Roy of the Rovers – Return to Glory?

Part 6

Baltimore Bullets 2, Houston FC 0 | MLS Match Recap

Baltimore, MD -- The Baltimore Bullets weren't sharp to start their first Championship

defence, but Dani Duada and Matt Thatcher netted second-half goals to forge a 2-0 triumph

over the Houston FC following a dominant, if frustrating, display.

Duada tallied in the 65th minute Friday night with a most characteristic goal for so sloppy an

MLS season opener, firing inside the left post after Kwame Jeremiah's clearance caromed

off a teammate, and Thatcher finished a chip that bounced off the back of Jayden

Marker’s head in the 81st as LA extended their unbeaten streak to 21 matches in all

competitions.

The Bullets built advantages in possession (53 percent, greater most of the evening) and

shots (13-8) but struggled to create a coherent attack despite creating nearly two dozen

opportunities.

Houston dropped their third straight opener in Maryland -- they were bombed, 4-0, two years

ago by the Bullets, then lost last year against Hidalgo Hurricanes -- and have won their first

game just once since 2002.

Former head-coach, Roy Race, who returned to England following the MLS Cup victory

three months ago over New York Hammers, was on the Bullets bench before the match and

watched the game from a suite. He also took the field before the game to watch the unveiling

of the Bullets' championship banner from last season.

Baltimore coach Rocky Race gave unexpected starts to Allan Tinn in goal, Chip Sullivan in

central midfield and Semi Duada on the left side of midfield, leaving players coming off

preseason ailments -- goalkeeper Jackson, and defender Helguera -- on the bench.

HFC were without one of their three new Designated Players -- Malian defender Bobby

Omar is sidelined with a groin strain suffered in a Feb. 22 friendly -- with Englishman Gerald

Sheddon stationed up front and Spaniard Rodri Ramirez atop the midfield diamond.

Jayden Marker, acquired from California Canaries, partnered Ramirez in central defense,

and fifteen-year MLS veteran Del Beardsley got the call at left back. 

The Bullets had far more of the game but little to show for it. They put just one shot on frame

in the first half, a Carlos Figueroa free kick in the ninth minute that Taylor Djukic knocked

down, then pushed away, leading to a blistering Borja Jesus shot into the side-netting.

Too many passes were offline or of the wrong weight, and their best chances mostly died

without a shot. Two exceptions: Duada's blast over the crossbar from 13 yards in the 40th

minute, after Sullivan and Jesus played a triangle past Beardsley, whom Baltimore targeted

repeatedly, and a first-time Thatcher shot from 20 yards that trickled wide of the left post just

before halftime.

Houston's only first-half opportunities were product of Bullets miscues. Wes Beer fired well

wide after Jesus shanked a ball in the fifth minute and a Tinn clearance from a back pass

caromed off Sheddon and over the crossbar three minutes later.

HFC accomplished little else, Ramirez's and Marker's fine play aside, until after the break,

creating one chance early in the second half – Beardsley fed a streaking Sheddon in the box

-- and nothing of consequence after.

Duada, who won the start with an exceptional performance in Baltimore's final preseason

game, provided the lead after an Gamarra ball up the right wing found Jesus, who crossed to

the middle of the box.

Jeremiah tried to volley the ball across his chest and behind him, but Marker was next to

him, and the ball went off his chest. Duada stepped to the loose ball and fired past Djukic.

Baltimore had four more good chances in the next 15 minutes or so -- the best a Jesus shot

past the left post that frustrated Thatcher, who might have finished a ball angled away from

the goal, and a George Henman try that Djukic knocked away -- before Thatcher secured the

points.

Figueroa again started the sequence, chipping a ball into the box. It went off the back of

Henman's head, and Thatcher crushed the ball past Djukic and into the net.

Houston play their home opener next Saturday against Pittsburgh. The Bullets visit Pine City

the following day.

* * *

“So Dad, this international break has come at the right time for you and the Rovers,” Roy had used the gap in Premier League fixtures to pay his son a visit on the opening weekend of the MLS season, “Definitely, son!” Roy agreed as the two tucked into their starters in Ikaros, Baltimore’s top Greek restaurant. Rocky, like his father had developed a great appreciation of Greek food, largely thanks to the many Cretan holidays the family took in the 70s and 80s.

“Do you think you’ll do it then? I mean keep the Rovers up,” Rocky asked. Roy responded, “I’d never say this to the media, but I think we’ll do it easily. I’d be amazed if it went to the wire. The 4-4-2 will work. Oldfield, who we play next, are the ideal opponents to show that.”

