[Archived] 2011/12 Rovers Reserves

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

The Reserves got their season underway last week with a draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road and followed that up with another goalless draw at home to Villa Reserves last night. BRFCS match reporter Parsonblue's report on the Villa game is now published to the front page here.

Please use this thread to discuss all things concerning the Reserves this season.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Published: Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Match Report: Rovers Reserves 0 Aston Villa Reserves 0

by Parsonblue

The Reserves opened their league campaign with a goalless draw at Carrow Road last week and repeated the result in their first home fixture, against Aston Villa Reserves, at Leigh Sports Village on Monday evening.

Once again, the Rovers fielded a very young side but one which included Myles Anderson in the centre of defence. Seven of Villa's starting eleven had appeared in their opening NextGen fixture away at Ajax the previous week and they also included Nathan Baker, who had played alongside Jason Lowe and Josh Morris in England's Under-20 World Cup campaign in Columbia in recent weeks.

It proved to be a fascinating game of cat and mouse as both sides indulged in some intricate passing moves without creating any real clear-cut chances. Villa caught the eye with their ability to retain possession, particularly when they were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Nathan Baker. The Rovers started slowly but seemed to get into their stride during the final half-hour and put Villa under more sustained pressure.

The visitors enjoyed more of the play during the first half and the Rovers found themselves on the back foot in the wake of some impressive passing and movement by Villa's youngsters. However, they failed to create many clear-cut chances until midway into the half and then Matthew Urwin made an excellent stop with his legs from Graham Burke.

The Rovers failed to spark into life as an attacking force during the first half and Nick Blackman was again very disappointing leading the attack. A couple of runs from Zac Aley threatened to create something before fizzling out. In defence, Anderson was called upon to make a couple of decent blocks as Villa continued to enjoy the better of proceedings.

On forty minutes the match seemed to have turned in favour of the Rovers when Nathan Barker received a red card for a robust challenge on Hugo Fernandez.

Surprisingly it was the visitors who seized the initiative during the opening period of the second half. Indeed, it was difficult to say who was a man light as Villa played the ball around with confidence. Once again, despite their possession, the visitors were unable to create many clear-cut chances.

The introduction of James Knowles and Curtis Haley seemed to spark the Rovers into greater urgency as an attacking force. John O'Sullivan, who had been strangely quiet up to that point, finally began to get on the ball and run at the Villa defence. Likewise, Josh Morris started to have a greater influence on proceedings and the Villa defence had to deal with an increasing number of dangerous crosses which were fired towards the Villa goal. However, Benjamin Siegrist, Villa's Swiss 'keeper, proved a commanding figure within his six-yard box and had little difficulty in dealing with the succession of crosses.

As the Rovers poured forward in search of a win, they were nearly caught on the break, but fortunately Daniel Johnson blazed his effort over the bar when he really ought to have done better.

A draw was probably a fair result at the end of a game that was hugely entertaining and produced some excellent football from both sides.

See the full report with details of line-ups, bookings, etc., on the front page here.

[den]

So come on then PB - how did Mr Myles look?

[CaliRoverNYC]

About which Level on the pyramid would you compare Premier League Reserves to? are they comprable to League 1 or League 2 or is it more like the conference? Havent really watched enough of the reserves to say for myself... any help?

[Parsonblue]

So come on then PB - how did Mr Myles look?

On what I've seen so far I would put him behind the likes of Matty Pearson and Anthony O'Connor. In a way I feel sorry for the lad and can't understand why he has been put in this position. He's now too readily identifed with Kean and his father. If he'd been an outstanding talent then fair enough. However, he is no better than countless young defenders that we've had over the years and who have never progressed beyond the Reserves. I believe we allowed a far more accomplished player to leave the other week in Gavin Gunning. For his own sake I hope the lad makes a go of it but the odds are stacked against him.

[Parsonblue]

About which Level on the pyramid would you compare Premier League Reserves to? are they comprable to League 1 or League 2 or is it more like the conference? Havent really watched enough of the reserves to say for myself... any help?

Over the past few years the Premier Reserve League has become more of a youth League than a genuine Reserve competition. Senior players rarely get a run out and the majority of players are aged between 16/17 and early 20s. In pre-season we tend to play friendlies against non-League teams who are a couple of levels below conference. This summer we've played Kendall Town, Bamber Bridge, Curzon Ashton, Harrogate Town and Chorley.

[CaliRoverNYC]

Over the past few years the Premier Reserve League has become more of a youth League than a genuine Reserve competition. Senior players rarely get a run out and the majority of players are aged between 16/17 and early 20s. In pre-season we tend to play friendlies against non-League teams who are a couple of levels below conference. This summer we've played Kendall Town, Bamber Bridge, Curzon Ashton, Harrogate Town and Chorley.

Thanks for that!

[Kelbo]

Perhaps Parson could help elaborate on the structure changes regarding the reserve league, is this not changing next year?

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

I shall unpin this topic now - hopefully interested members will have seen the thread over the last week and will know where to post on the Reserves.

[AggyBlue]

We play Wolves at Leigh tonight if anyones still interested.

I'll be making the effort.

ROVERS: Urwin, Ribeiro, Henley, Grella, Hanley, Anderson, Morris, Knowles, Blackman, Slew, Aley.

Subs: O'Sullivan, Dilo, Ramm, Cotton, Maclaren.

[AggyBlue]

Just seen the Academy lads, just under 18's I think, training at East Leigh ARLFC near Leigh sports village.

Is the something up with Brockhall, flooding perhaps?

