Written by Shaun Rudman
The Rocks return to winning ways in style!
After the disappointment of last week’s defeat at Hatfield Peverel, the league leaders turned on the style to emphatically take all 3 points against a resolute Dedham Old Boys side.
Opportunities were sparse in the early exchanges of the game, perhaps unsurprisingly, as both teams felt each other out. However, there was some light entertainment for the rain-soaked crowd on six minutes, when the game was paused to allow the Dedham goalkeeper to change shirts, his all-yellow kit deemed by the Referee to be too similar to the home side’s famous Amber and Black strip.
Despite the slow start, Dedham created the first real chance on 14 minutes, forcing a superb fingertip save from Bruley, who tipped the ball over the bar to keep the scores level, but it was an early warning from the opposition that they weren’t here to make up the numbers.
The hosts did then start to press and attempted to assert some authority on the game, sending in a series of floated crosses, but those in the box struggled to direct their headers on target. In keeping with the frustrating nature of the afternoon so far, on 23 minutes Barnes was shown a yellow card and sent to the sin bin. The visitors were proving to be well drilled and tough to break down, whilst remaining dangerous on the counter.
Things then got worse for the home side, with Dedham capitalising on a defensive lapse on 31 minutes, taking the lead. For the 3rd game in a row, the Rocks found themselves behind, and this is how it remained going into half time. At this stage the home fans could have been forgiven for jumping in their cars and heading to lakeside for a spot of Christmas shopping. But that would have been a mistake as things would quickly change.
After the break, the Rocks came out firing. On just 49 minutes, a cross to the far post was expertly headed across goal by Bobby Reeman, beating the keeper and nestling into the right-hand side of the goal for his second goal in 3 games, levelling the score at 1–1. Shortly after, Ross Barnes had another opportunity but couldn’t beat the defensive pressure, but the home side had fired the warning shot that they weren’t here to accept a point. The team’s passing improved dramatically, and a late slide from Dedham’s number 15 on 61 minutes earned him a yellow card.
On 65 minutes, Harry Daly, who had been terrorising the opposition’s defence all game, drew a somewhat fortunate penalty with a clever spin, the Referee adjudging that the visiting defender had taken Harry’s legs from under him. Harry Prince stepped up and made no mistake from the spot, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 2–1. Faith Segemani and Harry Salter were then introduced on 75 minutes to freshen things up, replacing Lewis Rowe and goal scored Bobby Reeman, with Salter immediately making an impact—setting up Tommy Barnacle, whose powerful shot squirmed under the keeper’s body to make it 3–1 on 76 minutes.
Bailey Morris replaced Ross Barnes on 80 minutes, Ross had put in a solid shift and never stopped running, proving to be a constant thorn in the side of Dedham’s defence, he’d earned his rest.
Club Captain Harry Prince, perhaps in solidarity with the recently subbed Barnes, was shown a yellow and sin binned on 83 minutes and it seemed that his contribution would end there, although he did return to play out some of the extensive amount of injury time.
With 86 minutes on the clock, there was time for one final change, with Joey Purdy coming on for Harry Daly. It didn’t take long for him to make his mark either, when he delivered a perfect cross for Kieron Miles to head home from six yards, making it 4–1. But the Rocks weren’t quite done yet, in stoppage time, Tom Barnacle added a fifth, sealing a remarkable comeback and a convincing win for the table toppers.
An impressive comeback and an important win for the Rocks, who showed resilience and attacking capabilities to overturn a half time deficit and claim all three points.
1. Tommy Bruley
4. Harry Daly
7. Bobby Reeman
8. Tommy Barnacle
9. Ross Barnes
10. Kieron Miles
12. Zac Bussell
15. Flynn Monk
16. Kris Newby
18. Lewis Rowe
20. Harry Prince ©
Subs:
5. Faith Segemani
6. Marcus Bella
11. Bailey Morris
17. Joey Purdy
21. Harry Salter