Reserves are outgunned in Coppull thriller
ON Saturday the reserves got off to the worst possible start with a defeat away at Coppull United.
After an early monsoon like downpour the weather cleared up for kick off and was glorious sunshine for 90 minutes. This made the pitch really slick and suited Rossy to the ground as they got the ball down really well and passed the ball way better than the home side.
In the opening 15 minutes both sides tested the keepers and chances wise was it quite even.
On the 18th minute Rossy opened the scoring when debutant Tom Settle played in Martin Trickett who shaped to shoot but chopped the ball back completely sending the keeper and defender one way then slotting home into the bottom corner.
After the restart Coppull went up the other end and nearly equalised but for a superb save from Keeper Matty Moore.
The home side would rue this missed opportunity as in the 23rd minute Rossy double their advantage when again Settle played a great ball into the advancing Milan Tinat who finished well.
With a 2 goal lead though the stags didn’t seem in control of the game. Coppull never stopped attacking and defensively the away side looked vulnerable at times.
Coppull eventually pulled one back in the 30th minute and it was well deserved following a mixup between Hooper and Moore, the striker took advantage and rolled the ball into the net.
Moments later Coppull went close again when they rattled the bar from distance and it was looking like an equaliser was inevitable.
It actually though went the other way and Tinat added his second and Rossy third with a difficult tap in at the back post following a speedy counter attack whereby Right forward Alex Nuttall squared the ball after a darting run down the right to pick out Tinat.
Going forward the stags looked really dangerous and Nuttall could’ve even added a fourth when a great ball over the top from Jonathan Heap put him through on goal but the keeper saved his shot.
Into the second half that old adage of the next goal being crucial at 3-1 could never have been truer and unfortunately for Rossy within five minutes Coppull had pulled one back following poor defensive errors.
Coppull could now smell blood and minutes later we’re on level terms after a poor back pass from Noel Grimshaw sold the keeper short and again the striker rounded Moore for a tap in. Three goals from three poor errors at the back.
The majority of the second half resembled a basketball match, reall end to end stuff with either side looking as though they could take the next goal.
Eventually late in the 80th minute Coppull got the goal which was a well taken one to be fair and they managed to hold on till the end for the 3 points.
Joint manager Jonathan Heap said after the game: “Really disappointing result today, we should’ve had at least a point and when you score three goals in any game of football that should be enough to take the victory.
“In fairness to the lads we were really patched up at the back playing a striker and right back in the central positions, who had never played together before aswell.
“This was due to late cry offs and players moving up into the first team at the last minute.
“I was really please with some of the lads especially Tom Settle he was a stand out performer in midfield with Jonathan Booth and had Milan not pulled up late in the first half I feel he’d have had his hat trick for sure, but he had to soldier on for 90 minutes not really being able to run.
“We need to take this on the chin and come out firing.”