Post by rjdgull on Aug 20, 2011 12:47:24 GMT
It was quite a surprise to see a number of votes coming my way after the Rovers match. After reading the thread again I was the only one to provide a traditional match report as opposed to more general thoughts about the match so please keep them coming as this type of write up, particularly for away matches is obviously much appreciated. 
It is actually the first time I have won this so thanks to those that voted but I'm afraid that I must remain in red! Match report is below, written early on Sunday morning on a small lap top and not one of my best.....
That was a battling performance against a strong Rovers side that slightly disappointed considering the players they had and maybe it was a good time to play them. Last year, I can't help thinking we would have drawn or even lost that game with Hereford and losing a two goal lead on New Year's Day a good example of this. Coupled with coming back to gain a point last week, this Ling side seems able to get results that we have let slip time and again and his tenure here is starting to look very promising.
I thought Rovers started the better team but we dominated the mid section of this half. The goal came after some good passing saw Atieno receive the ball in the penalty area with his back to the goal but a good turn and and a low shot across Bevan saw the ball nestle in the bottom left hand corner of the net. Shortly after, under pressure in the right back area, a suicidal back pass, resulted in Bevan fouling Atieno. Howe then stepped back and calmly sent Bevan the wrong way. Clearly rattled, with some ref decisions not going there way, such as Muzzy harshly getting a yellow (but earlier Manse had got a card for no more than clipping the heels of their forward), the home crowd were not happy! Bevan was looking frail after dropping a ball and from a corner following a Nico free kick, a Saah heading went a fraction wide of the top right hand corner!
As half went on, Rovers did get back into the match and a Harrad shot, well saved by Olejnik could have gone in if struck better and maybe a foot wider of the keeper. Muzzy also had a good chance and an onrushing Olejnik just did enough to put him off so that his chip went over the cross bar. I was quite pleased to get to half time with our lead intact.
At the start of the second, we had a great chance to put the game safe in that after some good movement from a corner, Morris ended up having a free header at the far post forcing Bevan into making a top drawer save. However, shortly after Rovers got the goal back with Anthony following up after an initial Olejnik save.
This led to a spell of Rovers pressure that saw a lot of pressure in our right back area or lumped forward directly into our area. However, it was not all one way traffic and some great skill from Atieno forced Bevan into maing a great double save. Towards the end Eunan just couldn't reach a good cross that would have slid into the far corner. The Rovers shooting wasn't much cop but Olejnik did pull off a superb diving save to his left for us to come home with all three points!
I think that our striking partnership of Atieno and Howe is looking very good. Nico put a good shift in at left back. If Mansell and O'Kane can cope with Gill and Stanley then they can cope with anyone in this division! We are most certainly not relegation fodder!
It is actually the first time I have won this so thanks to those that voted but I'm afraid that I must remain in red! Match report is below, written early on Sunday morning on a small lap top and not one of my best.....
I thought Rovers started the better team but we dominated the mid section of this half. The goal came after some good passing saw Atieno receive the ball in the penalty area with his back to the goal but a good turn and and a low shot across Bevan saw the ball nestle in the bottom left hand corner of the net. Shortly after, under pressure in the right back area, a suicidal back pass, resulted in Bevan fouling Atieno. Howe then stepped back and calmly sent Bevan the wrong way. Clearly rattled, with some ref decisions not going there way, such as Muzzy harshly getting a yellow (but earlier Manse had got a card for no more than clipping the heels of their forward), the home crowd were not happy! Bevan was looking frail after dropping a ball and from a corner following a Nico free kick, a Saah heading went a fraction wide of the top right hand corner!
As half went on, Rovers did get back into the match and a Harrad shot, well saved by Olejnik could have gone in if struck better and maybe a foot wider of the keeper. Muzzy also had a good chance and an onrushing Olejnik just did enough to put him off so that his chip went over the cross bar. I was quite pleased to get to half time with our lead intact.
At the start of the second, we had a great chance to put the game safe in that after some good movement from a corner, Morris ended up having a free header at the far post forcing Bevan into making a top drawer save. However, shortly after Rovers got the goal back with Anthony following up after an initial Olejnik save.
This led to a spell of Rovers pressure that saw a lot of pressure in our right back area or lumped forward directly into our area. However, it was not all one way traffic and some great skill from Atieno forced Bevan into maing a great double save. Towards the end Eunan just couldn't reach a good cross that would have slid into the far corner. The Rovers shooting wasn't much cop but Olejnik did pull off a superb diving save to his left for us to come home with all three points!
I think that our striking partnership of Atieno and Howe is looking very good. Nico put a good shift in at left back. If Mansell and O'Kane can cope with Gill and Stanley then they can cope with anyone in this division! We are most certainly not relegation fodder!