Five-star Rotherfield get year up and running in style

ROTHERFIELD 5

OLD VARNDEANIANS II 0

Mid Sussex League Championship

FOLLOWING the postponement of the scheduled fixture on January 2, because of a waterlogged pitch, Rotherfield faced this first game of the year after a three-week hiatus.

There was no cause for worry, however, as Rotherfield were simply too strong offensively and Scrooge-like in defence.

Having been starved of possession for the first 10 minutes, Rotherfield made a swift counter-attack, using pace in abundance. A cross from Mat Green was met by a powerful shot from Tom Ford, playing wide in midfield.

Old Vs keeper Murphy saved miraculously, but the loose ball fell to Elliott Wilkins, who headed into the empty net.

Chris Fenwick then passed to Ford, who found Wilkins wide left and he accelerated clear of Chick before cutting inside Noukwe and shooting for the far corner, but Murphy, at full stretch, made another superb save with his left hand.

A few minutes later, a dangerous cross from Ford was only half-cleared to Dave Kilby on the edge of the box. His touch was perfect before he unleashed an unstoppable shot from 25 yards that flew into the corner.

Now 2-0 ahead, Rotherfield were in overdrive, but some rustiness showed as Wilkins failed to get a meaningful shot onto a through-ball by Craig King and then the striker pulled his shot wide after being released by an excellent pass from strike partner Mark Pickles.

Twelve minutes after the restart, the match was secured as Rotherfield fired in three goals in quick succession; the first came from a patient build-up across the back four, with skipper Dan Taylor passing to Ford.

His driven cross-field pass into the run of Pickles was perfection, the striker making a fierce shot that beat Old Vs keeper Murphy, but struck the crossbar. Wilkins was on hand to head the loose ball into the net.

Wilkins then became provider as he received the ball from Paul Barnes before finding Pickles with a clipped pass and the striker – on fire all match – side-footed his finish wide of Murphy into the net.

Two minutes later, a corner was conceded by Chick as he cleared a cross by Green from under his own crossbar, but as Wilkins and Ford made runs to clear the space, an inch-perfect delivery from Kilby came for Barnes, who half-volleyed into the net.

Rotherfield then conceded a penalty as Ford was harshly adjudged to have handled while tackling Gomez, but justice was done as Taylor saved not only the initial spot-kick from Potter, but also the follow-up shot.

Rotherfield II lost 3-2 away at Lindfield. Both goals were scored by Gareth Evans, but they would have won, had they taken their multitude of chances, although the home keeper was brilliant.

Rotherfield III lost heavily away at Burgess Hill Wanderers by 7-2 in a bad-tempered, distasteful match. Rotherfield's goals were scored by Rob Simmons, with a pile driver of a free-kick, and Mike Davies.