Hellenic League Division One West

Tytherington Rocks 0 New College, Swindon 0

By Reece Chambers

TYTHERINGTON Rocks earned their second point of the season on Saturday against New College Swindon.

The Rocks came into the game off the back of an agonising GFA Challenge Trophy defeat on penalties to Cirencester Town Development.

New College Swindon, meanwhile, lost their respective cup tie to Downton in a 6-0 defeat.

The game itself saw New College Swindon start the better of the two sides with precise passing; getting them in behind The Rocks' back four on multiple occasions.

Tytherington's defence was thankful of the efforts of goalkeeper, Adam Clark, who did well to keep the score at 0-0 in the first 15 minutes of the game. Tytherington then began to grow into the game with half an hour played. Their collective press on the relatively young defensive line of the opposition saw them gain possession numerous times.

Despite an impressive work rate from the home side, there was no sign of them coming close to opening the scoring. Rocks' lone striker, Daryl Herbert-Smith, often found himself isolated in the first half on the occasional break away from New College Swindon's pressure.

Throughout the first half, it was the youthful New College Swindon who used their pace and trickery to provide themselves with a few more chances before the break.

The away side would have gone in front at half time had Alex Fenton not dragged a good chance wide of the post following his side's corner kick.

Right on the stroke of half time, New College Swindon had appeals of a goal turned down by referee, Waldemar Malek, when they hit the inside of the woodwork. It would be an event that summarised the first half rather well with Tytherington just about surviving New College Swindon's pressure.

During half time, it became apparent that manager Dan Gillespie, along with assistant Pat Hensdzel, were allowing their players to sort out the issues that the first half had presented them with. The managerial duo took their seats on the substitutes bench for the entirety of the half time interval.

Into the second half and Tytherington were far different to the side that finished the first half. There was an element of control within the midfield that had not been present during the opening 45 minutes.

It was New College Swindon, though, who went closest after the break through Ben Spackman. The ball fell kindly to him following a Tytherington clearance but he squandered what was his side's third clear chance of the game.

The Rocks then had their first real chance through Jamel Fisher. However, the winger was promptly met by the New College Swindon 'keeper who kept the score at 0-0.

Fisher went even closer to opening the scoring with just 20 minutes to play. The ball fell to the winger on the edge of the area following a corner but New College Swindon got a vital block on the goal line to keep it goaless.

With the rain pouring down, chances opened up for both sides within the final 15 minutes of the game.

It was Tytherington who finished the stronger of the two sides with some intricate passing to get them in on goal.

As the space opened up in the area, Tytherington pushed men forward to try and secure their first league win of the season.

However, despite two penalty appeals from the home side within the final five minutes of the game, they could not find that elusive winning goal.

Overall, a point apiece was a fair outcome in a game that was crying out for a goalscorer on both sides. Tytherington's goal scoring issues continue having only scored 2 goals in 9 league games.

Next time out, The Rocks face an important away trip to Woodstock Town who are just three points above Tytherington in 15th place.