Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 5 – 3 FOREST GREEN ROVERS

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Saturday 24 November 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Bloods' boss Dave Pace refused to get carried away after seeing his side record only their second win of the season, whilst ending Forest Green's eight match unbeaten run. "It was an entertaining game, but I'm not going to say it's the turning point. I think we tried to play to our strengths today. In the past, we've had the philosophy that if they score three, we'll score four, and that's what happened today. We are good going forward, but I need to shore up the defence.” On why last season's leading scorer, Terry Fearns didn't feature, he explained "I left him out to see if I got a reaction, which I did, and so I was pleased with that. I have no favourites here, but I do need to get the best out of these players, and all in the squad will play their part."

That's three unbeaten in the league now, for the Bloods, and Pace added "No-one was more hurt than me after the FA Cup defeat – we needed a performance like that today for the fans."

The game was a spectacle straight from the start, with Danny Carey-Bertram recording a first-half hat-trick, his first coming on just seven minutes when he converted Anthony Tomkin's low cross from the left flank.

However, the lead lasted barely ninety seconds, as Jody Banim picked his moment to thread Jamie McGuire through, and the Bloods' midfielder took a touch before slotting past Ryan Robinson from 16 yards.

Droylsden should have taken the lead on 13 minutes, but Steve Daly had too long to think about Chris Denham's cross and he could only shoot straight at Robinson, who saved with his legs.

Paul Stonehouse then saw an effort fly just wide before the hosts took the lead when Denham fired a shot across Robinson into the far corner.

Rovers were back on level terms just three minutes later when Carey-Bertram converted Stonehouse's cross in an almost carbon-copy of his first goal.

On 38 minutes, Mark Beesley beat the offside trap and rounded Paul Phillips, but his shot agonisingly struck the foot of the far post from a tight angle with the goal at his mercy.

Seconds before the break, Jim Harvey's side regained the lead when a corner was not cleared by the home side, and Carey-Bertram rose highest to loop a header over Phillips from close range.

Droylsden levelled matters once more on 63 minutes when they failed to deal with a long ball by Lee Roche, and McGuire kept his composure to curl a shot over the stranded Robinson and into the unguarded net.

The Bloods should have seen themselves in front in 69 minutes, but after beating three defenders, Banim elected to attempt a chip when a drilled effort could have reaped better reward.

He made amends on 74 minutes when he collected a ball from Phillips, turned and set Jamie Tandy away down the inside left channel. His low cross was converted at the first attempt by Daly.

Rovers threw everything forward in the dying minutes, but the Bloods held resolute, and Tandy rubbed salt into the wounds with a fifth in added time.

"I was disappointed with the way our run has come to an end" said Rovers' boss Jim Harvey afterwards. "We didn't defend well – it was not down to the conditions, and the pitch held-up very well. It was down to individuals. Our back four were all over the place – Darren Jones was up for it, but the other three were way below par. We've scored three away from home, but to concede like we did was poor. Our forward play was fine – opportunities were there, and it was very good for Danny Carey-Bertram to score a hat-trick. Fair play to Droylsden – they worked hard and scored some great goals, but we need to learn some lessons, and we've had a dip in form today." Asked why leading scorer Stewart Fleetwood did not figure, Harvey explained "Stewart has had a tummy bug since Thursday, and it has left him very weak."

TEAMS

Droylsden:

Phillips 7, Roche 7, Warner 6, Cryan 7, Murray 8, Morris (Lynch (4-4-2) 81, 6), McGuire 9, Denham 8, Burbeary 6 (Tandy 64, 7), Banim 7) Daly 5 (Salmon 88, 6)

Subs. (not used): Talbot, Senior.

Forest Green Rovers:

Robinson 6, Lawless 5 (Smith 86, 6), Tomkin 6, (4-4-2) Jones 8, Giles 7, Pitman 6 (Afful 64, 8), Beesley 9, Clist 7, Preece 6, Stonehouse 8, Carey-Bertram 9 (Rigoglioso 64, 8).

REFEREE: Mr. P. Quinn (Middlesbrough, Cleveland)

ATTENDANCE: 450