Match Reports

If ever a pitch was made for good football- this was it! An absolute cracker. Both sides exchanged early chances with Jud for Rope having an effort saved and Romario for Appleton shooting over when clean through. Rope opened the scoring after some superb inter-passing, the surface being put to good use and after the ball broke loose it was Keenan Quansah who was first to react and smash home from the edge of the box. 0-1 After breaking his scoring duck, Keenan almost made it 2 as he tried his luck again only to be denied by a good save by the Appleton keeper. Appleton levelled the score after being awarded a freekick 25 yards out. Using the strong wind, the kick was hammered goalwards only to come back off the bar. Rope were slow to defend and paid the price 1-1. Rope really had chances to put the game out of sight but the normally reliable front pair of Niall and Reg both missed chances in front of goal. Jud then had a chance after great work by Tom Corless but again missed by inches. Rope took the lead again as Tom Corless got on the end of a free kick and lifted the ball over the keeper- Nial Ford got a head to it but it was already over the line (nice claim though Niall!). 1-2Incredibly despite Rope's dominance Appleton had another chance to level as a penalty for a trip was smacked against the bar by David Alcock. HT1-2 The switch around at half time gave Rope the advantage with the strong wind behind them and they almost scored in the first minute as Woodsey got on the end of another Tom Corless cross but just screwed his chance wide. Niall Ford was then unlucky as he was hacked down in the box right in front of the ref- No Penalty!!! Appleton knew they had escaped that decision and soon levelled as from a dead ball kick, they returned the ball goalwards and over Rope keeper Callum 2-2. Rope finally had a slice of luck as Tom Corless sent in another testing cross which was missed by everyone and ended up in the far corner of the net 2-3. Super-sub Cameron Geering came on for injured Niall Ford and immediately set about the home defence. A long ball from the Rope keeper was won by Cameron as it bounced around in midfield- he won a 50/50, broke goalwards, shrugged off another defender then cut in and placed it wide of the advancing keeper- a great effort from the Rope new boy 2-4. Appleton escaped another penalty decision as Regan Foy was hauled down in the box and were fortunate to see Niall Ford shoot just wide just before the whistle FT 2-4 A good alround performance from Rope despite having players missing. Lots of wasted opportunities and they should have won much more comfortably. The defence was much improved and time and again played the home team offside. The Jud, Keenan, Tom and Woodsey midfield is looking stronger by the week and Tom Corless was too hot for anyone to handle today.