Roy of the Rovers Total Football

Part 8

Melchester Rovers produced a stunning comeback to overcome Championship

leaders Stambridge City at Petards Stadium and reach the quarter-finals of the
League Cup.
Rovers gifted Stambridge a 2-0 lead by twice losing possession to Malick Delmotte, who
produced two neat finishes. But Drew Powell's penalty and Richie Lyons finish brought
Rovers level before Jamie Marshall drove them ahead.
Close-range finishes from Marshall and Powell made it five away goals in 20 minutes to seal
the Melchester win.
It was a remarkable period that further demonstrates the strength of a Melchester side who
sit fourth in the Premier League table.
However, for much of the first half, the focus was more on the deficiencies of Johan
Seegrun's side as a shocking back-pass from Alex Fletcher allowed Delmotte to collect,
round keeper Mark McDermott and score, before Mark Burgess' hesitancy at the back
allowed the same player to nip in and slot home.
But Powell's penalty in first-half added time, which was awarded when Richard Ashley
tripped the Welshman in the box, was perfectly timed to give the away side a lift and after
the break they never looked back.

Marshall's first goal - a stunning drive into the top corner from 20 yards to give his side the
lead following Lyons close-range leveller - was the pick of Melchester's quintet and also
knocked the fight out of City.
Stambridge had won five of the nine games new boss Ian Kirby has been in charge for prior
to this but their confidence remains fragile and Rovers capitalised to register a 8th win in 9
matches.
Stambridge manager Ian Kirby: "We scored two tonight so that's progress. In the first half
we were well and truly in it, but the goal on the stroke of half-time gave Rovers a huge lift
and top teams don't need lifts like that. We nullified them in the first half but the second half
was a different story and they punished us."
Melchester manager Johan Seegrun: "The goal just before half-time gave us a lifeline.
And at half-time the players wanted to do something about it. The second half was more like
us, we showed good character and played some good football. It was a devastating period."

***
Three months of the 2015/16 season had passed, Melchester Rovers were flying.
A nervous start well and truly behind them, Johan Seegruns side would soon
face their biggest test, a trip across the river to great rivals Melborough. Cesare
Ranas expensively assembled team were on good form too, sitting third one
place above Rovers.
Ranas had enjoyed another busy summer, the pick of his signings being talented
teenage forward Ravel Penny from Danefield United. Melboro now boasted the
awesome front three of Penny, star South American striker Santiago Fuentes and
the previous summers big buy, and former Rover, Fabrice NDiaye. Pennys
signing was supposed to the final piece of the Melboro puzzle, completing a
squad capable of dominating English and European football. After the

disappointment of another second place in 2014/15, Ranas job was on the line,
but as always his board continued to outspend everyone, even the champions
Kelburn.
Freddy Sepps Kelburn had romped to their sixth Premier League title, winning
every game in April and May, including a dominant 3-0 win over Melboro to
effectively seal top spot. It was an amazing performance that highlighted the
difference between Sepps established championship contenders and the
pretenders Melboro. But while Melboro lagged behind Kelburn, pundits rated
Melchester Rovers some way off their local rivals.
Chippy Croker, on his long running Saturday morning show Goals Galore,
expressed his doubts over Seegruns Total Football, despite Rovers recent good
form. I make Melboro massive favourites! I cant see how the Rovers defence
can stop the wingers; Penny and NDiaye will find space in behind, Dani Garcia
will be able to pick them out. Crosses will be key, but even if Rovers can cut
them out, Penny and NDiaye have enough skill to cut in and shoot. Every time
Boro get the ball in the box its a chance, Santiago Fuentes is a natural
goalscorer much like myself hes a poacher! I predict a big win for Melboro
3-0!
Jake Cheetham, the Melchester Rovers captain, was at home watching, trying to
relax before the stress of a derby weekend. He called out to his lodger, young
forward Jamie Marshall, Jim! Croker reckons were gonna get caned tomorrow!
Marshall had moved into Cheethams apartment after Drew Powell decided to get
his own penthouse in a neighbouring tower. Johan Seegrun encouraged his
players to spend time together away from football, Marshall had been living with
his parents and jumped at the chance of moving out, especially as Jake never
asked for any rent or housekeeping.
What does Chippy Croker know? Hes ancient, never even had the bottle to be a
manager! Jake disagreed, Hes the best pundit on TV, or maybe the second
best now Vernons back on! Hes blunt and rude, but he does talk sense. Well
have to defend really well to stop Ravel and Fab.
Jamie sat down on the long leather sofa beside his captain, Croker continued to
preview the big match, Rovers have had some great results, the win at
Danefield the highlight. But Im seeing some cracks in the system; the 0-0 draw
at Tynecaster, they didnt have a shot on target in the second half and the 1-0
win over Eastgate followed a similar pattern; they never looked like scoring!
Needing a Cheetham penalty to beat the bottom side is not a good sign!
Jake nodded slowly, See what I mean, Jim? Hes sensed how were feeling at
training, we know that our form has slipped just before the biggest match of the
season. What Croker doesnt know though, is that Drews playing tomorrow and
that could spark us back to life. He played really well at Stambridge on Tuesday!
Drew Powell had been dropped from the Premier League squad following the well
documented bust-up at Kingsbay. Seegrun picked him and Richie Lyons for the
League Cup fixtures with both contributing to the run to the fifth round. Lyons
was yet to apologise, but Powell had relented, after continual nagging from Jake.
Seegrun promptly reintroduced the Welshman as the creative midfielder,
dropping Tommy Tonks, who was looking tired. The decision was only made on

