Our Cup Run Runneth Over the Rovers

Division 9/10 Cup Round Two
Wellington United Salmon 5- Karori Rovers 0
(Half time 3-0)
Melrose Park

Scorers:
Craig Ireson (3)
Craig Johnston
Warrick Jackson

MOM:
James Stewart- 3 pts
Warrick Jackson- 2 pts
Adam Holloway- 1 pt

Great result Salmon; yes, more goals were on offer and at times we seemed somnambulant but we kept a clean sheet despite having some key players out and we took five of our chances which was more than enough to see the Rovers off.
We did all this despite illness, hangovers and injury plaguing our squad as well as unseasonable sunshine making Melrose a sweaty cauldron.
On to the match report- ably remembered and written by John Dow, with only a little input from myself:

SALMON SMASH FIVE PAST ROVERS IN PUSH FOR CUP FINAL APPEARANCE

On a Spring like afternoon at Melrose Park the Salmon took the field against a Rovers side known for leaking goals in pursuit of a score that would put pressure on the Legends and Petone leading into the final round next week.

With players injured and unavailable the thin squad was under instructions to take the game to the Rovers and score plenty of goals whilst keeping a clean sheet and a 4-4-2 line up saw Fulton join Captain Craig in the forward line while Kahu took on the goalkeeping with Richard away on business.

The Salmon put Rovers under immediate pressure with Jeremy and Squirt getting the midfield ascendancy and new recruit Convert Craig Johnston, showing some dash down the right flank.

Some quick balls forward had the Rovers defence under pressure and scrambling when a miscued clearance landed at John D.’s feet out on the left.

A pin point cross picked out Jeremy who expertly headed the ball well past the beaten keeper but the ball hit the post and bounced out into the path of Convert Craig who after a rush of blood to the head managed to finally get the ball across the line and the Salmon were in front 1-0.

The Salmon continued to dominate proceedings and playing some good constructive football opened up the Rovers backline who were constantly flat footed and lacking organisation, a few shots went high and wide, plus Captain Craig in 2 efforts straight from the FIFA Fair Play dossier penalised himself for foul play which the Rovers greatly appreciated as he was in dangerous positions both times.

Rovers made a few forays forward including forcing a couple of corners but it was the Salmon who looked the more likely to score.

A loose ball in the midfield was knocked back to James by John D. and his long ball forward had Captain Craig straight through on goal and with a tidy finish Salmon were now 2-0 ahead.

Still Rovers pushed forward and with their striker clean in front of goal and only Kahu to beat he thrashed his shot against the crossbar and the ball flew to safety.

Rovers had a few more corners and were showing they were determined not to lie down.

However it was the Salmon who got Simon and Wazza into the penalty area for a few attacking corners which caused some major problems for the Rovers with one botched clearance landing nicely for Squirt on the edge of the box who lashed it back towards goal but unfortunately too high to cause the keeper a problem.

Another corner saw the ball land on a very firm and forthright part of Wazza’s anatomy, bounce up gleefully into the air, then with great gusto Wazza smashed it into the roof of the net for a much deserved goal and the Salmon were now 3-0 ahead and the Cup Final dream was very much alive.

The Salmon kept searching for the elusive extra goals and just before half time another pin point cross from the left wing floated past Fulton’s head, was completely missed by Captain Craig right in front of goal unmarked and Convert Craig also failed to dispatch a golden opportunity and the Salmon went to the half time break knowing more goals than 3 could easily have been scored.

The team were looking a bit tired as the second half got underway and the Rovers were keen to keep getting forward and sensed they weren’t completely out of the game.

Jeremy and Squirt were trying to get the midfield moving forward at every opportunity and Convert Craig and John D. were getting space on the flanks ably supported by Adam dashing down the right and James very keen to get into the action down the left.

The dominance was starting to convert into corners and a stirling effort from Jeremy was scrambled out the back door for Craig Stewart to pick up. He drove to the bye-line and dinked a short cross into the 6 yard box, where Captain Craig headed home unmarked for his 150th Salmon goal. Salmon ahead 4-0 with plenty of time to play.

Simon and Wazza were controlling the centre of defence and also showing a willingness to put pressure on the Rovers by going forward particularly for corners and freekicks.

Rovers themselves got in to a few scoring situations but some poor finishing, a post and a dominant keeper in Kahu managed to keep them at bay and scoreless.

Hanse, a friend of Fulton's, brought some fresh younger legs onto the field and Convert Craig continued his runs down the right flank which the Rovers struggled with.

A pin point through ball from Adam, afetr he dispossed their winger, was cleared back to the rover's keeper by the left back. The Keeper should have handled it comfortably, but it was seriously misdealt to and Captain Craig in true predatory fashion cheekily slipped it away from him and then sent the ball goalward for a much deserved hat trick and the Salmon were now 5-0 ahead.

A clever tactical move saw Kahu become a keen and eager target man with Captain Craig who was running out of puff donning the keepers jersey determined to keep a clean sheet as the team laid down the challenge to the Legends and Petone through a very solid win.

With Fulton maintaining his high workrate and putting Rovers defenders under pressure, Kahu started causing them other problems as he made himself available for the ball, held it up and managed to set play up or create scoring chances, in contrast to the play of Salmon’s usual striker.

A cross from John D. found Kahu’s head in the six yard box but Rovers scrambled the ball clear, then in the last play of the game a well constructed move saw Jeremy clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat but he blazed the ball over the bar from 8 yards out and the game was over with Salmon 5-0 victors.

Was such a victory going to be enough to hold off the challenge of group favourites the Legends who expected to smash the Rovers next week and finish with the best goal difference ?

News came through from the Petone Stadium that in fact the Legends and Petone had drawn 3-3 throwing the group wide open with the Salmon on top leading in to the final round.

With Petone only beating Rovers 3-1 in the first round the Salmon are in the box seat with a better goal difference than both rivals and a point more than the Legends too.

A straight win against Petone will catapult the mighty Salmon into the promised land of a glorious Cup Final appearance, regardless of what the Legends might achieve against the Rovers in their last match.

A 1-1 or 2-2 Salmon draw with Petone would give the Legends a chance of finishing top by crunching the Rovers by 5-0 or better.

A 3-3 draw and a 5-0 Legends win would leave both sides exactly equal on goal difference and perhaps a toss of a coin would be required ?

Can this Salmon side who have shown plenty of endeavour, played some good football, fought hard against tough opponents, scored quality goals and defended stoutly throughout the season ( with the odd lapse in form and attitude) finish 2011 with an appearance in a glorious Cup Final and with it the chance of winning some silverware ??