Rovers I Match Report

League match
Sunday	2009-10-25	12:30
FC Croatia München II	2 (2) - 2 (2)	Rovers I
Manager: John Herbert

Re: Sunday 25th October Croatia II v Rovers I,Bosna II v Rovers II
October 25, 2009, 07:18:29 PM by Geoff

Lovell

Patton (C)? Sluman? Maloney? Sobek

Dewitt? McCardle? Poulton? Meyer

Sach

Carey

Subs
Waine
Messiah

Goals
Carey (Sach)
Sach (Carey)

Assists
Carey
Sach

Rovers I travelled to Croatia, south-west M?nchen, looking to keep the winning run against inconsistent opposition languishing in the league's lower echelons. Cue streaky, temperamental Balkan stereotypes.

The pitch was a little on the small side, made to look even smaller by their sweeper's 80-yard goal kicks off the deck, which were took everyone a little by surprise and were a nuisance throughout. Scrappy spells of head tennis ensued before some nice simple interplay on the left from Sobek and Herr Meyer saw Sach square for Carey to tap home from 6 yards.

Before long Croatia were level, a free kick on the left taking a deflection to leave Floggs with no chance. The game remained scrappy, with the Rovers looking the more likely and getting in the better goalscoring positions. Then defensive dawdling saw a clearance seized on and a solid low shot somehow found its way into the corner, with Lovell, still twitchy from Lecter-induced nightmares, flopping over a shot he would normally have saved.

With Croatia a little lucky to be ahead, parity was restored when Carey leapt salmon-like to meet a cross, head into Sach's path and on current form he doesn't miss from 3 yards out - the wee man nodding home. Back in the game, Rovers looked for more before half-time sweeties, McCardle playing in Sach, who was dubiously judged offside, before Sach then shot wide with Poulton and McCardle free.

The second half remained scrappy, with final balls often lacking in precision and after looking it might have been a goal-fest, there were very few chances of note until the end, when Sach found some space in the area and drew a fine save from the beanpole keeper and in the last minute Croatia struck the post, McCardle getting an excellent block on a follow-up shot and the final effort blazed wastefully over by their man.

A scrappy game that could have been won, but could, in the last minute, just as easily have been lost. Not great, but take the point and move on.