Isuzo FA Trophy 1st Round Qualifying
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 9th September 2023, 3.00pm
Rovers Ravaged
On arguably the hottest day of the year so far, Kidsgrove dealt Rovers the biggest home defeat since the 8-1 defeat against Spalding United in the Evo-Stik South on 12th April 2018, as they served a blistering performance at the Moat Ground hammering the home side by six goals to nil. And to be honest, the margin could or rather should have been wider such was the visitors’ dominance in all areas of the pitch.
The game seemed to be between a side brimming with confidence, scoring goals for fun, not letting many in and sitting proudly unbeaten at the top of their league table against a side struggling to find any sort of form and cohesion, with goals hard to come by and goals given away cheaply.
Things didn’t start well for Rovers as they fell behind on three minutes to a well-constructed goal which ended with a superb curling shot from the left by Tyrone Cadeau.
The visitors piled on the pressure and looked capable of hitting the target with every attack and they went close again three minutes later but a well-timed tackle prevented another goal on the board.
Two more near misses saw Cadeau shoot narrowly wide of the far post and from one of their numerous corner kicks Josh Thorpe also went close but his headed flew just over the bar.
Rovers were finding it difficult to create anything of note and it wasn’t until the half hour mark that they showed any intent. A good move down the left saw Lewis Belgrave cut into the area and unleash a shot that stung the palms of Kieran Harrison as he pushed the effort away from his goal.
It was only a brief respite as once again Athletic turned the screw and from a quick break out of defence they should have doubled their advantage when Cadeau had the gaping goal in front of him only to put his shot wide. The half ended with yet another chance for the visitors only for it to be headed over the bar when well placed.
Rovers were fortunate to come out for the second half just a solitary goal down but as with the first it didn’t take long for the next goal to come.
The home side made three changes at the break with Bekir Halil, Rhys Mason and Riley Davoile replacing Mason Frizelle, Bradley Maslen-Jones and James Tague respectively. But, they had no chance to settle as there team fell further behind. With only two minutes on the clock a cross from the left was forced home by Aaron Bott who was to have a very productive afternoon.
Rovers looked livelier and Danny Munday made a good run forward but fired his shot wide but for the umpteenth time Athletic hit back and grabbed goal number three and it was Bott again. They forced a corner from the left which was swung into the far post where it was headed back across the goal to Bott who headed home.
It was a soft goal to concede but the next one was a little unfortunate. A shot was blocked by the Rovers’ defence only for Bott to grab goal number four for his side and his third as he rammed the ball home gleefully from close in.
A rare, good attack from Rovers saw Davoile make a run down the right and fed the ball to Sleigh whose shot was blocked the rebound fell to Mason but his shot flew wide of the open goal.
Goal number five was another poor one to concede as the outstanding Bott cut into the left of the area and somehow managed to beat home keeper Lewis Fenney at his near post. The final goal of the game was yet another poor one as Lewis Porter was allowed to split the home defence in two before smashing the ball home.
They could have added another goal in the final 10 minutes, but the near post shot was saved by Fenney.
