Howden AFC Men's First XI
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Sat 10 Jan 2015
Howden AFC
Howden AFC Men's First XI
C Gorman (0')
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AFC Rovers
Howden AFC v AFC Rovers

Howden AFC v AFC Rovers

Keith Tinkler10 Jan 2015 - 16:00
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Match report

Rover & Out
 
 
The MinsterMen continued to disappoint this weekend as they suffered their first defeat of the season in front of home fans. The side lined up similar to last week with John Boardman coming into the line up. Chris Gilmartin also returned to action after a few absent weeks and shone in the heart of the defence.   Howden began at a lightening fast pace and should have been ahead within the first opening minute. Schofield fired across from the right which Bell couldn't turn home. Catching AFC Rovers out early on, the visitors were somewhat expecting to walkover the Howden side who were looking for a first win in 4.  As the game grew, Rovers got themselves into the action more. Dominating the midfield the visiting side began to put pressure on the hosts. The home side defended resolutely led by skipper Damien McMahon. Butterill, Gilmartin and Hutchinson dug deep and defended the onslaught. A wave pattern occurred for 20 minutes as it was a sea of Rovers attacks. Expert interceptions and clearances kept the visitors out.  Jackson had relatively little to do in the goal apart from sweep up over hit passes in the gale force winds. The Howden counter was on and Westerman up the other end of the field came closest as he should have put away his chance, hesitating too much, allowing the keeper to save. Gilmartin came close from a resulting corner. Gorman also ran through clear but blazed his effort over. Next up was Schofield who hit his snapshot over the cross bar. In an end to end game, Howden were left to rue missed chances as they found themselves behind on the forty minute mark.  Butterill cleared a header to the central midfielder, who hit the pass first time. Howden appealed for offside but the ref waved play on. Jackson saved the wingers effort however the striker tapped home the rebound to give Rovers a deserved lead.   At Half-time Holt lamented his sides lack of finishing quality and demanded his midfield hold onto the ball longer.  Howden began brightly, getting straight into AFC Rovers and pushed them back into their own half. Within ten minutes they were back level. Bell released Gorman who turned inside and back again, firing low to the keeper's near post finishing well. With the game level and both sides pushing hard for the crucial next game, it fell to the visitors. A routine long ball wasn't defended well and Jackson decided to come off his line to meet the striker. The forward cleverly lifted the ball over the rushing MinsterMen keeper and grabbed the initiative in the game.  Within five minutes AFC Rovers had another, another set piece the MinsterMen failed to deal with. An inswinging corner was headed home with relative ease and Holt will be dejected with the poor defending as the rest of the game, the home side had out battled AFC Rovers in the box.  McArdle, Andrew & Rothery entered the action but the fresh legs failed to lift the MinsterMen. Down in the dumps, the home side failed to find a route back into the game. Struggling to retain possession and keep shape, the game slowly came to an end. Howden lost again for the fourth consecutive game.  "We didn't take our early chances. If we do, we have a comfortable lead. I'm disappointed by the lack of fight towards the end when we were 3-1 down. We need to turn it around fast and quickly. Otherwise it'll be another season of regret!" said a dejected Holt. Chris Gilmartin won the WMC Man of the Match following a shining display in a poor MinsterMen side.

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Jan 2015

Kickoff

14:00

Meet time

00:00
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