Northern Counties East League (Division One)
Saturday 26th December 2020
Jason Stokes' dramatic last-minute equaliser earned Rossington Main a hard-fought point in the first 'Donny Derby' of the season against Armthorpe Welfare.
In a sometimes scrappy but feisty Boxing Day clash which warmed the appetite on a freezing cold afternoon, a draw was probably a fair reflection of what unfolded given that hosts Armthorpe certainly enjoyed the better chances whilst visitors Rossington undoubtedly played the neater football.
Skipper Steve Garner put Welfare ahead with a looping finish on 65 minutes and, with momentum fully in their favour, they thought they'd made it 2-0 soon afterwards when Luke Hinsley pounced upon a defensive error to put the ball in the net only to be penalised for handball.
That lengthy incident left the visitors with just a one-goal deficit to chase and, after Adam Watson was red carded for a second bookable offence, Stokes popped up right at the end of normal time when he smashed home a half-volley from just inside the box to spark contrasting emotions in the two dugouts; pure joy for Rossington but anguish for Armthorpe.
On a different pitch it may well have been a different scoreline. Had Rozzo been more threatening in the final third and not over-complicated things too many times, they could have perhaps snatched derby day bragging rights. By contrast, had Welfare not squandered two or three gilt-edged openings which fell their way, maybe they could have been victorious instead.
All in all, there was plenty for both teams to be happy about. The desire, endeavour and commitment levels was certainly there amongst most players although there is also plenty to ponder ahead of the next 'Donny Derby' meeting which is scheduled for Easter Saturday.
As to be expected after both teams were royally thumped last time out - Armthorpe on home soil to Winterton and Rossington at Swallownest, there were a plethora of changes in both camps as they looked to bag a late Christmas present.
One of the new faces in Rozzo's line-up was Conner Williamson who was making his debut having rejoined the club from Armthorpe only a few weeks ago.
The game started with the visitors, donning an all red strip, setting the early tone and Bailey 'Mascher' Conway went close with a speculative low drive from distance which drew a comfortable enough save from Welfare 'keeper Jordan Greaves.
After another drive by the youngster was off-target soon afterwards, Armthorpe forced Rozzo 'keeper Kian Johnson (who started ahead of regular shot-stopper Callum Fielding) into action for the first time when someone rose highest inside a crowded box to get a header on target, but the 18-year-old got down well to make a quick and important save.
The pitch certainly wasn't the best surface as it's uneven and bobbly nature hardly paved the way for free-flowing or quality football, but in between quite a few scrappy exchanges, Main were playing some tidy stuff with Manny Kianga on the right flank being amongst the brightest sparks though he often struggled to produce an end product.
Rozzo's chief talisman Tyla Bell could have done better with a chance just past the half-hour mark when he let fly with a 20-yard effort after some decent play, but unfortunately for him the ball lacked accuracy and flew wide of the 'keepers left-hand post.
Armthorpe's new manager Lee Morris looked as if he'd been an early-morning visitor to Matalan's Boxing Day sales with the questionable gear he was decked out in on the touchline, but whilst the fashion police may have wanted to question him about his clobber, his team were left to rue some criminal finishing which meant the score was goalless at the break.
The hosts should have gone 1-0 ahead on 40 minutes when a far-post corner was met with a free header from only five yards, but sadly the connection was all wrong and the ball went high and wide of the post - leaving Johnson untroubled when he really ought to have been tested.
Welfare then 'upped the ante' in the immediate minutes following the re-start but they squandered another glorious opportunity to break the deadlock when a frontman got in-behind and hit a powerful 20-yard drive which flew over the upright when the least he should have tested the 'keeper at least.
Rossington then responded with a dominant ten-minute spell during which they knocked the ball around well and were camped in their opponents' half of the pitch - forcing Armthorpe to concentrate on their defensive duties. After a prolonged passing exchange, Stokes hit a shot which drew a routine enough save whilst in another move, Williamson also went close.
What the game really needed by this point was a goal and on 64 minutes, it finally happened as Armthorpe, having soaked up the pressure, took the lead.
A left-footed corner towards the back-post area was cleared out of the six-yard box comfortably enough but with Rossington's defence completely static thereafter, Garner, with his back to goal, looped the resulting loose mid-air ball goalwards from eight yards and his effort flew past Johnson.
The young 'keeper could have perhaps done better but so could the defence - it was an avoidable goal in so many ways but nobody in the home hierarchy cared as they celebrated together in the knowledge they'd taken a very significant step towards derby day success.
To use a football cliché, goals change games and with Rozzo looking rattled by having slipped behind, it wasn't long until the hosts had the ball in the back of the net again.
A poor attempted defensive header by a visiting centre-back, under little pressure, fell horribly into the path of an unmarked Hinsley who controlled the ball and smashed it emphatically into the net from the edge of the box to spark more celebrations.
The hosts thought it was 2-0 but with Armthorpe's manager already fist-pumping on the pitch in celebration, his joy soon turned to rage as the linesman and referee consulted amidst appeals for a handball and the goal was eventually (albeit correctly) chalked off after a minute's or so delay, with Hinsley adjudged to handled it before unleashing his goalbound strike.
The reason for the delay, according to the linesman - in his own words, was because he wasn't allowed to signal it shouldn't count or raise his flag until after the ball had gone in - even though not doing so caused frustration/arguments aplenty!
With Rozzo having been spared a mountain to climb, they started to get on top against a tiring home defence and Bell again should have done better in a big chance for equaliser. Despite a perfectly-timed run when he latched onto a defence-splitting clearance by Jordan Buckham - and then getting the better of the oncoming 'keeper who was caught in no man's land - a covering defender did just enough to put the forward off and his eventual effort was blocked and cleared away.
The reds' pressure continued, with winger Cameron Barnett (finally back from suspension!) replacing Kianga for the final quarter-hour, whilst Stokes went close with a curling effort only a few moments later as it started to look as though Armthorpe may hold on. Niall Doran, who'd had a largely frustrating game - sometimes holding onto the ball for a bit too long despite his technical ability, also started to have more of an influence around this point in proceedings.
However, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Rossington with just over five minutes to play when Watson, who'd been pushed from defence to attack, was shown a second yellow card for a late lunge. Though he made no connection with anyone, the referee had a good view of the incident to decide that the intent was there, it was dangerous play and enough to give him his marching orders. Adam Baskerville was also cautioned in the subsequent 'handbags' which followed the lunge.
More frustration occurred as Barnett couldn't keep alive what initially seemed to be a promising move down the right flank but with injury-time imminent, Rossington got back on level terms.
Another right-wing cross caused panic and problems amongst Welfare's defence (who'd otherwise kept their shape pretty well during the game) and after Bell swung a boot to try and get an attempt away, the ball was knocked backwards into the path of Stokes who rifled an emphatic half-volley into the roof of the net.
Anguished looks were on the faces of the home management team who knew they'd been close to securing a hard-fought win and it contrasted with scenes of delight by Rossington's travelling entourage dotted about across the ground.
Five minutes of stoppage-time ultimately culminated in no further goals but everyone amongst the 150-strong crowd (plus the few souls who were watching from Morrisons car park) had been thoroughly entertained by two teams who put a good shift in.
Again, the effort, heart, desire and endeavour was there amongst the majority of players though you could only wonder what might have been if, for example, the visitors had the injured Jack Watson in attack or if the game had been on a different surface more suited to their technical ability.
Armthorpe, likewise, would almost certainly have gone on to win had their disallowed effort not been ruled out by the linesman and, despite playing against a technically better side, they shouldn't be too disheartened by the end result.
Next up: Who knows?
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