Anyone who followed English football knew all about Oldfield’s strengths. Managers had come and gone, but Oldfield always remained Oldfield. “Strong, aggressive, direct. Those are the three words that sum them up. They are bullies, the fans demand it, they always have.” Rocky was surprised that Oldfield had not developed into a more technical side, “Why is that then Dad? With Paul Rawson in charge I’d expect them to play a more patient, continental style.”

Rawson was one of the few leading English professionals to move overseas. Having made his name at Portdean, as a dynamic all-action midfielder with more than a touch of class, he moved to German giants Stroberg in the mid-80s where he became captain and recognised as one of the most influential players in Europe.

“It does surprise me that Rawson was even appointed. His teams have always played as he did, with a focus on possession and ball-playing midfielders. But Oldfield will never change, like Rovers really. I mean, I’m trying to get us playing direct football now, but that’s only temporary, certain clubs have their unique ways of playing. Rovers play 4-3-3 with a game based on pace and power. Burndean are a long-ball team, that are good in the cups. Everpool still play like the great Bobby Booth side of the 70s. And Oldfield play, well, like Oldfield! That’s what’s unique about football, Rocky, the history of a club, its location, the fans, the great players of the past. That all has far more impact on success than who is manager, who the current players are, tactics. A club is shaped by the past and that is why Melchester Rovers will always be the biggest club in England. Melboro’ and Kelburn…”

Rocky interrupted, “Yeah, Dad! I’ve heard it all before. Melboro’ and Kelburn have never had any class, any sustained periods of success. They’ve bought their way to the top!”

“Yes! They’ve bought their way to the top. But no-one can buy a great club. A great club, like Rovers, like Tynecaster, Everpool, takes decades to form. They form naturally as a combination of leadership, success on the field, but above all else a connection to the community through the support. That’s what worries me, Kelburn especially do not have enough supporters in their community, they have to import fans. Tourists, the middle-classes, they force prices up and those few genuine fans who form the basis of the club are priced out!”

“That will never happen at Rovers will it? Even with the Basranians in charge, they can’t change a great club into a rich man’s toy, can they?” This was something that had concerned Roy ever since the Basranian takeover, “Not while I’m around they can’t! But they are trying, trying darn hard too. If it weren’t for the community scheme and part-ownership programme it would have happened already. We can thank your mate Trevor Brinsden for that. Probably the only good thing he ever did, mind! But now he’s been AWOL for over a year and let the Basranians back into power.

“But going back to the future of English football, because that’s where I was heading. The foreign ownership model is not sustainable; it’s based on false logic, false economies. Kelburn sell out every match, but not to real fans. They are not football people, they have no loyalty to their club. Spending hundreds of pounds in the club shop is not loyalty. To these new fans football is entertainment, like going to the cinema or a concert. And there will come a day when they get bored. Will they become loyal fans before then? I don’t think so, Premier League clubs do little to develop the bond between supporter and club. The best way to do that is through developing local players. I have always said that.”

Roy Race was probably the only man left in any position of influence English football who believed this. He was certain that supporters of a club just did not connect with a stream of cheap foreign imports. The way to a fan’s heart was through making the club closer to him. “Rocky, when you came into the first team at Rovers it was alongside other local players. Rovers always had a spine of boys born and bred in Melchester. We supplemented these with top quality signings, but we rarely spent big money. Rovers fans could reel off the names of promising youngsters, year after year and the excitement of seeing a local lad make his debut can’t be matched. It just doesn’t happen often enough now and that’s bad for the long-term future of English football. The bubble will burst sooner or later, but at the moment the approach of all these foreign owners is accelerating that process.”

Rocky was interested in the current crop of youngsters on Rovers’ books. Roy had been director of development during the 2013/14 season, but had released the majority of eighteen and nineteen year-olds that summer. Of that development squad a number had made first-team appearances; striker Jamie Marshall, debuted that season in cup competitions and even grabbed a goal in the four-nil win over Castlemere. Alex Lees, another forward, also made a handful of substitute appearances and was a regular member of the first-team squad. This season, Roy’s former captain, Bobby Page, a tough tackling centre-back, had two starts in the League Cup. “Page is a real player; quick enough, strong in the challenge, good in the air and a natural leader. He reminds me of Karl Bruckner, I don’t think he’ll ever be that good, but Karl was the best. He’ll be a better defender than Mike Burgess, whose lack of pace will always hold him back.”

Ryan Small, a right-back, had also recently made the breakthrough. Vernon Eliot had allowed Wesley King to join Redpool, knowing that Small would soon develop into a capable reserve defender. Rovers were strong at right-back with Miguel Piedra and Richie Carpenter both good choices.

