Honours even as Rovers and Dragons clash

9:09am Wednesday 20th August 2008

The spoils were shared as STANWAY ROVERS and WIVENHOE TOWN went head-to-head for their first-ever league meeting.

Wivenhoe had to come from behind twice to make it honours even in a 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns in their Ridgeons League premier division clash.

It had all the passion of a local derby, but never boiled over into animosity and was an open attacking game that would have pleased any neutrals in the crowd of 148.

Both sets of strikers were on top as the play flowed from end-to-end throughout the 90 minutes and plenty of chances were created by both sides.

It was the visitors who perhaps shaded the lion’s share of the possession and those opportunities in front of goal, driven forward by the impressive 18-year-old Ollie Thorne, who stepped out of the defence into central midfield.

Manager Richard Carter later explained that Thorne had decided not to take the option of a trial at Blue Square Premier side Stevenage Borough today and had pledged to stay with the Dragons for the time being.

His towering presence kept Rovers on their toes as the Dragons adapted well to a 3-5-2 formation that Carter had taken a gamble on using.

He said that it was a set-up that hadn’t been tested even on the training ground, but his players rose to the task admirably and their attacking threat was evident, with Sam Collins and Miles Mitchell-Coop getting forward well down the flanks.

It is no secret that Stanway have one of the most feared attacks in the Ridgeons League, though, and every time they went forward they asked questions of the Dragons’ defence.

Rob Bate and Lee Norfolk battled hard in the centre of midfield and Luke Callander was lively up front.

However, despite all the forward momentum from both sides , the score remianed at 0-0 until the 35th minute when Rob Thorne raced clear and was brought down by Wivenhoe keeper Phil Smith.

The Dragons’ custodian was only shown a yellow card, when a red may have been an option, but his side went one down as Sam Newson fired in from the spot.

Stanway now needed a period to consolidate their lead, but within two minutes Wivenhoe were level.

They got men into the Rovers’ box and as Collins looked like he would cross, he drilled in a low shot that flew past home keeper Michael Church into the back of the net.

More attacking play followed after the break, but it wasn’t until the 74th minute that the hosts went ahead again.

Two former Dragons combined as Liam Bailey floated a wonderful free-kick into the box from wide on the right and Callander’s bullet header rocketed past Smith into the net.

However, Wivenhoe weren’t done and they levelled once more with nine minutes to go when the impressive Lee Underwood weaved his way through several challenges to create space on the edge of Stanway’s box and laid the ball off to Gareth Simpson, who fired it home.

That wasn’t the end to the action as both sides sought a late winner, but there were no further goals and it was perhaps fitting that an even game should end with honours level.

Rovers’ joint manager Paul Symes said: “I felt we were a victim of our own mistakes with not clearing our lines when we needed to.

“We always looked a threat, but it was two even teams and a draw was a fair result.”

Carter added: “I felt we deserved to win to be honest, but after being behind twice I’m happy with a draw.

“We created two great goals so I have to be happy with that and a point puts us top of the league at an early stage.”

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