Rovers Go Top of Premier League

05 June 2013 Written by HRSC

Hamersley Rovers 4:2 BB United

Hamersley Rovers continued in their fine run of form on Sunday with a solid victory against BB United at Carine, that sees them go to top of the Amateur Premier League.

The home side approached the game with a positivity and determination, mixed with a fair degree of skill, that ensured that there could only be one victor in this contest.

Seven minutes into the action Dan Guggisberg burst down the left, cutting back to find Shaun Gibbons who in turn found Conor Fullard. Fullard’s well-timed pass found the roving Ben Matthew who drilled the ball across the danger zone. Ian Browne just unable to get the touch required to put the home side ahead.

A minute later Gibbons again found Fullard, who returned the ball back to the midfield man allowing him to unleash a fierce strike. The goal bound effort deflected back to Fullard whose volley zipped across the face but wide.

On 19 minutes Hamersley took the lead. After good build up play from the back, a Ryan Williams back heel found Fullard yet on another run down the right, and this time his inch perfect cross was tucked neatly away by Gibbons at the far post.

On 39 minutes, Rovers found themselves pegged back with a BB goal as a ball from wide put the big No. 9 through on goal, leaving Ian Norgrove with little chance as the striker calmly tucked it past Hamersley’s No. 1. The goal frustrated Rovers, as it largely came against the run of play and undid the great work that had been put in thus far.

Hamersley were soon back on top on 44 minutes however, as a cross in from the left was poorly defended and fell to Gibbons. The Rovers No. 9 doesn’t need another invitation from that range and finished coolly into the bottom right hand corner.

More good play was to follow. In the last seconds of the half, Matt Emery chested the ball and delivered a great cross to the edge of the box. Gibbons delighted the home crowd with an exquisite turn and a chip to match, the BB keeper luckily scrambling back and clawing the ball off his goal line on his second attempt to save himself from embarrassment.

The opening period of the second half was characterised by hard work from both sides and nothing in the way of goal opportunities from either side. On the 60-minute mark a number of Ricky Andrews corners put pressure on the BB defence, but the away side worked hard to keep Rovers out.

Then on 66 minutes the home side were presented with a gift, as the BB keeper attempted a clearance that went straight to Gibbons, who had only to get the ball under control and finish past the desperate keeper in order to complete a hat-trick and a fine performance.

BB weren’t completely out of it at 3-1 though, and a solid Ben Ashton challenge moments later ensured that the lead was kept to two.

On 70 mins the home crowd witnessed nice play from Dan Guggisberg, as he played the ball through to Gibbons, whose touch put Ryan Williams through. The opportunity to lob the keeper seemed on but the big striker took a nice touch though his subsequent effort dragged just wide.

On 72 minutes BB did get themselves back into the game. A move down the left saw the visitors find a ball back their striker, who just managed to get there before the Rovers defenders.

The pressure was on slightly, and on 75 mins the BB right-winger was put through but shot straight at Norgrove, who was happy to clutch his parried effort before any danger could ensue.

The pressure was soon relieved on 78 mins, as Hamersley pressure saw the keeper parry the ball up into the air, and Williams leapt high and buried his header into the far corner. Williams enjoyed his goal and ensured that his effort silenced the partisan traveling fans.

With 8 minute remaining, Gibbons burst down the right and found the recently returned Asa Nicholson at the far post, though the keeper did just enough to block the effort that would surely have put the result beyond any doubt.

Not long after the referee blew the whistle on another fine contest at Carine. Hamersley had defeated two of their biggest rivals for the title in subsequent weeks and sit one point clear at the top of the table.

Hamersley Rovers Reserves 6:1 BB United Reserves

Two goals from Steve Pountney, a screamer from Jackson Richardson and one each from Daniel Malatesta, Steve Kruit and the hard working Robin Maerte saw the Reserves return to winning ways in the early kick off.

The first half saw the home side dominating in bursts but also suffering lapses in concentration that allowed the BB to get into the game. Malatesta put the home side the ahead after a series of headers in the box eventually fell to the young midfielder, who tucked it well away from the stretching keeper.

One was all that came in the first half and Hamersley did find themselves pegged back shortly into the second half after the BB striker beat the offside trap and had time to pick his spot past Alec Glass.

At this stage the outcome of the game was far from certain and Hamersley needed a response. It wasn’t long in coming. Jackson Richardson, who had not long been on the field, picked up the ball and with a few strides unleashed a fierce strike that was in all the way.

BB were clearly unsettled by going behind again and a Malatesta found Pountney with a far post cross, the latter firmly planting his right foot volley past the keeper.

The floodgates began to open. Maerte, who enjoyed a solid performance in the ‘Makelele’ role, drilled an effort from outside the box that the keeper managed to get a hand to but couldn’t keep out of the net.

Pountney got his second with a header from a delightful Ian Worley free-kick, and Steve Kruit ended the rout with a crossed ball that confused the keeper and found its way into the bottom right hand corner.

The result was exactly the tonic that was required after a poor performance in the previous round, and sees the reserves recommence their challenge for top spot in the division.