Rovers end cup curse in penalty shoot-out
WHEN they conceded an injury-time equaliser, it looked as though Rovers might perpetuate their dreadful record in football’s major cup competitions, but the league winners recovered to beat North 5-3 on penalty kicks and complete their domestic double.
When the two sides have gone head-to-head over the past six months, there has not been the proverbial cigarette paper between them, and Saturday’s Guernsey FA Cup final at the Corbet Field followed the script, even to the detail that North have never got the better of the blue-and-whites.
But given the cup record at Port Soif – beaten in Stranger, Jeremie and FA Cup finals, none of which they have ever won, in recent years – succumbing to Dave Rihoy’s close-range header in the second minute of added time at the end of the 90 minutes could have looked terminal.
Rovers had been creaking under a relentless aerial bombardment from Sam Murray, back in sky blue after his season with Guernsey FC, and the longer the game went on, the more influential the big striker became.
With none of Rovers' defenders properly able to cope with his presence, for the last 15 minutes of the game Murray had been battling with Rovers keeper Adam Bullock for aerial supremacy. One of those challenges led to the ball being only half-cleared and Danny Cooley dinked in a cross to the back post where Rihoy headed home – 2-2.
Rovers had started to look the more leggy of the two sides and once they had seen the game into extra time, they looked as though they could be vulnerable. But as players from both sides tired, Rovers reclaimed their foothold in the game and coach Kevin Gillease claimed they were the better side over the final 30 minutes.
But neither could score, though both, controversially, had the ball in the net in the last five minutes. Cooley bundled Bullock and ball in near comedy fashion into the goal before, two minutes later, North could not clear in their own box and substitute Dale Webb spotted the opportunity of a loose ball. He launched himself at it but also caught North keeper Leroi Riley, and though eventually the ball went into the net, assistant Brent Blondel was already flagging for the challenge and, after a chat, referee Tony Sarre sent off the veteran striker.
And so to penalties. Ben Le Tocq, Charlie Platt, Tyler McKane and George Clayton were faultless for Rovers, but although Brandon Wallace and Archie Le Huray scored, Bullock saved Ryan Lamb’s effort and River Marsh slipped as he struck his shot, and the ball looped over Bullock’s dive in slow motion.
Max Simpson-Cohen stepped up to finish high into the net and spark the celebrations as Rovers became the third side in history to complete a league and FA Cup double.
The game had been entertaining without being overly high on quality. Rovers started poorly, particularly in possession, and went a goal down on 19 minutes when Owen Wallbridge broke the high offside line, checked himself, and then went through, correctly onside, on to Murray’s through ball. Although Le Tocq almost reached him, he finished low past Bullock.
On the half-hour Rovers forced a succession of corners and finally, Sam Hall’s kick was nodded in at the back post by Niall Hainsworth, who again played well in his new role at the centre of the Rovers defence and went on to be named man of the match.
The champions were on top and in near-identical moves North twice had a fortunate escape within five minutes. First Louis Falla played Platt through, and as Riley rushed out he tried to chip the keeper. Riley got a big paw on it and Rovers believed he had done so outside his penalty area, but the officials disagreed.
Then Hall ran on to a channel ball and was hauled down on the edge of the penalty area by George McNeela. Sarre issued a yellow card, and early in the second half a similar offence in the same position on the pitch saw Riley race from goal to take down Martin Savident. But the striker was running to the corner after the ball and again the card was yellow.
The goal which put Rovers in the lead was a lovely one, Le Tocq freed down the left and his deep cross was met powerfully by the diminutive Platt who headed home with joy.
Rovers could have settled their own nerves, and the game, with 10 minutes to go when Hall played in Clayton with half the pitch to run into, but Riley was equal to his shot and then did well to repel Savident’s follow-up.
That was all the invitation North needed to launch their fightback, which culminated in Rihoy’s goal, but ultimately they could not stop Rovers’ momentum to be taken into Saturday’s Upton Park Trophy match in Jersey against St Peter.
