Written by
Monday, October 23rd, 2006
Long Eaton Villa 1 .v. 1 Rotherham Utd.
For the second week running Rotherham had a top of the table clash, this time first versus third, with this game finishing all square at one all.
Rotherham started the better and pressed the home team back for the first 25 mins. with Davies hitting the crossbar after a devastating run round the back of the floundering Long Eaton back line.
Thickitt smashed a 20 yard shot also against the cross bar and Rotherham began to play the expanding football that their management insists they try to play.
The home side never really got to grips with the visitors until 15 mins. from half time when they started to press forwards themselves.
The two teams went in at half time nil – nil but with Rotherham feeling they had the better of their opponents.
The second half saw Long Eaton Villa come more into the game, having a lot of possession but not really threatening the Rotherham defence, who stood firm.
The game became end to end and Davies broke the deadlock 20 mins. from time with a shot on the turn that trickled past the goalkeeper into the far right hand corner.
Rotherham now began to defend in numbers to keep out the home side, and were successful until 6 mins. from the end when a home striker shot from fully 20 yards passed keeper Nash' left hand dive.
Rotherham had two corners in the final 3 minutes with Booth heading over from 6 yards from the final attack.
Paul Durrands manager comments:
"In the cold light of the day I don't believe that either of the two sides deserved to lose, but we did create more early chances, and if not for the woodwork, I'm sure we would have come away with a victory.
One thing for sure, is that this game, played in torrential rain, was a credit to womens football and both Rotherham and Long Eaton produced a standard that lit up a dull day.
The effort I received from my girls was absolutely brilliant, and as a manager I couldn't ask for more".
Squad: Nash, B.Booth, Maclean, Durrands, Sloan, Pollock, Lynskey, Thickitt, Needham, Longstone, Davis
Subs: Baxby (Sloan 20Mins), Wood (Pollock 80mins), Corns, Goodman, Tester
