2010-2011 season

2010-11 turned out to be Rovers most successful season yet, largely thanks to the outstanding achievements of the U12s in winning their League Division 3 before going on to beat Division 1 Winsford in the final. An amazing double!

The U11 Astros and the U13s both had a great season, winning promotion as division runners up, whilst the U14s were unlucky to not to make a cup final having made the last 4 in both competitions. The U10 Blades also did well making to the semi-final of the Albert Steele

Tony Key – U14s manager had to hang-up his managerial boots this season due to work commitments. Fortunately, Steve Edge was was able to step in and maintain the high standards that the duo had worked so hard to achieve over the last 5 years.

Another cold winter disrupted play during November and December, but a good spring meant teams were able to fulfill their fixtures without too much disruption. The season ended with Grrrover Bear parked outside the school as part of the town BearMania programme.

Top goal scorers were Max Hughes (32), Adam Potts (28), James Edwards (16), Jonathan Goodwin (11), Jack McNinch and Michael Howell (8), Ryan Butler, Reuben Reeves, Daniel Eardley and Tom Akers-Smith (7), Christian Arnold (5), Charlie Wilson (3), Harper Whitehead and Jarad Bailey (2) and Josh Hassall (1).

Astros Player of the Year – Jonathan Goodwin
Blades Player of the Year – Adam Potts
Sports man of the Year – Ryan Butler
Supporter and Parents Player of the year – Charlie Wilson
Managers Trophy One – Mackenzie Lawton
Managers Trophy Two – Max Hughes

Last year the Astros had a very difficult end to the Mini soccer format, winning only a handful of games. Certain elements of our game meant we struggled to get goals and conceded too many. The lads would be glad to make the move to 11 a-side.
The 11 a-side season would start with the usual group stages and the Astros were in for a real shock, they were drawn against many of the strongest teams in their age group, it was a terrible draw for the lads and they failed to win a single game in the group stages as well as getting knocked out of both cups in the first round.
The Astros were then placed into Division 3 and we started to prepare the lads for their first season. The first game was a competitive affair but we were piped at the post and lost 4-3, the second game was a really shock, Egerton outplaying us in all areas of the pitch. At this point we had not won or come close to winning in 8 competitive games.
We then moved things around, changed the formation and repositioned some players ……. then it all changed! The Astros started on a run which would take them from the bottom of the division to promotion. They produced a run of 14 games unbeaten which was the best in their age group across the 3 divisions as well as becoming the top scoring team in their age group, etc.
The lads have shown the mental and physical strength to not only compete in 11 a-side but also to become one of the best footballing teams in their division.
This year has been fantastic for the lads and they should all be proud of what they have achieved.

2010/2011 season saw Rovers under 12s complete the league and cup double. Remaining unbeaten in league division 3 and beating 1st division league winners Winsford Diamonds in the league cup final.

After an uneven start to the season, the U14�s then settled into a rhythm and began playing some attractive pass and move football which earned them a good position in the league and reached the Quarter final of the League Cup and Semi final of the District Cup. Unfortunately a six week layoff to the bad weather meant that there was now a huge backlog of fixtures and the U14�s never recaptured the form of the early season. In some respects this was unsurprising given that at one point they had 4 games in 8 days and sadly the hopes of promotion began to slip away. However, they once again showed that they can complete with the top teams and at times played some fantastic football. If a greater level of consistency can be found throughout the whole season, we are all hopeful that next season will be their year.

Rovers U15 started the season off at home to Northwich with just 10 men due to injuries and holidays, but finished the game with 11 men when a suntanned and delayed eagle made it back from Europe! It was clear Northwich were a quality side and rovers got a commendable 3-1 defeat in the circumstances.

A full strength rovers secured their first points and first ever league win over Frodsham park in the second game of the season, before an early return fixture versus Northwich resulted in another defeat. Another late goal by rovers secured a valuable point against an impressive Tytherington side, and this never say die spirit from rovers was to earn valuable points throughout the season.
After another win against Davenham, rovers travelled to Rudheath in good spirits and grabbed another late equalizer, only to concede immediately and come home with nothing.

This disappointment didn�t last long when rovers beat Winsford diamonds for the first time ever in the league cup, and then followed this with a superb win against Tytherington after coming from behind.

Rovers then got the winter blues losing four in a row although in the last of these games they were extremely unlucky to lose 1-0 to a good Sandbach side. The next four games were terrific performances with three wins and an agonising last minute narrow defeat against 2nd place Rudheath.

Rovers inconsistency showed through over the next 6 games losing four and drawing two, however the last three games of the season would see rovers produce some excellent football and get results against teams much higher in the league. in the penultimate game against Winsford diamonds, rovers were 2-0 down but playing some fantastic football and eventually earned a 2-2 draw and in the final game of the season they came from 2-1 down to draw against Frodsham after again playing superbly.

The progress shown this season has been superb and is summed up in the league table where we finished 9 points behind Frodsham and 11 behind Winsford diamonds compared to 23 points, and 27 points respectively in 2009-10. We also finished well above Egerton Tatton compared to being 20 points behind them in 2009-10.

New additions to the squad of Pedley, Austin, Barber and Goodwin have given us strength in depth and I hope we can make similar progress next season.

Statistics Apps Goals
Toby Beasley 24
Jack Whiston-Rowe 22 7
Dean Cameron 23
Gareth Roberts 22 6
Tyler Goodwin 17
Daniel Thomason 23
Alex Gravett 25 11
Gage Pedley 17 5
Jonny Eagle 21 3
Curtis Farrall 24 3
Luke Briars 21
Dale Williamson 21 14
Dominic Evans 9
Max Barber 21 2
Joe Austin 25
OG 4

The Under 16�s age category is the point where boys start to turn into men, and then all of a sudden there are no easy games. Even the teams who had traditionally made up the lower ranks of the league proved to be a fighting force that had learned from all their junior years of football. And so it was that 2010-11 turned out to be a difficult season with every game a real battle!

Unexpected defeats early in the season started to improve as a new defensive line up settled down. But unfortunately we failed to keep a clean sheet all season and inevitably it cost us points and cup ties.

but improve we did and succeeded in making it to the quarter finals of the league cup following an outstanding match against Woodford with just 11 players available � winning in the last minutes of extra time.

Another long cold winter stopped play during December, but a great January start against Hartford in the league cup quarters later turned into a disappointment. The referee struck off 2 good goals from open play by rovers, whilst Hartford managed to stay in the tie with a goal from a free kick and an equaliser 3 minutes from the whistle to force extra time.

Poor refereeing later marred games against Sandbach and a strengthening Davenham side, denying rovers crucial points in the league. However the u16s were making progress and critically scoring more goals (that weren�t being disallowed!). Games that earlier in the season had been lost or drawn by a single goal crucially were being won in a similar fashion.

The season ended in championship form winning 7 of the last 8 games. Oh what could have been!

Award Winners: –
Players Player Liam Merrill
Sportsman Jack Spooner
Supporters Player Chris Hibbert
Best Attacking Player Andy David-Brown
Best Play Maker Adam DeConninck