Tuesday 16th September 2003 – Midland Football Alliance

Rocester 1 Oadby Town 0

Paul McMahon notched his seventh league goal of the season to keep unbeaten Rocester up amongst the early season pace-setters.

After the Romans had created two half-chances in the first minute it was the visitors who almost took and 11th minute lead when Kirk Master’s fierce drive from 25 yards out was finger-tipped over his crossbar by Richard Froggatt.

McMahon should have put Rocester in front after 20 minutes when he latched on to Russell Peake’s downward header, but he steered his shot inches wide of the right-hand post.

Six minutes later Oadby keeper Chris Gowan made two good saves in quick succession to keep out long range efforts from Andy Marlowe and Peake before Froggatt made a similar save to his earlier one to deny Master again following a free kick.

Deep into first half injury time Rocester scored the only goal of the game following a free kick out on the left. Andy Bostock fed the ball to David Berks and his low cross was prodded home at the far post by McMahon.

The visitors controlled the early stages of the second half but suddenly lost all their discipline with three players booked for dissent in the 63rd minute, and another three minutes later. Stuart Spencer had already gone in the referee’s notebook soon after the restart.

Oadby almost equalised after 79 minutes when Craig Heaney’s mis-timed header fell to Ashley Warner who lobbed the ball over Froggatt but against the outside of the right-hand post.

A minute later Master was shown a red card for a second booking, yet again for dissent, and soon afterwards substitute Marc Orton became the sixth Oadby player to receive a yellow card for the same offence only five minutes after joining the game.

McMahon’s final act was to shoot against the legs of Gowan before being replaced in the closing stages by Kevin Milward.

Rocester: Froggatt; Skelton; Bostock; Watson; Heaney; Holland; P.Ede; Marlowe; Peake (Rawlinson 38); McMahon (Milward 84); Berks (Colclough 74). Subs not used: Ridley; Rodrigues.

Oadby Town: Gowan; Horner; Fenton (Orton 80); Towers; Spencer; Knight; Charlton; Master; D.Spencer; Warner; Poultney. Subs not used: Woodford; Millington; Stevenson.

Attendance: 86.