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THE FansFocus.Com SENIOR CUP |
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STANWAY ROVERS 3 - 0 SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN |
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| Stanway Rovers gained revenge on
Saffron Walden Town for their F.A. Cup defeat earlier in the
campaign by recording a comfortable victory over the Bloods in the
FansFocus.Com Essex Senior Cup at The Hawthorns. |
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| Rovers, jointly managed by Rob Bate
and Paul Symes, suffered an exact reversal at the same venue
in early September to end their ambitions in that particular
competition but a goal apiece from identical twins Ben and Sam
Newson, along with a comical Keith Emmerson strike, saw them
move through to Round Three on this occasion. |
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| Both clubs hailed from mid-table in
their respective Ridgeons Eastern Counties League divisions,
Rovers being ranked higher in the pyramid than their North
Essex opponents, believed to be the 23rd oldest football club
in the world. Stanway were in good form, having won 4-1 at
home to Lowestoft Town the previous weekend, while Town were
looking to make it five consecutive games without defeat. |
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Rob Thorne opened the proceedings as far
as clear-cut opportunities were concerned, beating the visitors'
offside trap before taking a touch and tapping wide despite time
being on his side. Two minutes later, at the other end, one half of
the twin double, Sam Newson, cleared the ball off his own goal-line.
Stanway did move in front, however, 24 minutes into the game in
sublime fashion. Ben Newson was set away in space down the
right-hand side where he composed himself before drilling
brilliantly across goalkeeper Edward Lewis and into the back of the
net.
The home side took advantage of their grip on the game by adding a
second just two minutes later. Skipper Emmerson made his way through
a number of players starting around the half-way line and managed to
round Lewis, enabling him to rifle into an empty goal from around
ten yards.
Both teams had further chances around the half-hour mark, Rovers'
initial scorer failing to benefit with only the 'keeper to beat
while Saffron Walden's Richard Chadwick was frustratingly unable to
get more than a slight toe to a delivery into the box.
The visitors began the second half with a Matthew Danbury side
half-volley which dropped onto the roof of the net in the 52nd
minute though five minutes later they thought they had fallen
further behind. Ben Newson's flashed ball across the face was turned
in by a combination of Thorne's arm and face but the eagle-eyed
Assistant spotted the infringement and ruled-out the goal.
Town rattled the woodwork just beyond the hour mark as Paul Stokes'
effort rebounded safely into goalkeeper Michael Church's arms and
their luck was also out on the stroke of 60 minutes when they fell
further behind. Sam Newson accepted an inward pass twenty-five yards
out and his instinctive lob floated over Lewis for the home side's
third and final goal. Saffron Walden were unable to forge any kind
of reply, meaning Rovers advanced to the next stage.
Stanway Rovers: Michael Church, Martin Curtis, Keith Emmerson
(c), Ross Crouch, Sam Sines, Aaron Skeggs (Jay Carter, 67), Ben
Newson, Michael Burch, Luke Callender (Ray Turner, 61), Rob Thorne,
Sam Newson (Craig Springett, 71). Unused Substitutes: Jermain
Harewood, Kevin Kay.
Saffron Walden Town: Edward Lewis, Michael Barker, Ryan
Cannon, Alex Riches (c), Matthew Danbury, Peter Flack, Zac Collins
(Spike Bell, 51), Stuart Kingham (Matthew Clark, 61), Richard
Chadwick, Paul Stokes, Greg Strong (Tom Richardson, 80). Unused
Substitutes: Kieron Badcock, David Pledger.
Bookings: None.
Referee: Steve Connor.
Assistant Referees: Anthony Pope and Steev Tovey.
Attendance: T.B.C.
Man of the Match: Michael Burch (Stanway Rovers) - Controlled
the centre of the midfield in an understated manner but with maximum
effectiveness.
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