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Match sponsored by ALTERED IMAGES HAIRDRESSERS
Rocester finally returned to action on Tuesday evening following an enforced five-week weather break, but the Hillsfield faithful were left wishing the big freeze had lasted a few more days after their opponents Biddulph Vics rattled in three goals without reply.
Even the surprise inclusion of striker Paul McMahon, who has been playing for Leek Town this season, failed to inspire the abject Romans, and the visitors didn’t have to reach any great levels to pick up three easy points.
The Vics started a largely uneventful opening period on top with Shaun Mould causing the home defence most problems, but his best effort was palmed away by a diving Richard Froggatt midway through the half.
Both teams could have been excused the first half stalemate after the lengthy lay-off and the difficult playing conditions, but after the break the Vics lifted the tempo and made the most of some awful defending to seal a comfortable win.
Rocester had also started the second half with a little more fire in their bellies, and McMahon was unlucky not to mark his comeback with a goal on 53 minutes when he poked Darren Bullock’s long free kick past visiting keeper Will Smith. However, with the ball rolling steadily towards the unguarded net Scott Burge raced back to hook the ball clear just before it crossed the line.
That was pretty much Rocester’s first worthwhile attempt on target, but any thoughts of getting a grip on the game were quickly dispelled when the Vics went straight down the other end to open the scoring. There didn’t appear to be any danger when Mould delivered a near-post cross from the right, but Froggatt and Darren Bullock left it for each other to deal with and James Marrow easily netted from a yard out.
Matt Redshaw’s introduction from the bench briefly gave Rocester some impetus when his surging run and cross dropped nicely for Rob Bailey inside the area, but after taking the ball down Bailey’s shot was bravely blocked by a defender.
It was all but over on 73 minutes when Froggatt and his central defenders again hesitated to deal with a long cross, this time from the left flank, and Chris Baker stole in unmarked to knock the ball into the net to double his side’s advantage.
Substitute Leigh Skellern completed the scoring ten minutes from time with a neat finish into the bottom left-hand corner after Marrow’s mazy run in from the left.
Scorers: Vics: Marrow (55), Baker (73), Skellern (80).
Romans: Froggatt; Justin; Butler; Mason; Bullock; McComisky; Bailey (McGinley 65); Curley; Reaney; McMahon; Littler (Redshaw 55). Subs not used: Watkiss; Johnson; Langridge.
Vics: W.Smith; Pearson; Hadzik; C.Smith; Burge; Ellis; Massey; Chadwick; Marrow; Baker (Skellern 77); Mould. Subs not used: Baggalley; Clarkson; Heeps.
Yellow Cards: Bullock; McComisky; Curley. (Romans).
Referee: Mr. A. Mapperson (Stone).
Attendance: 62 |