“When you think about it, Rovers have a really high percentage of home-grown players,” Rocky listed an eleven, “Daniels, Page, Carpenter, Daley, Burgess, Cheetham, Tonks, Spink, Jacobs, Lyons and Dec! Wouldn’t it be great if we could field that eleven, it would be a first for the Premier League!”

“That was one of Vernon’s great achievements last season; getting so many youngsters to play at such a high standard. He really brought the pride back to Melchester after those dire years with all those different managers. Melchester Rovers are a unique club, even with the Basranians owning a large part of it, the club will always belong to the city and to the fans. It’s great to have the real Melchester Rovers back!”

Roy was relishing his return to top-flight management, he thought he was a little out of touch, but as soon as he was back on the training field, the ideas came flooding back. Roy believed that football cannot change that much, there is far more money in the game, but the aim is always the same. Tactics are just tactics, different ways of achieving the same outcome. The Oldfield match, next Saturday would be the defining moment of Roy Race’s latest spell as Melchester Rovers manager. If the new tactics did not work against Oldfield, Roy would have to rethink, he knew that and was already considering his options. But a man of his experience was confident and trusting of his instincts. It would be 4-4-2, with Kelvin Dickson as the target man. The central midfield pairing of Cheetham and Powell would be expected to cover a lot of ground. To be old-fashioned, box-to-box midfielders, something that was missing from the modern game. They were both more than able to perform the role, Roy wanted to exploit their almost telepathic understanding of each other’s game. Rovers fans prayed that Cheetham and Powell would become the reincarnation of Race and Gray, Roy Race himself was trying to find a way of making it happen.

* * *

* * *

Melchester Rovers scraped their way into the FA Cup final by beating holders Portdean on penalties to keep alive their hopes of ending a fifteen-year trophy drought.

Henry Birch's penalty put the Portdean on course to reach another final, but Steve Daley's late equaliser maintained Melchester's hopes of winning their first silverware since they claimed the Premier League title in 1999/2000.

The teams could not be separated by extra time and, when it went to penalties, goalkeeper Nathan Daniels saved Portdean's first two spot-kicks, from Vlaclav Carmuna and Modibo Delmotte, to put Melchester on the way to a meeting with either Holverton or Walford Rovers.

Nick Batty, Richie Lyons and Jake Cheetham were all on target for Melchester - while Theo Andrews and Claus Ehman scored for Portdean - leaving Declan McKaffree to send the Rovers fans wild with celebration and relief with the decisive penalty.

Melchester had the better of the chances before penalties, with Portdean keeper Henri Lamy twice denying Kelvin Dickson, and Harry Jacobs hitting the woodwork in extra time. On a day when Gatesfield moved ahead of Melchester in the Premier League’s basement battle with victory at Blackport, this will provide a lift in confidence for Roy Race's side, despite a largely unconvincing display.

Portdean manager Phil Stevens can be justifiably proud of his players, who can now concentrate on their challenge for a place in the top-four and Champions League qualification.

Race stuck with his controversial long-ball tactics, with attacks focused on the aerial threat of Dickson and the midfield thrust of Cheetham and Powell.

Lamy did brilliantly to get down to Dickson's header as he met McKaffree's cross. He also did well to race from goal to block Jacobs and Dickson again, but Portdean grew into the game and Claus Ehman, man of the match in last season's FA Cup final win against Burndean, was emerging as a real threat to the uncertain Lucas Cleary.

Miguel Piedra had another good chance for Melchester when Daley flicked on Powell's corner, but his finish at the far post was high and off target.

Ehman was the central figure as Portdean went ahead after 63 minutes, referee Michael Jones having an easy decision as Daley dived in recklessly in the area. An injury to Cleary, which required his replacement by Richie Carpenter, meant almost a four-minute delay before Birch could take his kick, but he remained commendably cool to beat Daniels with a perfect penalty.

Race needed to react but his decision to replace Jamie Marshall, rather than the struggling Dickson, with Lyons was met with a loud chorus of jeering from the increasingly anxious Rovers fans.

Melchester, as they had to do, finally demonstrated a greater sense of urgency, and a frantic few seconds led to the equaliser after 82 minutes. Piedra had headed against the post and Lamy had again saved superbly from Carpenter before Daley arrived at the far post to score with a stooping header from Powell's scuffed shot.Melchester carried the momentum into extra time, and Lamy excelled once more to turn over a fine rising shot on the turn from Lyons.

Rovers had gathered momentum and only the woodwork saved Portdean as Jacobs' powerful shot rattled out off the angle of post and bar with Lamy helpless.

Then came penalties - and the shot at a trophy Melchester have waited for since 2000.

NEXT – Can Melchester Rovers use the momentum of reaching the Cup Final in the fight to avoid the drop?

Storky Knight