Hellenic League Division One West

Tytherington Rocks 0 Letcombe 4

TYTHERINGTON Rocks have had a major shake-up after a difficult opening few months of the Hellenic League Division One West.

Manager Ian Giles stepped down from his role last Thursday, and Tawanda Kujeke was installed as the new boss in time to secure eleven new players last Friday, some of whom played against Letcombe on Saturday.

And, in blustery conditions at the Hardwicke Field, Tytherington gave a creditable performance mid-table Letcombe.

Whilst eventually going down, the home team held the visitors to a single goal until the last third of the game.

The opening goal came within five minutes of the start. Brisk exchanges between the two teams encouraged the Rocks defence to move up-field.

Inevitably, gaps appeared and Letcombe's Harry Monger siezed the opportunity to tap in the first goal.

Although the Rocks goalkeeper was kept the busier of the two stoppers, he stood firm against both ground and aerial attacks from the lively Letcombe forwards.

On 17 minutes, Rocks rattled the right upright of the visitors goal with a strong volley, and the rebound shot flashed narrowly wide.

A key factor of this period was a keen contest between Rocks left wing and Letcombe's right defence.

The game continued at a fast pace,with the visitors aggrieved not to be awarded a couple of penalty calls.

With the Rocks number eight showing some strong defensive play, Letcombe were unable to increase their lead before the break.

After the first 15 minutes of the second-half, both teams made substitutions, and on sixty minutes Letcombe increased their lead with a well-worked goal from Russell Benham.

Benham claimed his second goal and Letcombe's third with a straight-forward header after the Rocks keeper had initially parried a powerful goal-bound shot.

Undaunted, the home side mounted a spirited challenge to reduce the arrears,especially with some strong accurate tackles.

Frustratingly, 3-0 became 4-0 when an under-hit back-pass left the keeper stranded and Adam Bruce completed the scoring.

Despite the defeat, the new-found spirit evident in the Rocks team will hopefully pay dividends for the new manager.

Rocks next home game is a Hellenic League Division One West fixture on Saturday October 14 against Woodstock Town, kick-off 3pm