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Late strike levels it

12/ 3/2008

ROACH Dynamos under nines visited Unsworth on Saturday, and a sluggish start allowed the home team to take the lead after only five minutes.

Roach got stronger and settled down as the half wore on, playing some great football.

A great strike from the edge of the box from Tom Nixon put them level.

The second half started with Roach pressing for their second goal, and as chance after chance went begging it looked as if the game would end all square. However, a great through pass from Ethan Wade-Young sent Charlie Beswick in on goal and he slotted the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper to hand Roach the lead.

With time running out it looked like the winner, but a hopeful ball punted into the box was bundled home by an Unsworth striker to nick a share of the points at 2-2.

This was good performance by Roach who are still undefeated in the league.

The under 13s entertained rivals Heywood Rangers in a game that could yet decide who wins the league title. Roach ran out 5-1 winners

Sean Bamforth netted twice. The other goals came from Jack Greenhalgh, Kieran Burns and a cracker from Ryan McSweeney who beat two men and smashed the ball into a top corner from 30 yards.

It was a fine team performance. The player of the match award was awarded jointly to Kieran Burns and Liam Mottershead who controlled the centre of midfield from start to finish.

The open age team followed last week’s victory with a home draw against Bacup United on Saturday.

On a horrendous playing surface, which got worse as the game went on, the visitors took the lead on seven minutes, but within a minute, Marcus Smith equalised for Roach with a superb strike.

Just before the interval, Nathan Sedman put Roach ahead, but on the hour, Bacup again levelled the scores.

The middle of the park became unplayable and the Roach midfield worked tirelessly, none more than player of the match Conor Mullen who won everything.

With 10 minutes remaining, the referee abandoned the game due to the conditions, and the points were shared between two very muddy teams.