ROVERS DREAM TURNS TO A NIGHTMARE

Great Wakering Rovers brief excursion in the FA Cup came to an abrupt end following a lacklustre performance at Ryman League One North Wroxham.
On a viciously sloping pitch, the perfect scene for a cup giant killing, Rovers failed to reproduce any of their recent good form.
Wroxham started brightly, Paul Cook wriggled clear of the Rovers rearguard but shot wide while Matt Daniels tested Rovers goalkeeper Louis Godwin-Green with a low drive. Then Godwin-Green had to be alert to turn over Daniels dangerous right wing cross. From the resulting corner, Max Drury had to clear off the line following a goalmouth mêlée.
Ty Benjamin was the next Rovers defender to earn his corn, twice blocking Matt Blake efforts in a frantic few seconds.
However, inevitably Wroxham took full control of the game after twenty-three minutes when referee Paul Quick spotted an infringement in the Rovers penalty area and had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Matt Daniels despatched the resulting penalty to give the home side a deserved lead.
The goal seemed to spark Rovers into life. Jimmy Webb almost found an instant response when he rounded Wroxham keeper Michael Hilton, but Josh Carus kicked his goal bound effort off the line. Soon after Webb’s dangerous free kick was headed by Matt Halliday towards his own goal only for Hilton to make a spectacular save.
The game was virtually over as a contest after thirty-four minutes. Matt Blake showed some neat footwork before firing low past Godwin-Green to double the home sides’ advantage.
Wroxham had the bit between their teeth and were determined to make their superiority count. Josh Turner presented Cook with a glorious opportunity to add a third, but incredibly, the Yachtsmen’s striker missed the target. Rovers skipper Lewis Sparrow’s brave block then denied Cook again.
Just before the interval, Rovers were denied a stonewall penalty. Referee Quick waved away the visitors appeals after Jimmy Webb was clearly fouled.
Rovers showed a slight improvement in the second period. The impressive Webb jinked into the Wroxham penalty area but Hilton brilliantly saved his strike, then Carus swept Ashley Hawkins follow-up away from danger.
Wroxham forged a couple of chances to kill the tie off. Godwin-Green made a smart save from a Turner free kick while substitute Mathew McNeil shot wide from close range.
Rovers believed they had registered a goal of their own when Dan Williams found the net with a header. Both player and supporters seemed baffled by the official’s decision to rule the effort out, seemingly for offside.
Jimmy Webb continued to offer the Rovers greatest threat. Following another bold run at the Wroxham goal, his effort was deflected wide by a last ditch clearance.
Any slim hope of a Great Wakering comeback evaporated with quarter of an hour remaining. Defender Stuart Hepburn was ordered off after hauling back Paul Cook. It has been an unhappy cup campaign for the Rovers man; he was also dismissed during previous round tie at Woodbridge Town.
Cook soon had a chance to make it 3-0, but Godwin-Green made a marvellous save to keep out the Wroxham striker.
The game finished amid a thunderstorm, which it has to be said, was considerably more spectacular than the Great Wakering Rovers performance!

By Brian Jeeves