ROVERS 4-1 STANSTED

Great Wakering Rovers got off to a winning start in their opening Essex Senior League match of the season, although they had to overcome a stubborn Stansted side who refused to go down without a fight.

Rovers flew out of the traps. Stansted goalkeeper Brad Simpson made an excellent save after only forty seconds to deny Julian Simon-Parson.
Stansted then wasted a glorious chance to grab the lead when Tim Redhead raced clear but shot well wide of Louis Godwin-Green’s goal.

After fourteen minutes, Rovers claimed the lead. Theo Peters hauled down Ashley Hawkins inside the penalty area. The Great Wakering striker dusted himself off before dispatching the spot kick low to Simpson’s right.
Soon after, Rovers supporters believed they should have had a second penalty when Jay Nash was felled; however, referee Edward Smith disagreed and showed Nash a yellow card for diving.
Winger Jimmy Webb was causing the Stansted backline all sorts of problems with his superb wing play. Both Hawkins and Dan Trenkel came close to benefiting from dangerous crosses, it seemed only a matter of time before the Rovers extended their lead, but they were soon in for a shock.

After forty-two minutes, Stansted striker Tyrone White followed up to score after Godwin-Green failed to hold his initial strike. Clearly buoyed by their goal, Stansted pushed forward and almost went in at the break with a surprise lead when Godwin-Green brilliantly saved James Blackerby’s thundering strike.

Within a minute of the restart, Rovers reclaimed the lead. Jake Gibson sent over a cross from the right, which Hawkins headed back across for the onrushing Jay Nash to finish.

This should have been the signal for Great Wakering to push on and secure the points, but Stansted hit back straight away. Tom Le Massurier thumped a shot against the home sides’ crossbar with Godwin-Green beaten. Then as the game swung to the other end, Jimmy Webb saw his shot turned onto the post by the impressive Simpson.
After both Aaron Clarke and Jon Slater had gone close for Stansted, Rovers turned the screw on their plucky visitors.

With seventy-nine minutes on the clock, Jimmy Webb sent a wonderful free kick beyond the outstretched hands of Simpson to extend Great Wakering’s lead, then, within two minutes, substitute Lewis Sparrow met Webb’s corner with a towering header to make it 4-1.

The result sent out a message to the rest of the league that Rovers intend to be a part of the title chase and win promotion back to the Ryman League at the first attempt.