Thursday afternoon, hence the squads uncertainty on the potential impact of the
change.
Johan Seegruns original plan had been for Powell to play as the holding
midfielder, to sit deep and use his wide range of passing to launch attacks,
almost like a quarter-back. But Drew had struggled, he wanted to play in the
more attacking role that he had become accustomed to. He loved to play with
freedom, but he was being told to play in the only outfield position with strict
instructions on movement and positioning. Mentally blocked, Drew Powell could
not perform, like Lyons, and the twos frustration boiled over in the Kingsbay
dressing room.
But now, with the emergence of youth team defenders Bobby Page and Ryan
Small, Seegrun was able to move Danny Luik into his best position, the deep
midfielder, or pivot (as Johan called it). Tonks had provided the flair, but he was
not in the same league as Drew Powell, captain of Wales, and scorer of fifteen
goals for club and country in the 2014/15 season.
Powell was not short of match practice, in the week before the draw in
Tynecaster, he had helped his country secure qualification for Euro 2016. Jake
had been withdrawn from Englands dead rubber qualifier, officially to recover
from an ankle knock, but it reality he just needed a rest. Jamie Marshall, had
been called up to the England Under-21s, with whom he had watched Wales
crucial final match in Bosnia. Jakey, Drew was great in Bosnia, it was some
display, he can really turn it on at international level now. It will be great when
you face him in France this summer!

Welsh qualify for Euro 2016 despite defeat

There were to be no Drew Powell heroics this time, no dramatic last-gasp goals, but for
once, it did not matter as Wales secured qualification for Euro 2016 with a defeat in Bosnia.
Fifty-eight years of hurt will come to an end when Colin Jones team participate in a major
tournament for the first time since 1958 next summer and, when Wales plot a route to the
Stade de Colombe, the disappointment of this 2-0 reverse will have long since faded.

Greats like Vic Guthrie, Taffy Warren, Karl Denver, Glen Davies and manager Colin Jones,
never had the opportunity to represent their country at a World Cup or European
Championships. But Wales are finally back in the big time.
With Bosnia starting the game with an outside chance of overhauling Scotland in the race for
third spot and a place in next months play-off round, the hosts chose to stage this fixture in
the intimidating 16,000 capacity National Stadium rather than the newly built Olympic
Stadium, in an effort to fully capitalise on home advantage.
While the Wales supporters were kept outside the stadium until 45 minutes before kick-off for
security reasons, the home sections of the capacity ground were full an hour earlier, with the
locals setting off bright red flares to add to the hostile atmosphere in and around the
stadium.
Wales manager Colin Jones had warned his players ahead of the game of the pride and
passion they would encounter, but the failure of former Melboro forward Ensar Susic to fully
overcome a knee injury in order to start the fixture was a pre-match boost for the visitors. But
if Wales were to secure the point required to confirm their place in France next summer, this
was as good a venue as any to do so.
It had been 57 years since Wales last qualified for a major tournament, with a 2-0 victory
against Israel in Cardiff on February 1958. For Wales, the years since have been a tale of
near misses and hard luck stories, but with qualification almost secured, the onus was on
Jones players to confirm their passage to the finals with a victory in Sarajevo.

