U9 Vipers
In their first game back after the Christmas break, Rotherfield faced tough opposition in the form of Woodley Town Kestrels.
The Vipers made a good start to the game, with Adam Fearnside coming close to opening the scoring after just two minutes when he forced a good save from the Kestrels' 'keeper. Moments later though, Morgan Green went one better, scoring a fantastic goal when he headed in a Jack Stevens corner. In the seventh minute, Liam Ruiz made it 2-0 with an unstoppable strike into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area. With the wind in their favour, Rotherfield continued to apply pressure to the Woodley goal and it wasn't long before Green bagged his second with a goal direct from a corner. Some good long throw-ins from Kalhan Shah helped keep 'Town on the back foot and Owen Lowe almost added a fourth before the half-time interval with a well hit strike from distance which flew just past the base of the post.
With a 3-0 lead at half-time, the Vipers seemed comfortable but Woodley resumed the game with renewed determination and began to look much more dangerous. Early on, Isaac Hylton made a good save from a Kestrels' free-kick and then Nick Swan almost added goal number four after a quick counter-attack, but Woodley did then pull one back with a shot from distance which deflected into the bottom right corner.
Woodley then struck the base of the post with a free-kick from fully twenty yards and then with five minutes to go fired in their second with a ferocious strike from a tight angle. The last few minutes were nervy for the watching supporters, but Rotherfield hung on to win 3-2.
The effort award was given to Morgan Green for a combative and influencial performance.
Photos (thanks Tom)
Squad
Isaac Hylton, Kalhan Shah, Liam Ruiz, Adam Fearnside, Owen Lowe, Nick Swan, Morgan Green, Jack Stevens