Rothbury 0 Whitburn & Cleadon 1
Northern Football Alliance Division One
You don’t have to be mad to be a goalkeeper, but it helps. That
old saying was never so apt for Rothbury’s unlucky Paul Appleby who pulled off
a stunning save to deny a Whitburn striker – then could only raise his eyes
skywards after bundling Liam Roberts’ deep cross into his own net for the
visitor’s late winner.
“I would say we were the better team in the first half but
couldn’t get a goal. The second was 50/50 with Whitburn probably having more
chances in the second - a draw would have been fair to me. But when you’re down
you just keep getting kicked,” groaned manager Dan Herron afterwards.
The result saw the South Shields side rocket up to fourth in
the table, while Rothbury remain in 11th. But Herron isn’t about to
start hitting the panic button after a good performance against one of the
sides tipped for promotion at the start of the season and said: “We were
pleased with the attitude - we played as a team and didn’t get our heads down
like previous weeks. We just need find the back of the net when we’re on top! We’re
playing the right way and just need a bit more composure and quality in the
final third I would say.”
The Reds had chances to break the deadlock after the break;
James Jackson played a defence-splitting ball over the top for Chris Coe to run
onto and Gareth McCann just couldn’t find the finish after taking a touch on his
low driven centre.
Greg Woodburn also had a good sight at goal when a mis-hit
goal kick ran straight to him but he raced the finish on his weaker left foot and
fired just wide.
At the other end Appleby flung himself to keep out an angled
powerful volley – ‘an immense save, like Gordon Banks,’ said the gaffer – with Thomas
Hammond bravely blocking the rebound to deny a certain goal from six yards and
the net gaping.
However, with just eight minutes remaining, Roberts fired
over a cross and as Appleby came to claim it misjudged the flight and,
backpeddling, spilled it over the line. One mistake, severely punished.
“It was such a shame, given we’d played so well and defended
brilliantly,” said Herron.
“The whole back four – new signing Chris Case was very good
at right back, Hammy (Thomas Hammond) and Jack (Angus) so solid at centre half,
and Mins (James Jackson) when he dropped in, and Harry Felton at left back.
They played really well, defended so well but also played out well from the
back. Tony Brown had a great first half and the work rate of young Dylan Handyside
was phenomenal.”
It was tough luck on the Coquetdale side, who go again at
Hexham on Saturday. The Tynedalers are a point behind the Reds in 12th
position, but have four games in hand.
Comments
Post a Comment