[JAL]

Is the something up with Brockhall, flooding perhaps?

Would think so after the past week or so of torrential rain. Think the under 16's game at the weekend was only 40 mins each way because of the rain.

[hollowsr]

Would think so after the past week or so of torrential rain. Think the under 16's game at the weekend was only 40 mins each way because of the rain.

The U16 game is always 40mins each way!

[JAL]

The U16 game is always 40mins each way!

Cheers!

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Published: Friday, 23 September 2011

Match Report: Rovers Reserves 2 Wolves Reserves 3

by Parsonblue

After opening their league programme with three successive draws, the Rovers Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers Reserves at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night last week.

Jordan Slew, the recent recruit from Sheffield United, made his first appearance for the Reserves in a side which also included Bruno Ribeiro, Grant Hanley and Vince Grella.

The Rovers started brightly with Josh Morris and Slew both having early attempts on the visitor's goal. However, as the game settled down it was the youngsters from Wolverhampton who began to enjoy the greater share of the attacking play. Nonetheless, it was the Rovers who ought to have taken the lead when Nick Blackman met a cross and with the whole of the goal to aim at headed straight at Aaron McCarey. The visitors almost snatched a goal when Myles Anderson dithered while waiting for the 'keeper to come and collect a ball which the defender really ought to have dealt with, but fortunately the ball was scrambled clear before the visitors could take advantage of the confusion.

On 31 minutes the Rovers took the lead thanks to a superb finish by Ribeiro. The Brazilian full-back found himself on the end of a long cross from Josh Morris and met it first time and chipped it over the 'keeper into the back of the net. It was an exquisite piece of skill by the Brazilian that many an experienced striker would have envied.

Undeterred, Wolves continued to get forward and Matthew Urwin could only stand and watch as an effort from James Spray whistled past his post with the 'keeper well beaten. The equaliser duly arrived on the stroke of half-time when a cross from Anthony Forde was headed home by Michael Ihiekwe despite the attentions of Hanley and Anderson. In truth, it was no more than Wolves deserved.

Within two minutes of the restart the visitors had taken the lead. A corner by Forde on the left was caught and then dropped by Urwin and Ethan Ebanks-Landell was on hand to slam the ball home.

Wolves now looked the more accomplished of the two sides and controlled the game for long periods. The Rovers offered little threat going forward, despite the non-stop running of Slew, while the defence looked jittery. Both full-backs endured a torrid time at the hands of Forde and John Gorman as both wingers had the beating of their man and the ability to send in a string of dangerous crosses.

The Rovers seemed to have weathered the storm and as the game entered the final fifteen minutes they started to enjoy a little more possession. Indeed, the Rovers ought to have grabbed an unlikely equaliser in the 78th minute when Grella somehow contrived to slam his shot against the underside of the bar from point-blank range. He could only watch in disbelief as the ball was finally cleared. It was a gilt-edged opportunity that would ultimately prove a costly miss.

Three minutes after Grella's miss, the Rovers were given a lifeline when Matt Docherty was adjudged to have felled Nick Blackman on the penalty spot. The visitors could rightly feel a little aggrieved at the decision, but Blackman, who had been largely anonymous up to this point, wasted no time in sending McCarey the wrong way and putting the ball in the back of the net.

Rovers had barely time to celebrate the goal before they were behind again. A long throw by Doherty seemed to flick off a head in a crowded penalty area and found its way to Gorman on the back post. The winger had time to allow the ball to bounce, set himself and then pick his spot before slamming the ball into the back of the net. Once again, fingers had to be pointed at some shoddy defending.

Although a cross-cum-shot from Morris flew over in the dying seconds, there was to be no last-minute reprieve. Wolves celebrated their first win of the season while the Rovers were left to reflect on their first defeat.

See the full report with details of line-ups, bookings, etc., on the front page here.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

A word of apology to Parsonblue, who sent me the match report the day after the Wolves Reserves match. Sorry for the delay in publishing it. Note that I also had to edit "at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night" to "at Leigh Sports Village on Monday night last week" after initial publication once I had realised.

[Amo]

I don't think that should read 0-0, Wen.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Corrected. Thanks for reporting it, Topman. A cock-up of copy-and-paste proportions, I'm afraid.

[Tom]

We're playing Liverpool (its free on LTV) and Goulon is proving himself to be the best player in the history of the world.

Just did a Zidane roulette followed by a shot just

[AggyBlue]

We're playing Liverpool (its free on LTV) and Goulon is proving himself to be the best player in the history of the world.

Just did a Zidane roulette followed by a shot just

Boo hoo, I thought this was next week.

[Tom]

Anyone know much about Micah Evans? Scored on his Stanley debut

http://www.rovers.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10303~2508429,00.html

By the way that picture is amazing

[grizfoot]

Was impressed with Josh Morris on the left wing, he was probably our best player along with Goulon.

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

Parsonblue's match reports for the Reserves games at Manchester United on 20 October and at home to Liverpool yesterday are now published to the front page as below. Many thanks to him and also my apologies for not getting the United report published sooner.

Manchester United Reserves v Rovers Reserves

Rovers Reserves v Liverpool Reserves

[rog of the rovers]

Filip Pivkovski off on a weeks trial with Malmo FF according to his twitter page.

I've never seen him in action, but he is the Swedish u19 captain.

Anyone seen him play?

[Guest Wen Y Hu]

The Reserves went out of the Lancashire Senior Cup in the quarter-final 4-0 at home to Manchester United Reserves on Thursday. Parsonblue's match report is now published to the front page here.