This years battle of the two Rovers produced a hard fought, entertaining game that could have gone either way. Eventually the Blues
ran out victorious with a goal from Dewi.
The game started with Rovers applying the early pressure, but Henry, captain for the day, was superb and controlled proceedings at the back. It was
the Blues that had the first shot on goal, and what a cracker it was. Charlotte crossed the ball towards the edge of the Rovers penalty area
where it rebounded out to Joe C who hit a rasping shot from 30 yards. The parents of both sides expected the net to bulge, but David in the
Rovers goal jumped acrobatically to palm the ball brilliantly over the crossbar for a corner.
Rovers were looking dangerous from corners, and one such effort led to confusion in the area, where a Ronan shot hit Charlotte, standing on the back
post, rebounded back to Ronan, and then bounced wide - for once, fortune favouring the Blues.
The Blues were to have the next good attempt on goal, and this time it was from Charlotte, trying to repeat her effort against Cleve. Hitting the
ball first time from outside the area, the ball curled just beyond the outside of the post for a goal kick.
Rovers hit back soon after and a run and cross from the right almost led to the first goal, but George, on as a substitue threw himself at the
Andrew and blocked the goal bound shot.
(Tim battles for the ball.)
The Blues hit back again, and a run from Will from the half way line following a through ball by Tim, led to a good save from the Rovers keeper that went out for a corner. From the
corner, taken by Joe C, the travelled through the six yard area where it was met by the on rushing Dewi and prodded into the back of the net. It was
a lead that the Blues were never to relinquish.
Before the break, Dewi made one of his trademark runs from the half way line. His shot from inside the area went into the side netting.
After the goal, both teams continued to battle until half time.
The second half saw the Rovers playing with the wind behind their backs. Rovers tried to break down the Bles defence, but on the one occassion
that they were able to beat Luke in the Blues goal, a despairing tackle by Joe A and a clearance off the line from Charlotte saved the day.
The back four for the Blues were superb, and Luke behind them was secure, diving on two occassions at the feet of Rovers attackers to thwart their
attempts on goal.
But Rovers did not have it all their way in the second half, with the better chances falling to the Blues. Three counter attacks almost led to
a second goal. On the first occassion Will broke free and unfortunately fired wide, secondly Joe B tried a long range shot that went wide,
and thirdly Dewi broke free but didn't quite get hold of his shot and the ball bobbled towards the Rovers keeper.
The end was tense, but when the final whistle blew, the Blues were joyous and probably deserved winners. To quote Martin Luther King, (the day before
Martin Luther King in America), 'The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at
times of challenge and controversy. '.
