Jesmond 2 Rothbury 4
Northern Football Alliance
Team Valley Carpets Division Two
Leading scorer Dan Thompson got back on the goal trail with
a first half double as Rothbury went top of the table on goal
difference.
With Tony Brown and Gareth McCann also stretching the net
before the break, the Reds had done the damage and defended resolutely after
that to claim three important points in a game that the referee almost
abandoned at one point due to a hail shower.
“We knew that the second half would be
difficult against the strong wind and a tenacious Jesmond side but I thought we
controlled the goal really well and defended excellently at times, limiting
them to long range shots,” said player coach Tom Macpherson afterwards.
Although Andy Hall cancelled out Brown’s brilliant tenth
minute opener, Rothbury raced back in front with three goals in six devastating
minutes. Stewart Wright pulled another back for the hosts shortly after the
turnaround.
Stobswood did the Reds a huge favour by
beating Whitley Bay SC 2-1 while Spittal Rovers were 2-0 up at the break
against Blyth – but the visitors notched six in a storming second half to blow
the title race wide open.
Manager Dan Herron echoed his right hand
man’s views and said: “I thought the defence did really well in the second half,
which won us the game really. It’s also great to see the strength in depth too.
Being able to bring such quality as Al Laviers, Chris Fawcett and Chrissy Coe
off the bench is something Rothbury hasn’t had for a long time - true strength
in depth.”
Herron hailed Thompson’s contribution as ‘great’
and picked out his second goal – running at pace from the half way line before
jinking inside a defender and curling it into the corner – as the pick of his
brace.
McCann’s hot form continued with his eighth
goal in seven games, rounding the keeper and coolly finishing from a narrow
angle with James Loughborough’s clever dummy on a Macpherson through ball
creating the opening. Loughborough’s all-round performance was praised by both
Herron and Macpherson, with his work-rate in midfield described as ‘brilliant’
and being ‘strong in the midfield battle and linking up play nicely.’
“It was a great win against what could
easily have been a banana skin to be honest,” continued Herron.
“Jesmond’s high press and very quick
counter attacks are always a danger. We weren’t brilliant by any means, which
the conditions played a part in, but nevertheless we created a few chances and
got our rewards I’d say.”
“It was good to see the character in the
team show through - when we were pegged back to 1–1 we didn’t drop our heads. It’s
very much a case of job done and another three points on the board.”
Rothbury have a huge fixture against
third-placed Whitburn & Cleadon at Armstrong Park on Saturday, kick-off
2.30pm, and this is followed by games against Whitley Bay SC (home) and
Willington Quay Saints (away).
“We have three massive games ahead to
finish off March which could really define our season. But it’s exciting times
ahead and the lads are loving the ride at the moment,” added Macpherson.
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