ZAMARETTO LEAGUE DIVISION ONE MIDLANDS

Saturday 13 February 2010

ROTHWELL TOWN 1 BURNHAM 2

Burnham were far too good for a Rothwell Town side that had not played at home since November 21.  In fact they had only played league leaders Hitchin Town since the 2-0 defeat at The Gore over two and a half weeks ago. 

Burnham dominated the match for long periods but was contained by stubborn rearguard defending and a fair number of goal bound shots being cleared off of the line.  In fact the first good opportunity did fall to the home side when Robbie Maddox skewed his shot wide.  On 10 minutes Paul Coyne passed to the unmarked Ryan Bird who in turn found Denis Fenemore whose shot was diverted away for a corner that saw Paul Brett have his header cleared off of the line by a defender.  Two minutes later Coyne again released Bird who was unable to finish.  Just before the quarter hour Adrian Sear was cautioned for a tackle on Jason Turner.  Another corner saw Fenemore have yet another shot cleared off of the line after a super shot from Coyne had seen Lee Crockett in the Rothwell goal turn the ball round the post.  Rothwell had a chance on 31 minutes when Brian Bowles released Tom Mills who forced a good save from Paul McCarthy, albeit conceding a corner.  A couple of minutes later Fenemore in a move similar to his second goal a few days earlier against SYCOB, this time saw the shot go wide of the post.  Stuart Swift got in the shooting act only for Crockett to do really well when off of his goal line.   Burnham were forced into a change on 37 minutes when Will Dunlop went off with a leg injury, Bird took his place at the back with Craig O’Connor going up front.  Bird almost snatched the lead before the break when he headed a Coyne free kick wide.

The second half was a like the first with chances going begging.  O’Connor was fouled on the edge of the penalty area, the ball went for a corner that Swift swung in and was cleared off of the line  -  again.  The best chance of the half came on 56 minutes when O’Connor beat the offside and with only Crockett between him and goal he put the shot wide.  The deadlock was broken on 61 minutes when with O’Connor and Fenemore driving in space opened up and ROSS LAFAYETTE shot home to make it 1-0.  This lifted Rothwell and they had their best spell.  First McCarthy, who had a good match, had to make a good stop from Mills and then on 81 minutes the home team got level thanks to Jason TURNER getting past Bird and firing past McCarthy.  Fenemore and O’Connor created openings only to be upended on more than one occasion when in dangerous attacking positions.  The match looked to be heading for a draw when on 90 minutes man of the match Lafayette provided a pass for SWIFT to fire home the winner into the roof of the goal.

Rothwell Town: Lee Crockett, Chris Goodman, Simon Underwood, Martin Flannigan, Adam Sturgess (Ben Audulus) Bobby White, Brian Bowles, Tom Mills, Jason Turner, Robbie Maddox, Shaun Goodall (Michael Cirelli) Subs not used Kyle Locklin, Joe Wright and Jim Retief.

Burnham: Paul McCarthy, Dave Tilbury, Ben Hudell, Paul Brett, Will Dunlop (Craig O’Connor) Adrian Sear, Paul Coyne, Stuart Swift, Denis Fenemore, Ryan Bird, Ross Lafayette (Terry O’Connor)  Subs not used Jordan Dowdican, Joe Hatcher, Chay Morris.

Referee: Sian Massey

Man of the Match: Ross Lafayette

Attendance 85

Entertainment value 3/5