Rossington Main 0-2 Nostell Miners Welfare

Rossington Main 0-2 Nostell Miners Welfare

FA Vase

Saturday 19th September 2020

This was a disappointing defeat for Rozzo against opponents who were better than them on the day, though certainly not anything special.

Although the visitors deserved to win - they took their chances and were much cuter in possession, it could have been a different story altogether if either Jack Watson had converted a spot-kick around the half-hour mark or if Nostell's young striker (No.20) had been sent off for a ridiculous lunge on Sam Kitchen when the game was goalless.

How, or why, he was allowed to stay on the pitch is a mystery. The tackle in question occurred just infront of the hosts' bench and understandably provoked a furious, expletive-laden response from Daz Winter (which probably should have been punished too). It was clear the referee, nor his assistant, had any great control on things and it was an unnecessary, cynical challenge - the irony being that only a minute earlier, the same lad who committed it had become frustrated with the near-side linesman over a separate incident. Evidently, the tackle was his retribution!

After one or two refereeing decisions thereafter which went in Rossington's favour - probably awarded because the official had realised his mistake in not giving Nostell's young forward his marching orders, plus some dreadful play-acting when an opponent tried to get Jason Stokes sent off in a separate incident, the hosts were presented with the chance to go 1-0 up from the penalty spot.

Jack Watson took responsibility from 12 yards against a weird backdrop of an eerie silence but his kick was a bit too central, too low and was palmed away by the 'keeper. It wasn't his best penalty - it was at a low height, he could have done better with it and that's that.

Ultimately, it wasn't to be for the hosts as Amir Berchil, who had a decent game, soon put Nostell ahead with a well-taken strike just before half-time, before a second half followed in which the hosts toiled, lacked decisiveness and didn't really create any gilt-edged chances to get back on level terms. 

After much frustration, changes in shape and another coming together with their opponents, the visitors wrapped up the win thanks to Brett Smith's 25-yard thunder-strike off a free-kick in the dying seconds of proceedings.

On the whole, it was a disappointing day for the hosts who can play better, didn't, and the result is that they're out of the FA Vase for another season.

Amongst the former DRFC lads who are now on Rozzo's books, Jack Watson played the full game, Cameron Barnett lasted just under an hour, whilst it was good to see Elliott Walker back out on the pitch for his first appearance in a few weeks. He played 45 minutes.

Good luck to Nostell in the next round.

Next up: Probably Frickley vs Marine in midweek unless 'Uncle Boris' tells us we must all stay at home and bans us from stadiums again!