Northern Premier League Midlands
The Moat Ground
Tuesday, 12th September 2023, 7.45pm
Battling Point For Rovers
Anyone who made the trip to the Moat Ground on a damp autumn evening was treated to a great game of football produced by both teams. Despite the England versus Scotland on the TV and the weather taking a turn for the worse there was plenty to warm the faithful up.
There was end to end action, woodwork struck, goal line clearances, great saves and what would have been goal-of-the-season if the ball had been a couple of inches lower and to top it all off, one of the best debuts seen at the Moat for many a season.
Rovers were hoping for a performance in stark contrast to the one on Saturday, albeit against the best side played so far, and all the players duly produced helped by the introduction of loan signing of young forward Finlay Barker who has joined the club from Solihull Moors with his direct running at the visiting defence caused all manner of problems.
The home side started well forcing three corners in the first 15 minutes with the last one seeing Dexter Dudley-Toole heading straight into the arms of Mikes keeper Daniel Moore.
More pressure from Rovers saw a fine run through the middle from Barker which ended with him with only Moore to beat but his final shot was blocked by the outstretched leg of the keeper.
Boldmere’s first attack came on 22 minutes when home keeper Lewis Fenney was needed to make a save at his near post from a corner.
On the half hour mark came was would have been the goal-of-the-season nomination. The ball was cleared to the halfway line by the Mikes defence and collected by James Tague who, looking up, saw Moore well off his line so he sent what was almost the perfect lob towards his goal. With Moore scrambling towards the net, he could only look on as the ball bounced over his head and hit the bar and away.
Two minutes later the woodwork again came to the Mikes aid. Jamie Sleigh made a good run down the right but after beating the keeper could only watch on as his shot cannoned off the inside of the far post and away.
Rovers had been applying most of the pressure, but they fell behind against the run of play. A run down the flank ended with Owen Parry heading home unmarked.
The half ended with Barker again going close trying a chip from the right which flew just over the bar.
Bekir Halil replaced the injured Dudley-Toole at the break but still Rovers came out pressing with two attempts on goal blocked in the first five minutes. Baker was still probing and after cutting into the area put his shot wide of the far post.
Fenney had to be alert making a save holding onto a low shot, but a minute later Boldmere doubled their advantage. Parry fastened onto a loose ball in the area after it had been crossed. With his back to the goal, he turned took a step before hammering the ball home.
Rovers hit back immediately. A superb run by Barker into the right of the area saw him hit a shot which Moore did well to block but the ball rebounded to Danny Munday who made no mistake ramming the ball home from close in.
The Mikes went close to regaining the lead five minutes later. A good move down the left between substitute Jamies Spiers and Parry saw the striker firing straight at Fenney.
More changes were made by both sides as the second half reached the halfway mark. Rovers brought on Ste Hart and Riley Davoile for Lewis Belgrave and James Tague.
Rovers were trying to get their just deserts from the game they’d dominated in large parts, but that elusive goal would not come. Indeed, by piling forward they were left a little short at the back and it almost cost them. Substitute Renelle Davis-Lawrence raced through the Rovers backline quickly and with only Fenney to beat looked odds on to score but the keeper made a fine block to deny him his goal.
Fenney kept his side in the game on 90 minutes when he made a spectacular save pushing Harry Sweeney’s shot out of the top corner of the net.
Deep, deep into time added on Rovers had one more chance to grab something from the game and it came to Barker, who else? A brilliantly directed diagonal long ball from Alby Lansdowne picked out Barker who controlled the ball just inside the area before smashing it into the net for his debut goal and Rovers’ fully deserved share of the points.
