Hamersley Dominant as Convincing Victory Silences the Cage

07 September 2013 Written by HRSC

BB United 1 : 5 Hamersley Rovers

A brace each for Michael Garcia and Shaun Gibbons and a single for Ricky Andrews saw Hamersley put back-to-back wins together and confidently see off BB United on Sunday.

The game started slowly with Hamersley content not to force things and to build up patiently, spectators having to wait until the 9^th minute for the first real chance of the game, as Asa Nicholson connected with a left foot effort that rose over.

On 15 minutes a great move was finished with aplomb by Garcia, who enjoyed a fine game leading the charges upfront. Coach Tel Stupple was clearly delighted with the move from his position in the dugout and was assertive in labelling the move as evidence of quality football.

And Rovers were in again on 23 minutes, as a short pass out to Conor Fullard saw the Irishman gain his second assist in two games with a sweet ball across the box that was tidily finished by Garcia.

As the half progressed Rovers eased off slightly and were troubled on the half hour mark as BBs big number seven struck just wide, and keeper Ian Norgrove was called upon to make the first of numerous fine saves three minutes later as the right winger cut inside and shot from close range.

However it was the visitors who finished the half the stronger, Dan Willis firing menacingly but just over on 37 minutes and the dangerous Garcia seeing an effort saved by an outstretched keeper’s leg coming back to him in the air, though the young Mexican’s follow up header ultimately came back off the post and was smothered by the fortunate keeper.

The early stages of the second half called keeper Norgrove into action, making several good stops from close range that kept Rover’s goal tally intact, while at the other end the marauding Fullard had a decent shout for a penalty waved away by the referee, whose view was possibly restricted by the glaring sun.

The game started to open up as BB threw caution to the wind in order to get themselves back into the tie. Fullard found Willis with a low drive across the box but the young wide man’s lunge just couldn’t get him there and Gibbons and Nicholson combined cleverly twice to create goal chances that just went over.

BB themselves knocked on Hamersley door however, and the warning signs were there on 79 minutes when a flicked on free kick was cleared off the line by Ryan ‘Razor’ Sochanik.

And a minute later the score line read 2-1, as a far post header somehow crept in underneath the Norgrove, whose exertions had caused him injury moments earlier. With 10 minutes remaining an opening had appeared and the outlandish crowd sensed a comeback and an opportunity to create a hullabaloo.

Any dreams of a comeback were soon shattered though, as Gibbons neatly played in Andrews for Hamersley’s third, Ben Mathews sent Gibbons away to confidently lob the keeper for their fourth, and Gibbons grabbed his second and Rovers’ fifth with a minute left after a good run from Dave ‘Fingers’ Howell.

It was an emphatic finish to the game and will continue to restore the confidence and form that the team is rebuilding, to add to their unquestioned ability, as Hamersley moves into the next round.

BB United Reserves 2 : 6 Hamersley Rovers Reserves

In the earlier game a second hat trick of the season from Jordan Dean was a highlight of the Reserves’ comfortable victory over BB Reserves, a Kruit brace and a Knoche effort completing the rout.

Rovers struggled to build on their passing game in the first half as strong wind and a tight pitch prevented them from maintaining a rhythm to their football.

However, once again they were prepared to work hard and were rewarded for their exertions when Dean beat the keeper with a looping effort from distance, and then again from close range later in the half.

Hamersley conceded seconds into the second half through poor concentration but soon restored their two-goal cushion with a Kruit volley, and a great solo effort from the German Knoche saw their tally reach four.

Dean stepped up for a penalty midway through the half, and though his first effort was saved he coolly tucked away the second, despite heckling from the vocal crowd.

Another Kruit goal completed the visitor’s scoring, though they conceded one more in the final stages as a free kick was blocked by a resistant Hamersley wall yet the follow up sailed into the top corner.

The result was a good one for the Reserves and did a lot to eliminate the frustrations from the previous weeks result, and the team will now look forward to the next round with goal scoring form.