ROVERS COME FROM BEHIND TO SNATCH LATE WINNER

 Pre Season Friendly

BURTON JOYCE RESERVES 1 ASHLAND ROVERS RESERVES 2

When the pre season fixtures began to come out, there was very little to choose from today and having promised on several occasions that I would see Burton Joyce Reserves play, this was the ideal time to make this happen, though I will go to see them on their own ground, as this match was played at Hucknall Rolls Royce FC.

On arrival, I was greeted by Carl Reilly, the manager of Burton Joyce Reserves and we had a quick chat, before having a chat with a gentleman a bit older than me who was explaining what Rolls Royce engines were made in the war, my grandad worked a Rolls in the war making engine parts, so we had a chat, but I had to keep a eye on my son Shawn who was in the dugout chatting away to a young lady who turned out to be dating Carl's daughter, but she could see that Shawn had special needs and her and Carl's wife made him very comfortable around them. I then popped over to the Ashland camp and said hello to Ash White(Rovers first team manager) and had a quick catch up before the referee arrived.

Before the match, the elderly gentleman I mentioned earlier was presented with a nice bottle from the players, as he supports this team every week in all types of weather and you cant get enough of loyal support and encouragement from people like this throughout our non league game up and down the country.

The match kicked off and was being played at a high tempo in muggy weather, but it was Burton Joyce that was having the better of the chances, but if you dont put your chances away, we all know what happens. On 20 minutes, Burton Joyce were awarded a penalty but this was saved by the Rover's keeper. The half wore on and the temp dropped but both sides were making subs in this roll on roll off game. We saw the match at 0-0 at Half Time, as me, Malc Storer, Darren and Lewis Clay wondered how.

We didn't have to wait long in the Second Half though, exactly 69 seconds infact when a Rovers defender made a blunder, as the Burton Joyce attacker popped though and dispatched the ball in to the net to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Ashland upped the tempo then, though Burton still had chances on the break, but Rovers were back level at 1-1 on 67 minutes.

From here on, the game could have gone either way and to be fair looked more likely to be a draw, but in the 87th minutes, the ball was crossed in to the Joyce box and a Rovers player headed home the winner.

A good workout for both teams

Before the match, Burton Joyce Reserves players kindly had a whip round for the Charity Blog and kindly donated £67 and Malc Storer & Kev Goodman kindly donated £10 taking the running total to £348.50p towards FAMILY FUND, a charity that helps and supports families with children with disabilities or special needs. If any person, player, club etc would like to make a donation, please just see me or contact me.

To see the 71 photos taken at todays match, please click this LINK