Rovers 0, St Martin’s 3
KEVIN GRAHAM’S headed goal in the very best traditions of St Martin’s greatest centre halves finally sent a depleted Saints side on their way to three points at Port Soif. After a goalless first half in which it was easier to ignore the idea-free football and admire the handiwork of the builders of the clubhouse extension while soaking up the unseasonal sunshine, Graham brought the game to life with a superb 48th-minute header.
Jason Winch provided the cross from out on the right touchline and Graham rose imperiously to produce a towering header that gave Jason Oliveira no chance of saving.
By rights, it should have been Graham’s second of the game, for he missed a far easier opportunity early in the game, rising high unchallenged to meet Winch’s corner and carelessly heading a yard over from six yards.
Saints were well worth the points, but without the midfield drive of Ben Coulter and Charlie Pinsard and with a subdued Dominic Heaume, who passed a late fitness test on a painful foot but ultimately gave in to it after half-an-hour, there was little to cheer the few fans.
Nathan Pattimore could have brought along a deckchair and at the other end Oliveira was hardly a busy man either.
Liam Roffey did his best to pull strings in the middle of the park for Saints, but as with so many modern games there was far too much headless scampering around and not enough consideration about how best to deliver the ball to a teammate.
Liam Davey, on as a sub, doubled Saints’ lead with just four minutes left on the clock and in so doing finally snuffed out the home side’s lingering hopes of getting a point.
Chris Le Noury had forced Oliveira into a near-post parry and Davey pounced from two yards, Rovers’ claims for offside ignored by the officials.
Two minutes later it was a flattering 3-0, Winch cutting in from the left and finding the far corner with a low effort.
Loading ...
Share this article:
What are these?