Football: Flying Rocks produce stunning comeback (From Gazette Series)

Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West: Cricklade Town 3 Tytherington Rocks 6

4:49pm Wednesday 11th January 2012 in Thornbury Sport

TYTHERINGTON Rocks rose like a Phoenix coming out of the ashes at fifth-placed Cricklade to record another astonishing victory, writes John Crooks.

It looked as if the Rocks would lose inside 34 minutes when the league leaders were three goals behind.

But then Tytherington woke up and for the rest of the match they hammered the home side to score six goals and preserve their unbeaten league record which they have had since the first week of September.

Cricklade made a storming start and after 16 minutes Arron Webb bundled home the first goal.

Leading scorer Ben Carter, twice helped by shoddy defending, was there to score in the 21st and 34th minutes and by then Cricklade were swaggering around.

However, the absence of top scorer Justin Bishop did not stop Tytherington returning to their irrepressible goal form.

In the 37th minute, Rocks’ man of the match Stuart Nelson, converted a penalty after Marc Hughes had been shoved by Anthony Hogg and, five minutes before the break, resolute defender Tony Perry came up to head a corner from Jason Wood into the net.

Two minutes in the second half the Rocks were level through Perry’s second goal as he headed home from a Wood free kick and the game was theirs as Cricklade collapsed.

Two goals from Alex Chapman in quick time put Tytherington ahead as the rookie striker picked up a delicious pass from Hughes to score.

The 22-year-old front man then got his tenth in a fortnight and it was probably the best goal of his short Rocks career, with a speculative 20-yard lob over the despairing Alasdair Ross.

Cricklade could not believe what happened and they finished with ten men after centre-back Gareth Davies was sent off following a skirmish with Chapman.

In the last act of this terrific encounter Tytherington substitute Tim Baker paved the way for Dale Emery to blast in a wonderful effort.

Gary Powell’s team are now 14 points ahead of Purton and Old Woodstock.

Powell said: “The first half hour was desperate, but my players are fighters and in the second half we played in their half and we stopped them getting back into the game.

“If you come away and score six you have got to be fairly happy, but even now I am not totally happy.”

On Saturday, the Rocks are at home against Clanfield, 2.15pm.

* Winterbourne United lost 2-1 at Hook Norton.

Joe Davies and Chris Tillcock scored for the hosts, while James Mainstone replied for Winterbourne from the penalty spot.