Roach took on local rivals Pennine juniors on Saturday and the visitors started very well and were matching Roach in midfield. Roach just started to play the ball around and used both wingers Sam Mather and Connor Sugden to create some good chances for Daniel Wright but the Pennine keeper was quick to smother the ball before Wright had chance to shoot. Pennine also created some good chances but on form defenders Curtis Rowland and Mitchell Clarke were just too strong. Defence soon turned into attack with the ball played into Harry Roche who had time to turn and play the perfect through ball for Wright to go for goal, but again the keeper was out very fast and forced the inform striker wide and make time for the defender to recover and clear the ball only for it to fall at the feet off Curtis Rowland who came close the giving Roach the lead. The game began to open up with both teams pushing forward and keeper Niall Barnes was soon called into action with a five save to turn the ball around the post for a corner. Barnes also had to react to make a save direct from the resulting corner, with only five min’s before the break Roach pressed on and closes Pennine down and forced the defender to make a back pass to the keeper who was closed down and tackled by Daniel Wright to slot home and give Roach the lead just before the break.
the second half Roach made changes and Harison Kilroy and Tom Rooney came on and made a instant impact in the midfield. Kilroy played the ball to Wright whos shot went wide, Pennine never gave up and soon started to make some very good chances and again Rowlands and Clarke looked like they were in control at all times. With only 10 minutes to go, Roach played the ball wide right to Harry Roche who set himself and smashed the ball into the top corner to extend the lead. The visitors still pushed to try to get back into the game but on the counter attack Sugden found Mather to play Rooney in just outside the box, his shot was blocked only to fall back at his feet and he turned the defender and slotted the ball to goal and Wright side footed the ball in the net to win the game for Roach. Man of the Match went to Curtis Rowland for a excellent and strong performance at the back.
