Maritimo 0 Rovers 1

Apparently the schedule makers consult Manager Gibbsy prior to making the PSL schedule, a bit like in the Premier League with Ferguson having a look before they are announced, as the Rovers couldn’t have asked for a better first two games to the season with Maritimo the second game of the season.

Now Martimo are not mugs but the Rovers have had their number in recent seasons. The game kicked off at 12 noon under the blistering hot sun. Game time kickoff tempature must have been near 95 degrees. The Rovers started off in a dominant mood. Last year’s new player of the season, Jon Regala returned from international duty in place of the injured Larson at the heart of the Rovers defense. He was joined by Paulie who is a bit of jack of all trades. Joe Calvey made his second start for Rovers at right back, surely he will be looking for a new contract next season if this continues. Captain Lawton was in his usual left back slot. The rest of the team was composed of Brodie, Gibbsy, Eoin and new dad Colin, with Bryce up top alongside the “hole” player Jose.

The Rovers were all over them in the opening stages. With Manager Gibbsy going close twice, once with a pile driver of an effort that the goalie did well to push around the post. The entire first twenty minutes were played in the Maritimo half, except on one occasion when Paulie lost possession on a throw in. Maritmo were away but Paulie didn’t give up the chase and closed his man down. The Rovers won a free kick 35 years from goal on minute 20 and the ball was floated in by Gibbsy to Brodie’s head. The header was in..but somehow the goalie managed to tip it round the post. In the resulting corner Brodie should have done much better in a goal mouth scramble but his shot was over the top.

The Rovers pressure continued when Gibbsy lofted in another ball and he found Colin at the back post. Colin found himself all alone but didn’t connect with the ball. I think Colin was thinking about sucking his thumb in the goal celebration rather then connecting with the ball. Maritimo couldn’t deal with Bryce’s pace down the middle and long balls were being won by him everytime. Jon returned to the heart of the defense with Kieran coming in to replace a fierce Joe Calvey.

Paulie was booked in the first half and the Rovers came off the field in disbelief that the score was still 0-0. The second half was more of the same. Bryce had 3 great chances to score but his shots were well saved by the goalie. He had a fantastic pull back that Kieran smashed over the ball. The game was getting a bit picky at time with Brodie’s shennigangs not helping his team mates. Finally the break though came with Bryce was fouled clean through on goal. Normally this ref is very good, however this was not a good day for him. It was possibly a red card challenge as a last man, and surely a yellow card, but he did neither. New boy Jonathan curled in a beauty that beat the keeper. The Rovers should and could have gone on to score more goals. During this period Ben was called into action for one of the first times and he made an excellent save to deny the advancing Maritimo player. Eoin and Mark were destroying their build up play, with Eoin having a seemingly endless supply of energy in the middle of the park. Lawton made 3 crunching tackls in succession during this period that seemed to fire up the troops to finish the game strong. Apparently Colin missed a goal during this period however this match reporter did not see the incident as he was to busy arguing with the ref or opposing players.

Maritimo then got up to their usual antics and had a player sent off for a kick out on Paulie. Once they went down to 10 men the Rovers felt a bit more comfortable however they did have some nervy moments. Jonthan, Jon, Curt and Joe were on hand to repel all of these efforts.

MOM: So hard to pick a man of the match. Eoin deserves a mention for his all action display in the middle of the park Curt also was faultless all day. It really is a toss up between Jon and Jonthan and I can’t really pick between them so I’m giving them co man of the match awards

REF: Normally the best ref in the PSL had one of his worst days. He was quick to play advantage but never went to back to warm their players. Missed some very key moments in the game (the sending off) he had to rely on his clueless assistant ref who had no idea about the offside law.

Pitch: Hard as a rock in place and grass to long in others.

Quote of the day: Calvey to Brodie in the pub. "You go down quicker then bambi's mother"