First Team come unstuck following lengthy winter break.

After a 5-week lay-off, the First Team returned to action on Saturday with a tricky looking fixture away to Rock Rovers. The fixture was played at the Earby Dog Waste Arena and the pitch was the proverbial "leveller" before the whistle was even blown.

Prior to kick-off, the management team stressed to the players that this would be one of their toughest examinations of the season and it duly proved to be the case.

The game started in a sluggish fashion, with both sides being guilty of squandering possession too easily and looking rusty from the lengthy winter layoff. However, with just 4-minutes played, the game saw an early flash point, when Rovers midfielder Paul Sconce clattered Spencer Jordan with an extremely late and dangerous challenge, which remarkably went unpunished by the referee. With this, the ref had set the precedent for the game as the hosts player was fully aware of what he was trying to do.

After 10-minutes, Rolls found themselves in a position that they had not been all that familiar with this season, having to come from a goal behind. Rock winger Natty Anderson picked up the ball midway inside the Rolls half and when the visitors defence backed off, he unleashed a strike from 25-yards that flew into the top corner, leaving Benji Cocker rooted to the spot as though he was queueing at McDonalds.

The goal knocked Rolls and shortly after the opener, Rock should probably have doubled their advantage but the visitors weathered the pressure and began to get a foothold in the contest. Rolls were beginning to play to their strengths and get the ball into wide areas, or as wide as was possible on the 9-a-side pitch however, their improving performance was halted when another late challenge saw Ben Whittaker forced from the field, although the introduction of Nathan Taylforth as his replacement proved pivotal. Taylforth was able to capitalise on a loose back pass from ex Rolls veteran Kev Richardson and drew the visitors level with his first touch.

The game was beginning to get stretched as the clock ticked towards half time and both Luke Parkinson and George Lewin were having a growing influence on proceedings, and it was these 2 who combined to put the visitors in front after 38 minutes. A surging run and cross from Lewin was met by Parkinson who smashed home on the half-volley to continue a fine goal scoring season.

Despite finding themselves in the lead, the half was marred by a terrible injury when shortly before the half-time interval Rolls lost their talisman Spencer Jordan to a dislocated shoulder, an injury which could prove to be season ending.

In spite of a sluggish start, Rolls were good value for their lead at half-time and should probably have lead by a greater margin but for missed chances, a string of good saves from the Rock goalkeeper and what seemed like a strong case for a penalty turned away.

It is hard to say whether the injury to Jordan rocked Rolls or whether they thought the game was won but in the second half, Rolls produced one of their poorest 45 minutes of the season. But for some outstanding saves from Bendy Cocker and some terrific last ditch defending, Rolls could’ve quite easily found themselves leaving Earby Rec pointless.

In the second half Rock took the game to Rolls, looking to their danger man Anderson at every opportunity, with his pace causing countless problems for the visitors. With Jordan and Whittaker off the field, Rolls didn’t look the same side and the management team of Gaskell and Holgate changed personnel and shape in an attempt to relieve the pressure.

With the game approaching the final 15-minutes, second half chances had come and gone for both sides, but Rock deservedly equalised albeit with a bit of luck. A long diagonal ball found the hosts attacker, who rose highest to head the ball across goal, wrong footing Matthew Naylor in the process, before hitting the falling Rock centre forward on the shin before bouncing agonisingly beyond Cocker and trickling into the back of the net.

In the closing stages Rock looked like the side who would go on to win the game however, Rolls sought to hit the visitors on the counter attack and but for better choices in the final third, could’ve pinched all the 3-points themselves. In the end both sides had to settle for a point and looking back, Rolls will see this as a point gained. Undoubtedly 18-months ago this is a game Rolls would’ve been beaten in and that is testament to the group, who put in a shift together when the chips were down.

With injury’s suffered to Britton, Jordan and Whittaker, Gaskell will be looking for the Reserves to step up and claim a place in the squad in the coming weeks. This Saturday Rolls are on the road again when they travel to Prairie Sports Village to play Polonia Pendle.

Regardless of events on the pitch last Saturday, more importantly, everybody involved with the club wishes Spencer Jordan a speedy and full recovery.

Rolls FC

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