Saturday 5th August – Friendly

Rocester 1 Stapenhill 5

Hapless Rocester were comprehensively walloped by Stapenhill in Saturday’s friendly at Hillsfield.

Stefan Marshall terrorised the home defence all afternoon. His pace and willingness to chase every ball left Rocester’s aging rearguard unable to cope. He scored two, could easily have scored another three, and played a major role in the 16th minute opener when his left-wing cross was mysteriously headed into his own goal by Mark Hubbard.

The Romans briefly threatened to make a game of it in the run-up to half time. Their goal, thumped home by Chris Rowley in the 36th minute, was the best of the match. Mark Ruddock neatly flicked goalkeeper Brad Clarke’s clearance into the path of Kevin Millward on the right flank. Millward’s great run into the box ended when he played the ball into Rowley’s path and he finished it superbly.

Eight minutes into the second period, Clarke handed Stapenhill their second goal when he smacked a clearance against Greg Smith and the ball bounced straight back into the net.

Unmarked substitute Jamie Davies made it three in the 63rd minute when he rifled the ball into the top corner from 18 yards, and six minutes later Marshall finally got on the scoresheet when he easily outpaced Hubbard before slotting the ball past Clarke.

Marshall completed the humiliation five minutes from time when he ran clear and calmly clipped the ball into Clarke’s net.

Rocester: Clarke; Johnson; Hubbard; Owen; M.Ede; Brown; Millward; Rowley; Ruddock; Baum; Caswell.  Subs used: P.Ede; Esplin; Gadsby.

Stapenhill: Critchlow; Akers; Campbell; Watson; Goode; Thomas; Jenkinson; Gough; Marshall; Smith; Price. Subs used: Davies; Geoghan; Jones; Kirkland.

Scorers:

Rocester: Rowley (36)

Stapenhill: Hubbard O.G. (16); Smith (53); Davies (63); Marshall (69 & 85).

Referee: Mr. L. Wood (Burntwood).

Attendance: 60.

Burton Mail