Rovers 0, Rocquaine United 1
A 40-YARD stunner from Jan Renouf gave Rocquaine United the upset they were looking for on Saturday. With their legion of old island stars, Rocquaine were fully capable of getting the better of Priaulx strugglers Rovers, and duly did so.
With the Port Soif ‘doctor’ in full effect at the Rovers’ ground and leading the handful of spectators to cower under the protection of the clubhouse to get out of the incessant wind and rain, Brazilian style flowing football was never going to be on the agenda.
But a singular piece of magic came midway through the second half when Renouf, from near the edge of the centre circle, smacked one that hit the crossbar and went in off keeper Matt Mauger.
He said afterwards that he was following the instructions of his father and Rocquaine’s coach, Colin Renouf.
‘My dad said at half-time that we hadn’t put enough shots on the keeper,’ said Renouf jr.
‘It was a flash thought in my head so I put one in and it went in. It was a battle and we knew with the wind that it was going to be a fight.’
The result sees United go through to the quarter-finals.
Renouf snr would like to avoid another Priaulx outfit when the draw is made this morning, but he is not too hopeful.
‘It doesn’t matter who it is now at this stage, but it’d be nice to get a non-Priaulx side. But I think the chances are pretty remote,’ he said.
‘I’m absolutely delighted to actually beat a Priaulx side. I must admit I thought if we played well we could do it.
‘We didn’t, but we still managed to. What a battle - the conditions didn’t help.
‘They tried to play some football and we tried to play some football. They worked hard and played well.’
Rovers’ best player was striker Ryan Tippett, who could have put the home side ahead in the first five minutes when he was one-on-one with Matt Oliver, but the keeper did well to block his effort with his legs.
With the players not only having to deal with their opponents but with the elements as well, tempers soon became frayed and referee George Jennings had a job on his hands to keep a lid on things.
But there was some light relief when on 20 minutes he was hit by the ball in a place that certainly hurts, much to the amusement of the players and crowd.
After he was back on his feet, there was not much to write home about until five minutes from half-time when the ball found Rocquaine striker Tony Vance in the area.
The former island striker laid it off to Steve Brehaut, who proceeded to blast it over the bar. A minute later at the other end of the field, Tippett had time and space on the ball to pass it to Jason Dodd, who could only smack it into the side-netting.
On the stroke of half time, Vance again found himself in a great position but wasted his golden opportunity.
For the second half Rovers were the better side and winger Dale Webb ran it down the right flank before shooting well over.
Tippett had a low shot just after the hour mark that was comfortably saved by Oliver and Dodd had a free volley that he totally messed up.
Overstall had a shot blocked out by yellows defender Clive Bateman and Webb had another effort that went well over before out of nowhere and, with 15 minutes left, Renouf unleashed the speculative strike that dipped to hit the bar and went in off the unlucky Mauger.
The tone of the game soured again as some unsavoury challenges from both teams led Jennings to reach for his book time and again.
And in the closing minutes he was pointing to the penalty spot after Webb crudely brought down Rocquaine substitute Adam Heaume in the box. However, Brehaut put the spot-kick wide.
Rovers’ stand-in coach Gary Stevenson was pleased with his team’s performance, but not so Jennings.
‘We played well, but we didn’t seem to create enough chances,’ he said.
‘We didn’t deserve to lose but we didn’t deserve to win it either. I can’t fault the boys.
‘I thought we were playing against 12 men with the referee. I wasn’t very happy with the referee.
n In Saturday’s other FA Cup ties, Bels comfortably took care of IAG Business League side Bordeaux Services 13-0, while Vale Rec’s match against London House Strollers fell foul of the weather.
It will now take place 7.30pm this Wednesday at the Corbet Field.
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