Greenwich Borough 5 Rochester United 0

We took to the field for our re-arranged home tie against Rochester United knowing that two more wins would secure the SCEFL Title. Accepting that is the assumption that Ashford would not be getting back any points post appeal.

An undefeated league record under the now firmly established management team with a formidable run of 19 games unbeaten by the squad stretching back to the 3-1 home defeat to Lordswood on 24th October!

Just add to that the fact that we had also gone 6 games without conceding a single goal and you could see why there were more Club Scouts at Princes Park on Tuesday night than average. The word having obviously now got out about happenings in South East London.

With that impressive record in place Gary named an unchanged sixteen from Saturdays 2-0 win at Corinthian. Just one change to the starting XI with Jake Britnell back in swapping places on the bench with Patrick O’Conner.

Our visitors sitting in 13th place in the league have not had the best of recent times with just two wins out of their last fifteen league games. We were looking to complete a double over them after our 4-1 win for our season opener. A fiery affair with two pens for Michael Power and one goal each for Jake Britnell and Billy Bennett. Seven yellow cards and a sending off early in the second half for Rochester’s Shaun Wicks.

The teams took to the pitch with black arm bands on the Borough shirts (in memory of the recent passing of our Chairman’s father) and black bands around the Rochester socks (avoiding a clash, due to the lack of observance from the Rochester kit man)
After an impeccably observed minutes silence for Albert Skinner we were underway.

We were straight on our game forcing Rochester back from the kick off creating a succession of corners in the opening five minutes once again.

Captain Danny Young getting up for the third one as it came back in, on the edge of the six yard box to header goal-wards but comfortable for keeper Roddy Hayward on 4mins.

Not the best of starts to the night for the visitors no.5 Andy Pierce receiving early treatment from the Physio and a yellow from Referee Tom Nicholls after a late challenge on 5mins.

A free kick for us on the left wing deflected for yet another corner taken short to Jake Britnell who let fly from outside the box but high over the far side of the goalmouth on 11mins.

First controversy of the night as Tom Youngs lofted a ball over the Rochester back line towards Mo Eisa breaking free on the right only to see the ball thwarted by a rogue hand from Roddy Hayward. With the linesman flagging and a long consultation between the officials it seemed as though Rochester may be looking at being down to ten men after only 13mins of play. Discussion complete and ‘just’ a free kick. Apparently the assistant reckoned it was not intentional.

The free kick was hit low under a jumping wall by Peter Sweeney but the keeper was positioned to comfortably save.

Another free-kick on 23mins and another pop at the top right corner of the Rochester goal from outside the box. This time a closer effort from Tom Youngs.

A great four man move on 28mins finished off with an exchange of passes between Jake Britnell and Michael Power setting Michael into the area dispatching his shot past Roddy Hayward only to be pulled back by the same assistant for offside this time. Photographic evidence from club photographer Dave Adkins showed otherwise, but another lucky escape for United.

First goal of the night came via the penalty spot. Free Kick quickly taken setting Tom Youngs away down the right of the box only to be brought down by Steve Rothery. Michael Power dispatched the spot kick inside the left post out of the keepers grasp on 35mins.

Greenwich Borough 1 Rochester United 0
Power (pen)35

Five minutes later and a great individual piece of skill from Mo Eisa put through against Andy Pierce who maybe wished he had walked as Mo lifted the ball over him to set himself through on goal holding off the attentions of Steve Rothery to get his shot away from 12 yards past Haywards right on 40mins.

Greenwich Borough 2 Rochester United 0
Power (pen)35
Eisa 40

A feisty United management team exchanged further pleasantries with John and Gary and there anger turned to bemusement as with two minutes of the half remaining the United defence contributed to a great run from Tom Youngs jinking through the middle beating defenders their initial challenge undone with a flick of the head from Power to be gifted the loose ball back again setting off right of the area and round keeper Haywards into the open net from 4 yards on 43mins

Half Time
Greenwich Borough 3 Rochester United 0
Power (pen)35
Eisa 40
Youngs 43

First Substitute for United before the second half got underway Vince Collis being replaced by Steve Earl.

An early free kick for Rochester on 47mins swung over from the right by Freeman Rogers and it was Andy Pierce getting the back of his head to it in the area only to deflect it tamely into Craig Holloways Gloves.

Danny Young was alive to attacking options as well as his defensive duties jumping in front on 51mins pinching a quick free kick from under Peter Sweeneys nose as he spotted keeper off his line and having a speculative shot from halfway not troubling the goal, much to Peters bemusement.

Britnell was trying a bit of defence with equal success getting the ball poached from him by the lively Dajon Golding as he dwelt on it, fortunately his shot was scuffed and held safely by Holloway on 52min

A deep ball out from Captain Young on 54mins set Mo off on a run off the back line only to see his shot go wide left from 23 yards.
Rochester were having more possession in the second half but without having any cutting edge to trouble us.

A first sub for us on 61min with Yacine Gnahore replacing Michael Power, probably with a view to the AFC Croydon game that Shaggy would be missing.

Our Captain was having another poke at goal a quickly taken free kick from Youngs sending him away done the left edge of the box beating Steve Rothery and wrapping his right boot around the ball from the edge of the six yard box. A close range save from Hayward tipping his shot over the bar on 54mins.

Dajon Golding the Rochester no.7 on the right was the outstanding player for them who caused us the most concern at the back. His shot on 70mins from the edge of the area ballooning off the outstretched leg of Ryan Johnson at close range. Ryan was there again in the thick of it to hoof the resultant corner clear ahead of striker Harrison Airth.

Harrison Airth was replaced by Sidney Warden on 76 mins.

A couple of late pieces of work for Craig Holloway steering a free kick from 25 yards around his right post and then climbing to fist the corner clear on 79mins.

Cisco Mbela was a handful up front and he deservedly got on the scoresheet late on as he twisted his way through defenders attentions on the right wing turning once more ahead of Steve Rothery to squeeze his shot under the Rochester keeper. The ball creeping over the goal line for Boroughs fourth on 85mins

Greenwich Borough 4 Rochester United 0
Power (pen)35
Eisa 40
Youngs 43
Mbela 85

With the three forwards in full flight up front it had become a bit of a siege with Mo, Yac and Cisc all playing off each other Mo going close in injury time off of a Cisc through ball out to him on the right this time Hayward bravely saved at his feet quickly advancing on Mo as he struck inside the six yard box.

Hayward was blocking another shot as he dived in at the feet of Cisco inside the right corner of his six yard box this time however the ball deflected across the edge of the six yard area and a waiting Yacine Gnahore smacked home number five into an empty net from seven yards on 92mins

Full Time: Greenwich Borough 5 Rochester United 0
Power (pen)35
Eisa 40
Youngs 43
Mbela 85
Gnahore 92
Att 153

Another three points and another clean sheet and with a twenty game unbeaten league run in place confidence is high indeed.

Only one more win required to secure the SCEFL Title and with it Ryman Football at our DGS Marine Stadium

Come On The Borough!