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A poor defensive display from Rocester handed high-flying Alvechurch three easy points at Lye Meadow on Saturday.
“We looked leggy after the midweek game at Oadby, and there were far too many individual mistakes.” Said boss Alan Beaman, who also added, “If we’d scored six I think we would have conceded ten at the other end, it was that kind of game."
Rocester certainly missed the presence of injured centre half Darren Bullock, but even his absence couldn’t explain the ease with which the Alvechurch forwards cut through a lethargic back line.
Only a tremendous flying save by Richard Froggatt prevented Martin Crawford from giving ‘Church a 3rd minute lead, although home goalkeeper Ian Kimberley was called upon to make an equally impressive save two minutes later to tip Shane Reaney’s effort past his left-hand post to deny the former Meir K.A. striker a goal on his league debut.
But Rocester were then guilty of some awful defending as quick-fire strikes from Junior Brown (18) and Martin Crawford (20) gave Alvechurch a two-goal lead almost out of nothing, both players having time and space to pick their spot.
A terrific last-ditch tackle by Adam Robinson stopped Brown adding to Rocester’s embarrassment before Adam Hewitt headed them back into the game on 28 minutes with a well-placed header over Kimberley from Ashley Sheridan’s neat chip forward.
However, the Romans rearguard was opened up again with consummate ease to allow Matt Gasper two simple goals after 35 and 44 minutes to make it 4-1.
To their credit, Rocester came back again and reduced the arrears through James Curley, who raced in to meet Tony Davies’s right-wing cross with a superb flying header.
Rocester looked much sharper after the break and were far more competitive, but the all-important next goal went Alvechurch’s way in the 66th minute when a high ball bounced awkwardly off the pitch, leaving Froggatt stranded and Crawford with an easy tap-in for number five.
Beaman then took the opportunity to give young goalkeeper Alex Langridge a run-out for the final fifteen minutes.
With just seconds remaining home striker Gasper, who had earlier been lucky to escape with just a yellow card after throwing the ball at Hodson’s head, was shown a straight red for a stamp on the same player.
Scorers: Church – Brown (18), Crawford (20) (66), Gasper (35) (44). Romans – Hewitt (28), Curley (45).
Church: Kimberley; Rolfe; Kelly; Smith; Frost; G.Davies (Stone 77); Gregg; Gittings; Brown; Crawford (Darby 74); Gasper. Subs not used: McWilliams; Redhead; Collins.
Romans: Froggatt (Langridge 77); Justin; Butler; Hodson; McComisky; Robinson; T.Davies (Clamp 65) (Walker 83); Hewitt; Reaney; Curley; Sheridan. Subs not used: Magness.
Red Cards: Church - Gasper (90).
Yellow Cards: Church – Crawford, Gasper. Romans – McComisky.
Referee: Mr. I. Bate (Stourbridge).
Attendance: 70 |