Six-in-a-row Rothbury Top The Table

Rothbury 2 Cramlington Town 0

Team Valley Carpets Northern Alliance Div 2

Rothbury joint player-manager Dan Herron admitted that if people weren’t paying attention before, they would be now as the Hillmen recorded their sixth straight win to maintain top spot in Division Two.

The Armstrong Park outfit worked hard to take the three points with a goal in each half despite being forced to make seven changes to the starting line-up due to holidays and work commitments.

“We had hoped to fly under the radar a bit at the start of the season, but it is what it is,” said Herron.

“We’ve got a good side and we play attractive football. We’ve lost a bit of the element of surprise and the unknown for sides coming up to Rothbury. They know that they’re going to get a game here now, but it’s up to us to keep playing the way we are.”

Rothbury went ahead just before the interval when James Jackson burst through from midfield and coolly rounded the keeper to drill low into the net.
 

James Jackson, who grabbed the opener

Greg Woodburn added the killer second mid-way through the second half, picking his spot to place a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box which left the keeper rooted to the spot.

Youngster Alex Law flashed a cross-shot across the face of goal and later stung the Town keeper’s gloves with an angled effort as the Reds’ pass and move possession football continued to create opportunities. 

Big Kyle Smith led the line and used his physical presence to great effect, and with the calm direction of skipper (and joint-player manager) Tom Macpherson pulling the strings at the back, Rothbury looked assured and the result was never really in doubt.

With the majority of the side around the six-foot mark and an abundance of talent and experience within the squad, Rothbury won’t be bullied off the ball and mix both the long and short ball elements into their game to stretch their opponents.

The Reds face a sterner test at Armstrong Park on Saturday and are hoping for a bumper crowd at the 2.30pm kick-off as second-placed Jesmond make the journey up to Coquetdale in what could prove an early six-pointer.