Match Reports

The chances of any play were slim as the hardy few rolled out of bed 2 hours before kick off. Thankfully the water features at each end were cleared befoe ko and we got underway with a heavy pitch and gale force wind to contend with. Rope were showing off their new striker Joe Threadgold and with Nial Ford drafted in to midfield to try the impossible and replace Everton bound Jud Thorniley. We had only just started as Matthew Kennedy played a long free kick out of defence and into the path of 'skipper' Tom Weeder who lived up to his new role as he 'skipped' over the last defender and ran through before shooting wide of the keeper 1-0. 1-0 soon became 2-0 as Jordan Freaney tried a spectacular lob into the box- on any other day it would have gone in but today it stopped just short only for Joe Threadgold to open his Rope account by being first to react and poke in from close range 2-0. If that goal showed Joe's reaction speed, the next goal showed his blistering pace and control as he ran through 3 defenders and placed the ball into the right corner of the net 3-0. Rope were a little fortunate with their next goal as a corner was mis- controlled by Matthew and flew up, hit him in the face and straight onto the path of Regan Foy who blasted the ball between the keeper's legs. HT 4-0 The second half saw Rope with the wind advantage and a 5th goal following good defending by Keenan Quansah who broke up the play- sent in a great ball to Regan who put in a wicked cross which was met first by Joe Threadgold with a neat finish 5-0. Another superb long ball out of defence allowed Cameron Geering the chance to run through a static defence and close in on goal- his shot from close in just too good for the keeper 6-0. More good play from the back and another ball from Matthew- this time finding Tom Weeder who sent in a superb cross which again was met by the unstoppable Joe- a smart shot on the spin 7-0. Rope sensed blood and lost a bit of shape as everyone seemed to venture forward and a quick Appleton break was only denied by a superb stop by keeper Callum Spencer who wasn't giving up this clean sheet for anyone. Appleton's keeper then showed his worth as a flick on at a corner was volleyed towards the top corner by Niall Ford- the keeper making a brilliant one handed stop. Rope rounded off the scoring as a floated corner was met superbly by Niall who sent a crashing header just inside the post. FT 8-0 It's incredible that we got any football today and even more incredible how well the Rope boys played in the conditions and without Jud Thorniley for the first time. Some bone crunching tackling, a much improved work rate, a midfield that played as a unit and what can we say about the new boy Joe- absolutely unplayable today and deservedly man of the match. Steve Kennedy