Stroud Sport
John Light's exclusive FGR online column
4:12pm Monday 20th February 2012
AT last – football again! A good day out and an even better win.
A busy, intelligent Gateshead side took the lead after 12 minutes and with it control of the game – until half-time.
Afterwards we saw Rovers play with both resilience and vigour. Using substitutes strategically manager David Hockaday gave his on field players the ammunition to win, and this time they pulled the trigger.
It was a far from perfect Rovers performance, but there were many good points. Firstly the performance of new player Jamie Collins. He was comfortable on the ball, used it well in defence and occasionally attack and showed how much he has to offer, not least in on field leadership.
Matty Taylor is improving all the time. He runs intelligently and always provides an outlet for FGR defenders to aim for. Too often he is without support, but his ability to win the ball and hold it up gives time for his eager colleagues to arrive. Watching him develop this season has been and will be a joy. Goalkeeper Russell showed why Bittner’s career at FGR has ended. Two second half saves kept Rovers in the game and for once the sponsor and I agreed making him man of the match.
I felt sorry for Jake Thompson. Such a success in the Bangura holding role. Jake was moved forward to accommodate Collins and was, in yet another different position far from his best. I hope a role can be found for him in what is now a lively, evolving team.
Tommy Wright scored the first goal in true goal hanger fashion. It seems harsh, but in open play he seemed way off the pace and I found myself asking what does he bring to the side that Charlie Griffin does not. I could not find an answer.
Liam Henderson was the inevitable substitute and played his most incisive football since his Braintree debut, scoring the deserved winner. This came about in an interesting way. Eddie Oshodi was adjacent to the FGR bench, explaining he was unwell when the ball came his way. He took a few steps down the touchline and swerving in a fine cross. Taylor and Henderson did the rest.
During the afternoon we saw the best and worst of James Norwood. In the first half, combining well with Chris Stokes he was a constant threat and remained one in the second half. However displeased with the decisions of one linesman (he was not the only one) he decided to inform the official of this. Foul and abusive language is a sending off offence but a yellow card was the result. He accrues too many such bookings.
Manager David was much more controlled in the post-match press conference. Poor decisions had incensed him during the game and when he joined the waiting journalists they had questions and recorders ready, expecting a vigorous and vehement outpouring concerning poor officials. But No! "No-one comes here to make mistakes," said David adding that what could have been disastrous decisions "were not made on purpose".
"As a professional team we have to deal with whatever is thrown at us," he continued. This measured and thoughtful reply is an example to so many in the game.
Following last week’s column, I had an informative phone call from Tim Chambers. He told me the team I watched in 1948 were probably Rodborough Old Boys, who indeed did have a forward called Blackburn. They played where the Band B&Q warehouse now is and Tim’s dad was linesman. So now I know where I fell in love with football – a lifetime love that still continues. Superb soup, accompanied by a chunk of Hobbs House bread, then tea and cake at half-time certainly helps, but to be back in the Five Valleys, enjoying myself so much on Saturday afternoons is an unbeatable experience.
One regret however – I could not be in two places at once and therefore missed Shortwood’s defeat of Ashington. The next match on their Wembley journey also coincides with a Rovers home fixture. Is it too much to hope that the games will be on different days, or at least the kick- off times are staggered. So many of us want to watch John Evans side as well as our own team. Surely the opportunity to do both is possible?
Whatever happens the season still has so much to offer – just like any other love affair