'ROSIE' REVELS IN MUD
'ROSIE' REVELS IN MUD
'ROSIE' REVELS IN MUD
NUNEATON BOROUGH 2 LEICESTER UNITED 0 NUNEATON Borough battled through a strength-sapping quagmire at Manor Park on Saturday against luckless Leicester United to further reinforce their cherished promotion claims.
It was the third time this season that the two sides had met and despite the appalling conditions no one watching could say they did not get the full value of the entrance fee.
Striker Mark Rosegreen had an inspired match, revelling in the action and deservedly scoring both goals to take his season's tally to nine. And Ian Cottrill was a rock in defence, taking on an unaccustomed role to marshall the back line and playing a major part in containing Leicester.
Two goals for striker
AT MANOR PARK
Boro', who are rapidly becoming early goal specialists, struck in the third minute when John Symonds's pass put Kevan Kane clear on the left, his centre finding ROSEGREEN who squeezed the ball home past the diving Ian Marsden. Leicester were unlucky not to square the game two minutes later when Alan Liquorish fired a shot over the bar from the edge of the Boro' penalty area. As the odd spot of rain turned into a torrential downpour ball control became increasingly difficult and Bullock went close to adding a second when Marsden fumbled a free kick from Brian Mofgford, Kennedy clearing off the line. With 23 minutes gone Tony Simpson made a lone charge from deep in his own half to the edge of the Leicester area but with Symonds unmarked on the left he hung onto the ball too long and was overwhelmed by defenders. The visitors did not lack determination as they pressed forward but luck was not on their side as first Neil Dorsett, denied by 'keeper Peter Manuel and Anton Thomas, slipping at the last second as he looked
certain to score ensured that Boro' stayed ahead. With ten minutes to the half Boro' blitzed United's goal with attacks going in left right and centre, Simpson, Rosegreen and Paul Culpin all going close but the visitors clung on. With the second half three minutes old Rosegreen was unlucky not to make it two when he ran onto a perfect through ball from Darren Bullock only to shoot wide. Brian Mofgford's 51st minute corner was cleared to Bullock whose through ball set Culpin up only for his half struck shot to be turned away for a corner. Liquorish drew the save of the match from Manuel in the 63rd when he climbed to meet a centre from Cheadle only to see his point-blank range header tipped over the bar. It was Leicester's best chance to get on level terms and they were punished six minutes later when Boro' went 2-1 up. It was ROSEGREEN, sliding in to push the ball over the line, and finish off a Boro' attack that left a Culpin shot stuck in the mud with two defenders failing to clear. In spite of their uphill task, United continued the struggle, but the final quarter was marked by a whole series of Boro' corner kicks, substitute Peter Green going close with a shot and a close range header in a minute of frenzied action. At the final whistle the pitch resembled a first world war battlefield and if the weather does not improve over the next 24 hours tomorrow night's league fixture against Tamworth could be in doubt.
Borough: Manuel, Wade, Kane, Bullock, Ridding, Cottrill, Simpson, Culpin, Rosegreen, Mofgford, Symonds (P Green, 67). Sub: Martin.
Attendance: 793.
– JOHN ELLIS