The Rockingham Redbacks Willow Bridge Cup side took on the Southwest Strikers at Lark Hill on Sunday afternoon. The Redbacks consolidated their top position on the ladder by running out winners 5-2 in front of a large group of supporters. Strikers play a very open style and have the ability counter attack very quickly, but this leaves some opening in their defense which Rockingham’s Brett Webb found in the first 5 minutes and he was able to weave his way into the circle starting from the center of the field. This gave Olly Bond a sharp chance at goal to go 1 up. Prabh Singh followed this up mid way through the half with another solo run and after receiving the ball back from Webb in the circle scored Rockingham’s second goal.
Strikers replied shortly after from a turnover in the center of the ground and went forward to score their first. The Ford brothers Shaun & Todd linked together well with some quick passes to each other to bring up the Redbacks last goal for the half with 10 minutes remaining. Strikers kept in touch with a late field goal for the half after another blistering counter attack.
Strikers desperately trying to stay in finals contention pushed hard, but Rockingham responded fiercely, which caused some players from both sides to over commit leading to several players receiving temporary suspensions. Rockingham’s short corner battery tried a couple of variations which paid dividends, scoring 2 goals from 4 attempts. Chris Oskam slotted the first one when a variation went slightly wrong – but was still good enough to flick the ball past the keeper. Bond scored his second goal with 3 minutes from full time from another short corner to put the game out of reach for the Strikers.
Rockingham were able to deny Strikers any goals for the half.
Neville Ford
Rockingham Willow Bridge Cup Team Manager
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