Well if you feel like you have read this match report before it's because this was pretty much an exact replica of the previous meeting between these two clubs back in October. That day the Hoppers trounced the Rovers 6-0 and that scoreline and battering were evident again in this meeting.
Frankly the hoppers are just to good for the current crop of Rovers players and they are the best side in the league. Perhaps will a complete full team (Seamus, Jose, Brodie, Matty, Big Joe) the result might have been closer but the result would have still be the same.
For 20 minutes the Rovers battled bravely but it seemed the Hoppers goal was inevitable. The Rovers did have a couple of half chances both falling to the skipper but on one occassion he didn't get enough power behind the shot. Then Mark floated in a free kick that he did well to head on. Once the Hoppers scored though the Rovers didnt' look like they would be able to get back in the contest.
On a positive note the game was played in a very good spirit, by both sets of players and supporters. The ref did a decent job as well.
The Hoppers could have had more then 2 before the break as they hit the post 3 times as well.
The Rovers kept fighting up until about minute 80 when some heads seemed to drop but overall they battled well.
MOM; Jed would have been 10 with out him.
Best Moment of the Match. JOnathan's fair but last ditch crunching tackle to save a goal in the first half
Ref: good job
Groin: killing me
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
Rovers 1 Sunnyvale 2
Use whatever cliche comes to mind, "you make your own luck," football is a game of two halves, you reap what you sow, all of these are appropriate when discussing the Rovers latest game in the PSL this Sunday.
What is clearly turning into one of the most fierce local Derby's in the league didn't disappoint on Sunday. If you wanted to witness what is wrong with the game, from the grassroots level, this was the game to be at. From poor refereeing, from an unruly traveling support, to both sets of players not doing themselves any favors, this game had it all. Combine that with 3 sending offs this was a game that will live in the memory for all the wrong reasons.
Their were a few bright spots in this contest and that mainly comes from the back 3 and KC, who did everything they could to hold out Sunnyvale. Jon,Jed, Matty and KC were tremendous at the back. All of them played brilliantly and kept the Rovers in the contest. Jed was immense. He was the best player on the field, by a country a mile.
The Rovers started pretty well and had a few decent attempts but no clear cut chances in the opening exchanges. Same goes for Sunnyvale, just a midfield battle. Nav, Curt and Brodie were doing a decent job in the middle of the park with Jon finding some good joy down the right. The Rovers took a surprise lead when Ben whipped in a great ball after a throw in that Jon reacted to quickly and his sliding header beat the keeper. Moments Brodie was booked for swearing, not at the ref, and the tone was set. Little Joe had a great chance that he swung and missed at but he made amends moments later when Brodie put in a cross, Joe got it down, and first time his shot just over the top. They were scared of Bryce every time he touched the ball, most of the time they had to hold him to stop him....the ref turning away every chance he got. The Rovers hit Sunnyvale on the break with Jose playing a great ball to Brodie. Brodie's first choice took him around the left back. One yard from getting in the box Brodie was hacked down...The resulting free kick was wasted by Brodie, the ref did not book the player. The game continued in this vein with Matty intercepting every loose ball and Jed and Jonathan on hand to pick up balls over the top. The Rovers went into the break with a surprising 1-0 lead.
Sunnyvale dominated the 2nd half and deserved to equalize but it was painful in the manner in which it was done. Again, like the Rovers last game, the ball appeared to cross the line for a throw in, however the linesman waived play on.. KC did well to save the one on one but the rebound fell nicely for the Sunnyvale forward who made no mistake. Bryce came close minutes later with a fantastic shot that just went over but the Rovers didn't have much as an attacking force. The game swung again when Brodie saw red after his feet collided with a Sunnyvale player who was attacking the goal, even though the pass was actually behind him. The Rovers were down to 10 men and Sunnyvale scored the go ahead goal after their man dove in the box. The ref took no action and the ball rebounded in for Sunnyvale to slot it home. More ridiculous interaction occurred after the match with a Sunnyvale player jogging the width of the pitch to confront Jose after the match. Prior to this Jose was awarded a 2nd yellow for his involvement in the post match involvement. A Sunnyvale player was also ejected, and who they managed to last the game with all 11 players is a mystery to me.
