth they rarely looked like scoring and for an hour it was just a matter of whether the Romans could find a way through before the possibility of a midweek replay with a five-hour round trip became a reality.

Rocester generally dominated possession and at times passed the ball around well, but they found it difficult to provide a telling final ball or a clinical finish when the opportunities came along.

Shaw had one opening twelve minutes into the game after Nick Ward’s thrusting run through the middle created a chance, but his low shot was fairly easily gathered at his near post by Priday.

Rocester worked the wide areas well and after a number of crosses had either been over hit or cut out by a defender, Rory Maxwell sent a perfect one over from the right for Shaw to run on to but his header was a foot too high.

Four minutes into the second half Shaw turned provider with a superb cross-field ball that Maxwell raced on to, however the youngster rifled his shot several feet over the bar.

Tom Herbert then gave Rocester a scare when he managed to turn with the ball inside the area and shot for goal, but Dean Latham was well positioned and grabbed it at the second attempt before Herbert could pounce on the loose ball.

Shaw then struck the only goal of the game (right) to settle Rocester’s nerves, but there was still work to be done as the visitors began to commit players forward in search of an equaliser.

However it was Rocester who should have added to their tally when Mark Ruddock’s free header went over the top and then Adam McMahon just failed to connect with Neil Reilly’s cross.

Romans Star Man: Nick Ward – Rocester’s heartbeat.

Scorers: Romans: Shaw (56).

Romans: Latham; Johnson; Allen; Ward; Ruddock; Brown; Maxwell (Reilly 81); Heath (Owen 89); Shaw; Hodson (McMahon 68); Sheridan. Subs not used: Soane; Bennett.

Wellington: Priday; Jones (Walker 81); Sewell (Marriot 71); Mussell; Withers; McNeil (Hole 75); Perkins; Craig; Herbert; Williams; Parsons. Subs not used: None.

Yellow Cards: Wellington – Williams, Mussell.

Referee: Mr. G. Smith (Ilkeston).

Attendance: 102.