Saturday 12th December 2009

Aspire Midland Football Alliance

Kirby Muxloe 2 Rocester 0

Nine-man Rocester continued their slide down the Aspire Midland Alliance table after suffering a 2-0 defeat at Ratby Lane on Saturday. The defeat leaves the Romans just three points above the relegation places, and without a win in their last six league outings.

The Romans were second best for most of the opening period and trailed by a single goal at the interval after Marc Schulz’s excellent 14th minute strike had given Kirby Muxloe the lead. There were certainly question marks about Rocester’s defending when Schulz received the ball unmarked and onside some 25 yards out, but his superbly flighted shot dipped perfectly over Alex Langridge, who impressed on his first start between the sticks, and underneath the crossbar.

However, a vastly improved second half showing provided enough evidence to suggest that they can compete with the better sides in the league and move away from the drop zone. Rocester restarted with far more purpose and energy, and they didn’t allow their opponents the time on the ball afforded to them earlier on.

One or two chances were beginning to come Rocester’s way as Matt Redshaw’s snapshot rolled narrowly wide and James Curley fired into the side-netting from a tight angle after beating home goalkeeper Adam Wilcox to Rob Bailey’s through-ball.

Then, after 64 minutes, some neat passing through the middle saw Mark Hodson race clear into the area. Having touched the ball past Wilcox, Hodson went down under the goalkeeper’s challenge only for Coventry referee Alan Fox to show him a second yellow card and a subsequent red for simulation rather than award Rocester a penalty. It looked a poor decision, and afterwards a bemused Hodson was left questioning why he would have gone down with an open goal in front of him, and insisted “The goalkeeper caught me”.

If that wasn’t bad enough the Romans were dealt another blow almost immediately afterwards following an incident on the edge of their own penalty area in which central defender Adam Robinson received his marching orders, though there were no arguments about the decision this time.

Despite their numerical disadvantage Rocester continued to press forward in search of an equaliser, and probably deserved a share of the spoils for their endeavours.

The home forwards were continually caught offside as man-of-the-match Chris McComisky organised and covered superbly at the back, but at the other end Rocester couldn’t quite carve out a clear enough chance to bring themselves level.

Kirby sealed the points in stoppage time when Jamie Mason darted forward to stab Ryan Collis's free kick past Langridge.

Scorers: Kirby – Schulz (14), J.Mason (90).

Kirby: Wilcox; Pitsillides (Statham 89); Darlison; Wilson; Pietrzyk; J.Mason; Taylor; Schulz; White (Phull 80); Mee; Collis. Subs not used: Law; Moult.

Romans: Langridge; Justin; Butler; Hodson; McComisky; Robinson; Bailey (Watkiss 80); D.Mason; Curley; Redshaw (Hewitt 88); Littler (Bullock 70). Subs not used: Johnson.

Red Cards: Romans – Hodson (2 yellows - 64), Robinson (66).

Yellow Cards: - Kirby – Wilcox, Pietrzyk, Mason, Darlison. Romans – Curley, Justin.

Referee: Mr. A. Fox (Coventry)

Attendance: 49