At some point the Rovers need to start getting the rub of the green because it went missing again yesterday.
MOM: JED, but the entire defense deserves a mention
REF: So inconsistent, said he couldn't talk to their fans but went over to ours.just an example of the way he ruled the game. Linesman were poor
Fans: They brought a lot of folks with them, none more so then the muppet in the brown shorts. Love a guy who talks shit but can't play.
Pitch: Huge. Rovers could have used more then one sub
What is clearly turning into one of the most fierce local Derby's in the league didn't disappoint on Sunday. If you wanted to witness what is wrong with the game, from the grassroots level, this was the game to be at. From poor refereeing, from an unruly traveling support, to both sets of players not doing themselves any favors, this game had it all. Combine that with 3 sending offs this was a game that will live in the memory for all the wrong reasons.
Their were a few bright spots in this contest and that mainly comes from the back 3 and KC, who did everything they could to hold out Sunnyvale. Jon,Jed, Matty and KC were tremendous at the back. All of them played brilliantly and kept the Rovers in the contest. Jed was immense. He was the best player on the field, by a country a mile.
The Rovers started pretty well and had a few decent attempts but no clear cut chances in the opening exchanges. Same goes for Sunnyvale, just a midfield battle. Nav, Curt and Brodie were doing a decent job in the middle of the park with Jon finding some good joy down the right. The Rovers took a surprise lead when Ben whipped in a great ball after a throw in that Jon reacted to quickly and his sliding header beat the keeper. Moments Brodie was booked for swearing, not at the ref, and the tone was set. Little Joe had a great chance that he swung and missed at but he made amends moments later when Brodie put in a cross, Joe got it down, and first time his shot just over the top. They were scared of Bryce every time he touched the ball, most of the time they had to hold him to stop him....the ref turning away every chance he got. The Rovers hit Sunnyvale on the break with Jose playing a great ball to Brodie. Brodie's first choice took him around the left back. One yard from getting in the box Brodie was hacked down...The resulting free kick was wasted by Brodie, the ref did not book the player. The game continued in this vein with Matty intercepting every loose ball and Jed and Jonathan on hand to pick up balls over the top. The Rovers went into the break with a surprising 1-0 lead.
Sunnyvale dominated the 2nd half and deserved to equalize but it was painful in the manner in which it was done. Again, like the Rovers last game, the ball appeared to cross the line for a throw in, however the linesman waived play on.. KC did well to save the one on one but the rebound fell nicely for the Sunnyvale forward who made no mistake. Bryce came close minutes later with a fantastic shot that just went over but the Rovers didn't have much as an attacking force. The game swung again when Brodie saw red after his feet collided with a Sunnyvale player who was attacking the goal, even though the pass was actually behind him. The Rovers were down to 10 men and Sunnyvale scored the go ahead goal after their man dove in the box. The ref took no action and the ball rebounded in for Sunnyvale to slot it home. More ridiculous interaction occurred after the match with a Sunnyvale player jogging the width of the pitch to confront Jose after the match. Prior to this Jose was awarded a 2nd yellow for his involvement in the post match involvement. A Sunnyvale player was also ejected, and who they managed to last the game with all 11 players is a mystery to me.
At some point the Rovers need to start getting the rub of the green because it went missing again yesterday.
MOM: JED, but the entire defense deserves a mention
REF: So inconsistent, said he couldn't talk to their fans but went over to ours.just an example of the way he ruled the game. Linesman were poor
Fans: They brought a lot of folks with them, none more so then the muppet in the brown shorts. Love a guy who talks shit but can't play.
Pitch: Huge. Rovers could have used more then one sub
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