Barnstonworth Rovers Thirds Match report, 11/8/09

Eintracht (2) - Rovers Thirds (3)

by Jeremy Wine

Perfect weather, a great new pitch at the venerable Met Oval, a good referee, and a fantastic result belie the fact that this match could have gone either way. Rovers will take the three points without apology as they stake a claim for share of the league lead, pending other results.

Eintracht came out of the gate in the ascendancy and not 5 minutes in, a ball was allowed to bounce in the box (A theme that would repeat throughout the day), and a failure to clear let an Eintracht striker thump home the opening goal from 3 yards out. Rovers looked a bit stunned and confused, to be honest. It was to be a day against a side you wouldn't call large on the whole where Rovers would lose the aerial battle and be outworked by a sharp Eintracht outing. Rovers were almost immediately down 2 as an Eintracht shot from distance was parried by reserve reserve goalkeeper Mackers in the direction of an opposing striker, only to have the tap in amazingly deflected by a streaking, out of nowhere Sarg Schlatter.

The winning attitude, however, has been there for Rovers these days; in the middle of the first half, Rovers would equalize through some familiar faces; Gavin played a ball out wide to Brandon, who answered with a biting cross from the right to the feet of a wide open Obudulu. Obudulu took a calm touch and netted home the evener. An all action first half continued as Eintracht pulled ahead once again on a Moore penalty given due to another scrum in the Rovers box. The Eintracht player beat Mackers from the spot and it was Eintracht 2-1.

Sarg began giving the Eintracht backline fits from an outside midfield positions, and Rovers began to take back some real estate. Rovers would equalize before the half, however, with excellent hold up play from Obudulu, who centered a pass to Gavin. Gavin drew both defenders and played a short oblique ball to Brandon who needed no invitation to lay down the hammer foot and bring us to half, 2-2.

At the start of the second half, Rovers made some incremental improvements to the back line and midfield structure, led by Tommy in the holding central midfield role asserting his everywhereitude. Chances on both ends went wanting until 5 minutes from time. The Eintracht goalie opted for a clearance instead of collection, finding a solitary Gavin 40 yards out. Gavin took it down coolly, made 20 yards for himself straight up the pitch with a defender on his hip, and blasted home a left-footed strike that echoed from here to Alpha Centauri. Hyperbole aside, it was a great strike and none to soon. Eintracht had one last gasp as another clash of bodies and ball in the Rovers box failed to end in a goal somehow, and the final whistle blew.

Rovers sit 4-1-1 and no more than 3 points back from the top. A juicy 6-pointer looms with league leaders Gotham Argo. Next week, continued cup glory, against none other than that same Gotham Argo.

Squad: Mackers; Moore, Kilfedder, Sarge and Wine; Tommy, Gav, Duca and Bern; Obudulu and Rowley.
Subs (all played): coach, Sholltrain, Sergio and Darrell.