Team: Robert Woodcock, Karl Mills, Darren Cox (C), Ian Stones, Ian Woolston, Sean Brown, James Basey-Fisher, Greg Murphy, Colin Wines, Chris Holmes, Neil Hurren. Subs: Richard Brett, Liam Barnes.

We arrived at the Pastures on a bright blustery day with this being a “must-win” game for the Rovers to maintain their Premier Division status. The pitch was in excellent condition and the windy conditions made it essential to get it down and play.

The game started in extraordinary fashion with a goal from a free kick awarded a few yards inside the Beavers half. Woody came up to take the kick and spotting Rovers’ keeper/captain Tom Armit off his line, fired the ball over his head into the back of the net, a superb goal after just four minutes played. In an excellent move Chris Holmes dispossessed Paul English, played the ball out wide to Colin Wines and his cross was met by Neil Hurren at the far post but went just wide. Ben Walker created the Rovers’ first chance after 14 minutes with a cross from the left which flashed across goal but it was 2-0 to the Beavers after 18 minutes. Chris Holmes was put through on goal by Sean Brown, as Armit rushed out, Holmes went round him to the right and shot. As Wines followed the ball in but unable to apply the finishing touch for fear of being caught offside, the ball came back off the far post to Greg Murphy to fire in a shot which Armit diving full stretch to his right couldn’t keep out. With the Beavers pressing forward, Dersingham broke away and scored against the run of play, Ben Walker beating Ian Stones and firing in a great left footed shot past Woody after 25 minutes. Woody saved with his legs from Tom Doughty after Walker had put him through but the referee’s assistant had raised his flag for offside. The Beavers third goal arrived seconds before half time, Wines picking the ball up to Karl Mills on the right, played inside to Holmes who raced to the by-line before crossing the ball for James Basey-Fisher to apply the finishing touch. Half Time: 1-3.

With the home team deflated by the third goal, it took just two minutes after the restart for James Basey-Fisher to score his second goal, Greg Murphy cleverly letting Karl Mills’ ball forward run on to James who calmly put the ball past Armit as he rushed out. Matty Wymer went into the book for a foul on Mills and after Holmes’ cheeky back-heel, a clumsy tackle on Hurren in the box resulted in Woody sending Armit the wrong way from the penalty spot for 5-1 after 58 minutes. Two minutes later it was 6-1 with Murphy winning the ball and Holmes going through to score with a classy finish. With Coxy going off with calf trouble, Bretty came on down the left whilst Mills and Woolston assumed their more regular defensive positions, Sean Brown taking the armband for a short period before being replaced by Liam Barnes. It was 7-1 after 74 minutes, Bretty put a great ball forward to Wines on to Hurren who was tackled and none other than Ian Woolston turned in the box and smashed the ball home.

This was a confident team performance a long way from home with some excellent short passing moves on a good surface. Admittedly this was against weak opponents but the talent coming through from the Ressies and A team complemented by the skill and flair of the “older” hands, must give us great hope of future success. To close, a quiz question, has a goalkeeper ever scored a hat-trick, don’t tell me - Woody has! Next up Mattishall at home on Tuesday evening 6.30pm kick-off.

DAVE WHEELER