A Convincing Win and 3rd Place

9th September: Ringwood City 3-6 Doncaster Rovers

Goals: Jeffrey Xu, Adam Clements (2), Trevor Bird (2), Michael Kil

Rovers started the final day of the season knowing that a win would confirm 3rd place on the ladder and anything less could mean dropping as far as 5th.

Rovers lined up for the last game with Adam Bove in goal and a back four of Jarryd Pickard, Ben Vernes, Michael Kil and Marc Graziani. Joel Morandini started on the right of midfield, Gareth Tanner on the left, with Ian Branch and Oskar Petersson in the centre. Up front, Trevor Bird started alongside Jeffrey Xu, with Ashley Stevenson, Adam Clements and Karl Pimlott on the bench.

Captain Ben Vernes won the toss and decided to take advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half. As the game kicked off, Rovers immediately pushed forward looking for an early goal. In the second minute, Joel Morandini did well to beat his man on the right and get the ball across the area. Trevor Bird let the ball run to Gareth Tanner whose shot was well saved by the Ringwood keeper. From the resulting corner, Gareth Tanner swung the ball over to the far post and an inrushing Ben Vernes just failed to get a touch.

Rovers weren't to be denied for long. In the 9th minute, after sustained pressure they won a throw-in on the left deep in Ringwood territory. Oskar Petersson made a run from deep and was found with a quick throw from Gareth Tanner. His chipped cross eluded the Ringwood keeper and Jeffrey Xu nodded the ball home to give Rovers the early lead they were looking for.

Rovers continued to press forward pinning Ringwood back in their half for long periods. On 13 minutes, a long throw from the left by Gareth Tanner was volleyed narrowly wide by Trevor Bird. Four minutes later Rovers went close again. An immaculate through-ball from Oskar Petersson found Trevor Bird in the inside-left channel. Under heavy pressure he shot just wide of the goal. A minute later, Rovers won a corner on the left. Gareth Tanner picked out the excellent run of Joel Morandini at the near post and his snap shot was deflected wide.

On 27 minutes, Ringwood equalised against the run of play. a long ball forward by Ringwood wasn't cleared leaving their striker with a simple finish to make the score 1-1.

Rovers refused to let this setback ruffle them and immediately went back on the attack. In the 30th minute, Ian Branch won the ball in midfield and knocked it into the path of the advancing Oskar Petersson. His well-timed through-ball found Adam Clements who took the ball on and calmly beat the Ringwood keeper from 15 metres, slotting the ball just inside the right-hand post to give Rovers a 2-1 lead.

By now, Rovers were completely dominating possession and on 34 minutes, the ball fell to Adam Clements, whose shot from 25 metres just cleared the bar. However, disaster struck again two minutes later when another mix-up in the Rovers defence gifted Ringwood a second goal to make the score 2-2.

Rovers again resumed their pressure on the Ringwood goal. On 37 minutes, Asley Stevenson took the ball past his man and cut it back into the box. Adam Clements, with his back to goal, laid the ball back to Karl Pimlott who drove the ball across the face of the goal, just missing the far post. With the half-time break looming, Oskar Petersson played a well-judged ball inside the fullback for Gareth Tanner to run on to. His cross found Adam Clements at the far post and his shot flew just over the bar. The referee blew for half time before Ringwood could restart restart the game and despite Rovers spending most of the game in Ringwood's half, the game was tied at 2-2.

At the start of the second half, Rovers were determined to regain their advantage and finish the season on a high. On 45 minutes, Ian Branch chased out to the left wing and dispossessed a Ringwood player. A finely weighted pass found Adam Clements who took the ball into the area and drilled it across the keeper and into the far corner to give Rovers back the lead, 3-2.

Three minutes later, good work in midfield by Adam Clements found Michael Kil and his pass found Ashley Stevenson who cut in from the right and drilled a shot into the side netting, just wide of the post. On 51 minutes, good work on the left by Ian Branch made space to cross and the ball was met on the volley by Ashley Stevenson forcing the Ringwood keeper into a smart save.

It was all one way traffic now with Rovers looking to increase their lead. On 53 minutes, Adam Clements found Ian Branch making progress down the left. His quick ball inside found Trevor Bird whose first-time shot was deflected wide for a corner. From the corner, Joel Morandini found Ian Branch who screwed his shot just wide as the keeper closed him down.

On 60 minutes, with a quarter of the game to go, Ringwood won a free kick just outside the Rovers box and a finely curled shot cannoned off the crossbar, giving Rovers a timely reminder that the game was not won. Two minutes later, however, Rovers were breathing a bit easier. Ben Vernes picked the ball up in midfield and quickly knocked it through to Trevor Bird. Rovers top scorer made no mistake this time and slotted the ball under the Ringwood keeper to give Rovers a 4-2 lead.

On 65 minutes, 15 minutes from the season's end, came what was undoubtedly the goal of the season. Michael Kil, having another dominant game at the back, intercepted a Ringwood pass 10 metres inside his own half. He then took on and beat two Ringwood players and took the ball out to the right wing where he outpaced the fullback on the outside, cut in to the penalty area and unleashed an unstoppable shot between the keeper and the near post to make the score Ringwood 2-5 Rovers.

Two minutes later, Ringwood broke through and Adam Bove was forced into a fine save, low to his left. Rovers continued to apply pressure with the game now taking place deep in Ringwood's half. On 74 minutes, Ringwood broke clear with a good passing move through the middle and a confident finish from 15 metres gave Adam Bove no chance to bring the score back to 3-5.

With a two goal cushion, Rovers pushed forward again for the last 5 minutes of the game. On 76 minutes, Ian Branch found Karl Pimlott with a neat pass and his shot was blocked at the near post. Two minutes later, Rovers wrapped the game up. Ben Vernes won possession in midfield and played a quick ball through the Trevor Bird. He shrugged of a challenge from a Ringwood defender and carried the ball into the area where he was on the end of a heavy two-footed tackle from the Ringwood keeper. The referee immediately pointed to the spot. Trevor Bird, after a minute to get his breath back, stepped up to take the penalty and side-footed it to the keeper's right to leave a final score of Ringwood City 3-6 Doncaster Rovers.

The win guaranteed Rovers 3rd spot on the ladder, a well deserved reward for an excellent season.