Round One to the Martyrs.... by Llama
The scene was set, Forest Green had beaten Salisbury with three late goals....We could only manage a draw at Dorchester....Rovers held a two point lead, and on 13.04.98 we just had to win!
A large crowd gathered at Penydarren Park.. Tension was all around, and the crowd eagerly awaited the kick-off. Both teams took the field to a rapturous applause. Game on!
With just over a minute gone, euphoria erupts in the ground....A corner to the Martyrs....Chapple floats in a dangerous cross....From amongst the confusion, Nobby rises above the crowd and powers an unstoppable header into the back of Rovers net....1-0. The perfect start.
Rovers, obviously rattled, try to get the equaliser. The longer the half goes, the stronger they get. However, we hold. firm, and keep our 1-0 interval lead. Now it was up to Addo' to steady the ship.
The second half was to prove to be a little bit special. After 66 minutes, Nobby was dismissed for a second yellow....We were down to ten men!
Enter Evo' and Jenko', the dynamic duo! Within only minutes of coming on, Jenko' picked up the ball and sprinted towards the Theatre End.... A first time cross is delivered.....Evo' rises high to power in our second....Mayhem ensues....However there was more to come....Only another two minutes was to pass before Jenko', again picks up the ball wide on the left....Ha sprints towards the Theatre End, cuts inside the full-back, before lashing the ball into Rovers net.... 3-0. Game, set and match to the Martyrs.
Scenes of celebration were evident throughout the ground. We were 3-0 up with only ten men! Yet still, there was more to come....The mercurial Paul Evans was having an absolute blinder.
Ten minutes passed since Jenko's third, when Paul picked up the ball some thirty yards from goal....He ran at their defence, cut in between two defenders before sliding an inch perfect pass to the on-rushing Shaun Chapple....There was only going to be one outcome, and Chap' went sprawling in the box....Penalty! Off went their centre-half, and up stepped Mitch' to blast the ball down the middle....4-0!
What a game, and what a team! We had given Rovers a convincing defeat....their worst of the season. First blood to the Martyrs! We gathered back in Strikers, half elated, and half shell-shocked. The place was packed. The beer flowed, and the atmosphere was electric. Shaun Chapple accepted his man-of-the-match award, and this afternoon's events were discussed well into the night. Addo' made his usual appearance, to an abundance of applause. He had set out our stall for all to see, and sent our nearest rivals packing in the process.
Burton Albion awaited our presence, whereas Rovers had to pick themselves up for the visit of Halesowen. We had won the first round....Round two awaits us on 29.04.98....Pressure on!
Llama
A large crowd gathered at Penydarren Park.. Tension was all around, and the crowd eagerly awaited the kick-off. Both teams took the field to a rapturous applause. Game on!
With just over a minute gone, euphoria erupts in the ground....A corner to the Martyrs....Chapple floats in a dangerous cross....From amongst the confusion, Nobby rises above the crowd and powers an unstoppable header into the back of Rovers net....1-0. The perfect start.
Rovers, obviously rattled, try to get the equaliser. The longer the half goes, the stronger they get. However, we hold. firm, and keep our 1-0 interval lead. Now it was up to Addo' to steady the ship.
The second half was to prove to be a little bit special. After 66 minutes, Nobby was dismissed for a second yellow....We were down to ten men!
Enter Evo' and Jenko', the dynamic duo! Within only minutes of coming on, Jenko' picked up the ball and sprinted towards the Theatre End.... A first time cross is delivered.....Evo' rises high to power in our second....Mayhem ensues....However there was more to come....Only another two minutes was to pass before Jenko', again picks up the ball wide on the left....Ha sprints towards the Theatre End, cuts inside the full-back, before lashing the ball into Rovers net.... 3-0. Game, set and match to the Martyrs.
Scenes of celebration were evident throughout the ground. We were 3-0 up with only ten men! Yet still, there was more to come....The mercurial Paul Evans was having an absolute blinder.
Ten minutes passed since Jenko's third, when Paul picked up the ball some thirty yards from goal....He ran at their defence, cut in between two defenders before sliding an inch perfect pass to the on-rushing Shaun Chapple....There was only going to be one outcome, and Chap' went sprawling in the box....Penalty! Off went their centre-half, and up stepped Mitch' to blast the ball down the middle....4-0!
What a game, and what a team! We had given Rovers a convincing defeat....their worst of the season. First blood to the Martyrs! We gathered back in Strikers, half elated, and half shell-shocked. The place was packed. The beer flowed, and the atmosphere was electric. Shaun Chapple accepted his man-of-the-match award, and this afternoon's events were discussed well into the night. Addo' made his usual appearance, to an abundance of applause. He had set out our stall for all to see, and sent our nearest rivals packing in the process.
Burton Albion awaited our presence, whereas Rovers had to pick themselves up for the visit of Halesowen. We had won the first round....Round two awaits us on 29.04.98....Pressure on!
Llama
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