Aston Freeman’s strike in the 73rd minute was enough to earn Rochester United three points over Andy Pierce’s former side.
This game was always one of the fixtures Rochester manager Andy Pierce was looking forward to. Both teams came into the game with an unbeaten start, Rochester 2 wins from 2 and Greenways a win and a draw.
The first real chance of the game came after 15 minutes. Aston Freeman was put through on goal, Greenways Goalkeeper Shaun Wicks made a good save to deny the forward.
Nine minutes later Rochester thought they has taken the lead. The ball came into the box, fell to Jack Bray but the referee blew for a foul on Wicks.
A big chance for Greenways came from a free kick, the ball was about 20 yards out and was struck and went narrowly over Chris Swift’s goal.
A couple of half chances for Mack Reilly and a long range effort for Jack Bray for Rochester ended the half as a goalless stalemate.
0-0.
The second half started with a tight and cagey styles of football with both teams trying to get that one chance that could be enough to finally get the advantage.
A huge penalty shout for Greenways came after 58 minutes. After a ball came into the box, Greenways defender Luke Hearn was fouled but the referee said no despite all the protests from the Greenways bench. Dan Ashton had a headed effort wide two minutes later.
A ball over the Greenways defence and Aston Freeman used his pace to run onto it and drove towards the Greenways goal, the striker had a shot on goal and it nestled into the top corner past Shaun Wicks and had given Rochester the lead. 1-0.
Greenways had a bit more of the ball since Rochester went one up, a few crosses into the box and the odd shot on goal, Swift and his defence doing well to deny Greenways a clear shot on goal.
With Greenways pressing Rochester, the home side tried to counter the visitors with Hicham Akhazzan, Kevin Dance and Mack Reilly having efforts with Wicks in goal doing well to keep it to the single goal.
The game ended 1-0 ton Rochester United, the Spartans ending Greenways’ unbeaten start and clinched the win with Freeman’s strike after 73 minutes.
ROCHESTER UNITED: Swift, Wyness, Loynes, Bray, Whitaker, Currie, Wilkins, Watson (Akhazzan70’), Freeman (Dance 85’), Reilly [C] (Sheridan 90+6’), Roberts (Brown 60’).
SUBS NOT USED: Webb.
GREENWAYS: Wicks, Hearn, Cook, Davisson (Wade 74’), Mercer, Sanderson (Bull 67’), Walton [C], Gorse (Cutler 81’), Jackson (Bowley 64’), Beech, Ashton.
SUBS NOT USED: Whitnall.
REFEREE: Mr Thomas Sansom.
Photos courtesy of Sophie Barnes