Drew Powells fitness to start, after being dropped by Melchester Rovers manager Johan
Seegrun, gave Wales a crucial edge and the Rovers midfielders quality was evident as early
as the second minute, when his break down the centre almost created a scoring chance for
Glenn Stamp.
Wales problem, and it is one which their Euro 2016 opponents will quickly identify, is that
Powell is always the first option for a pass and the Bosnians did not need a second warning
before realising that the key to stifling Wales is by starving Powell of service. With their
defenders paying extra attention to Powell, Bosnias midfielders began to control possession
and the home side went close to opening the scoring on nine minutes when, after Portdean
left-back Bryn Jones had slipped attempting to cut out Milan Sunjics throughball, Ermin
Vaskovic hit a right-foot shot inches wide of Will Williams far post.
Sunjic, the Apollo Romano midfielder, was allowed too much space to direct the play, but
with Susic sat on the bench, he was denied the cutting edge further forward to take
advantage of his work. With Sunjic lacking options up-front and Powell well contained by the
Bosnians, the first-half became a stalemate one which suited Waless need for a point to
qualify. And with Wales perhaps subconsciously playing for a point, it was no surprise that
their only two real efforts on goal in the opening 45 minutes came from free-kicks, from
Powell and Eastgates Andrew Rees.
A Powell throughball to Stamp seconds before half-time looked to have teed up a breakaway
goal for Wales, with the Sandford forward releasing Rees in the penalty area. Rees was
allowed to dribble his way to edge of the six-yard box and, with goalkeeper Al Bajramovic
grounded in the scramble for the ball, wing-back Nicky Marks had the goal at his mercy, only
for Sunjic to steal the ball from his toes at the crucial moment.
In a game so bereft of goalscoring opportunities, it was a bad one to miss with the first goal
likely to prove pivotal. And as the game wore on, it became tighter still, with Powell
uncharacteristically shooting high over the crossbar on 56 minutes after being put through by
Jonny Irons.
With news of Scotland taking the lead against Iceland reaching the Bosnian supporters,
chants for Susic grew louder and louder from the terraces. But as the Apollo forward warmed
up, Milan Sunjic scored the goal which gave the hosts renewed hope of qualification via the
play-offs. And it was a poor goal for the Welsh to concede, with a Bosnia free-kick allowed to
bounce in the penalty area before the Sunjic flicked over the helpless Williams.
Still, by the time Vesna Vaskovic tapped in a second at the far post in the 90th minute, Wales
were already in France.

Bosnia Bajramovic 6, Blatovic 6,Sunsanic 6, Banjovic 7 (Kokscar 6), Maljovic 7, Imalazic 6 (Biscevic
7), Baric 7, Sunjic 8, Cijev 8, Vaskovic 7 (Izmeduvic 7), Rodic 7
Wales Williams 7, Charlton 7, Ashley 8, Tudor 6, Bryn Jones 6, Marks 6, Summers 6 (Davids 6),
Irons 6 (Bircham 6), Rees 7, Powell 8, Stamp 7 (Chappell 5)

Drew Powell had certainly emerged as one of the hottest properties in European
football, which made Seegruns decision to end his Premier League exile all the
easier. Reports had emerged suggesting giants Real Varagosa from Spain and
Italian league leaders Dorino were ready to bid for Powell. In all likelihood
Powells agent had just been stirring the pot, but there was no doubt that Drews
performances in the previous two seasons and his starring role for Wales had
attracted the attention of some of Europes richest clubs.
Jamie Marshall was not as clued up as his captain, Do you think Drew will leave
in January? I heard that Varagosa are after him, the way the boss has treated him
might tempt him! Jake was not convinced, Were not as close as we were, but
he wouldve told me if he was thinking of a transfer. Honestly, I dont think that
Drew would get in Varagosas midfield, he wouldnt want to leave to sit on the
bench, even for big money!Anyway, Melchester Rovers are the biggest club in
Europe and well prove it on Sunday!
Storky Knight
NEXT Derby Day in Melchester!