Aspire Midland Football Alliance

Rocester 4 Highgate United 2

A wonderful individual performance from Rory Maxwell inspired Rocester to a fine opening day win over Highgate United on Saturday.

Maxwell had only scored one goal in his previous 76 appearances, but the unlikely hero rattled in all four against the newly promoted visitors to ensure the Romans got their Aspire Midland Alliance campaign off to a flyer.

He signalled his intentions in the opening minute with a 30-yarder that whistled narrowly past the post, but opened his account barely sixty seconds later with a rasping shot into the roof of the net after Lee Bagley had won a header ten yards out.

Rocester’s lightning start was halted in the sixth minute when Highgate forced an equaliser. The Romans defence failed to deal with Lee Brosnan’s free kick and Dave Timmins ended up with a simple tap-in from a foot out to level the scores.

The visitors were lifted by their goal, but gradually Rocester seized back the initiative and began to stretch Highgate’s back four with some neat passing football.

One move down the left ended with Liam Sowter directing a superb cross deep into the area where Maxwell was again lurking. This time his powerful downward header was well saved by Perry Cox before the keeper grabbed the loose ball at the second attempt.

Cox was soon in action again, diving to push away a 20-yard effort from Sowter after the midfielder picked up a clearance from a corner.

Martin Gadsby headed wide from another corner before Rocester’s pressure finally paid off in the 34th minute. Bagley was felled by a shove in the back as he challenged for a high ball and Maxwell confidently struck his and Rocester’s second from the resulting penalty.

Within five minutes Maxwell had completed his hat-trick, but there was more than a hint of good fortune about this one as his intended cross from the right dipped underneath the crossbar and inside the far post.

Rocester were dealt a blow just before the interval when central defender Will Chadwick left the field with what appeared to be a hamstring problem – Matt Wooliscroft, one of four debutants on the day, replaced him after the break.

The Romans continued to make chances in the second half with Bagley forcing two excellent saves from Cox firstly with a shot and then a header from Mark Grimley’s cross. Gary Beardsley then saw his shot cleared off the line after Gary Langford had cleverly dummied over his effort.

At the other end Paul Wood, making his 50th appearance after a 21-month injury lay-off, made a flying save to deny Alan Shimmon, but he could do nothing to stop Liam O’Shea sliding in to pull a goal back for Highgate on 78 minutes.

Then it was over to Maxwell to spare Rocester a difficult final ten minutes with his best goal of the afternoon. Langford expertly held on to the ball before teeing Maxwell up, and he lashed in a terrific low shot from fully 25 yards that gave Cox no hope.

Scorers: Romans – Maxwell (2, 34 pen, 39, 80). Highgate – Timmins (6); O’Shea (78).

Romans: Wood; Grimley; Douglas; Gadsby; McCarron; Chadwick (Wooliscroft 45); Maxwell; Beardsley; Langford; Bagley (Hodson 74); Sowter. Subs not used: Hook; Wilson.

Highgate: Cox; Edwards (Turner 65); Brosnan (Beckford 80); Hayden; Darlington; Bailey; Kitching; Timmins; O’Shea; Shimmon; Gummery (Thacker 65). Subs not used: Jackson; Robotham.

Yellow Cards: Romans – Chadwick, Beardsley, Langford. Highgate – Brosnan.

Referee: Mr. D. Corrigan (Solihull)

Attendance: 103

Rocester Star Man: Rory Maxwell – Quality finishing and a constant threat.