Central & South Norfolk Division 2: Northwold United 1-3 Rockland United

17th May 2025

Northwold United 1-3 Rockland United @ Northwold Sports & Social Club

Central and South Norfolk League - Division 2 (Step 13)

14:30 KO

Free Entry

Attendance - approx. 20

Half-time score: Northwold United 1-1 Rockland United

Goals:

Rockland United: Enever - 25'

Northwold United: Sharpe - 43'

Rockland United: No.7 - 49'

Rockland United: Overton - 74'

Final Score: Northwold United 1-3 Rockland United

I thought my 24/25 season was over, until I saw that a game was on up the A134, with Northwold United hosting Rockland United in the South & Central Norfolk League, one of the feeder leagues to the Anglian Combination. With the sun beaming, I knew I had to go, and I'm glad I did. A decent village team set-up at the Northwold Sports & Social Club, a nicely mowed pitch with a few undulating areas, a car park, a club building and a kids playground in the far corner, it was well set-up, with the kids also enjoying their time. Looking at the league standings, the hosts today were comfortably mid-table with Rockland United gunning for 2nd place with games in hand, the top spot looking just out of reach. I also recognised a couple of familiar faces in the Northwold line-up from watching games at Mundford and Thetford Rovers.

It was a beautifully sunny day with pristine blue skies, but not overly hot, so great conditions for a May fixture, although with the lack of recent rain I imagine it was on the firm side. Into the sun, Northwold United lined up in all purple kits, with Rockland United in an away all green kit.

KEY MOMENTS

NU = Northwold United

RO = Rockland United

2' - RO - Ball over top and the No.7 beats the offside trap and finds himself 1-on-1 with the keeper, his lifted effort beyond the keeper crashes into the post and out, should have been an early goal for the visitors.

6' - RO - Rockland win the ball deep in Northwold territory and the No.3 hooks the ball over his shoulder, the No.7 is the first to react and finds himself 1-on-1 again, but this time he prods the effort wide, should be 2 for the visitors.

14' - RO - A great ball from deep releases the No.3 down the right flank, he takes the ball forwards and crosses into the far-post, the No.7 is there and he heads the ball, his effort slamming into the crossbar and out, the Northwold goal leading a charmed life indeed!

15' - NU - The hosts with their first decent chance, Sousa finds Coleman on the right, he blitzes forwards then cuts into the box with great skill, with a couple of Northwold attackers begging for the cut-back he takes the ball further in and elects to shoot, but his near-post effort was stopped, should he have played the pass instead?

17' - NU - A long throw from Gibson is initially missed by everyone, it bounces and drops to Sousa, who somewhat surprised by receiving the ball, side-foots a tame effort towards goal, but the keeper is able to make the save.

19' - NU - A Thorogood long-ball is chased by Gibson, although sandwiched between two defenders he is able to get contact on the ball to poke it towards goal, it bounces in the box and looks to be dipping in over the keeper, but at full-stretch the goalie is able to claim the ball, looked a bit unsure there for a moment!

25' - RO - GOAL (0-1) - The visitors with the opener, a ball won off a short goal kick, it is immediately passed into Enever who get in-front of the defender to flick the ball into the top-left corner.

31' - NU - Captain Thorogood intercepts a loose ball in the Rockland half and threads Gibson in, Gibson shoots first time but the Rockland keeper gets down well to make a good save.

34' - NU - Coleman picks up a loose ball on the edge of the box following a set-piece, displaying his skills on the ball he shimmies about before creating the space for the strike, a lot of whip on the effort but it slams into the post and out, unlucky.

40' - RO - A speculative long-ball from Rockland is pumped forwards, the attempted clearance is poor and falls to the Rockland No.7, he immediately shoots, but he powers the ball straight at the keeper, either side and a certain goal, should have at least been a first-half hat-trick from him.

43' - NU - GOAL (1-1) - Rockland are left ruing their multiple chances as the hosts pull one back, a wonder strike from Sharpe, a 25yrd screamer into the top right corner, no stopping that one!

45' - RO - The No.8 receive the ball deep down the left, his initial shot is blocked by the keeper well off his line, the ball comes back to him and he whips it into the far-post, the No.7 is on the end but his close range effort on the dipping ball hits the post and out, how many times has the woodwork been hit so far this game!

45' + 3' - NU - The hosts get a chance to go in at half-time in the lead despite the numerous Rockland chances. Some liquid football sees them move the ball forwards at pace, the final move a 1-2 between Sousa and Gibson puts Sousa in space to strike, he powers the ball towards the top right corner but the keeper is able to make a fine stop to turn it wide!

48' - RO - GOAL (1-2) - The No.7 receives the ball on the right side of the goal, he nods it down to control it at pace and drills the ball into the net, beating the keeper at the near-side, a well deserved and well taken goal from the 7.

54' - NU - The ball is passed back to the Rockland keeper, he clears but the ball slams into the head of Sharpe and almost flies into the goal, not sure how much the Northwold forward knew about that one!

64' - NU - A Thorogood corner is whipped into the far-post, Mayes flicks the ball on, it hits the post yet again then flies back to Gibson who blazes over.

74' - RO - GOAL (1-3) - Rockland with the decisive goal, winger Overton on the right crosses the ball into the far-post post, but it lofts over the keeper and into the top left corner of the net, I'm sure he did not mean that but a goals a goal!

86' - RO - The No.3 in the middle of goal, he shuffles the ball out right to the No.5, but his shoot across goal scoots wide.

88' - RO - The No.7 is through again, down the left, can he score this time? The keeper decides to stand his ground and the eventual shot is at him at the near-post, right decision from the keeper for that one.

89' - RO - The No.5 releases releases No.21 down the right-side of the box, his effort is curled across the goal and looks to be heading into the top left corner, but it slams into the corner of the upright and down, hitting the back of the keeper and creeping in, but the keeper is able to recover to sweep the ball off the line!

I don't recall seeing a game where the woodwork was hit so often, if the shots were a couple of inches to the side we would have seen a crazy scoreline this afternoon. But as it was, the visitors Rockland United travelled back with the win and they were the better side on the whole, carving out the more frequent and better chances, and closing out the game comfortably in the end. A frantic end-to-end game from both sides was an enjoyable game to spectate, and must have taken a lot out of the players in the heat. The win sees Rockland United staking a claim for 2nd place in the division, and with two games left for them it could be on. I wish both teams the best of luck next season and I hope to see more South & Central Norfolk games in the coming season.

Line-Ups (will finalise once FA Fulltime site updated):

NORTHWOLD UNITED: Scooby, Jack Mayes, Darren Clay, Adam Jolly, Krzysztof Wasko, Lewis Coleman, Mason Thorogood (C), George Sharpe, Marcus Britnell, Elliot Gibson, Ivo Sousa. SUBS: Robbie Trainor, Ben Tricker, Louis Rolph.

ROCKLAND UNITED: Andy Marshall, Alex Pattison, John Burgin, Tyler Way, Abdul Musa-Akanbi, Matty Fell, Preston Sayer, Taylor Hawthorne, Kristian Clarke, David Le, Jacko Overton, Mac Enever, George Newberry, George Allison, George Wain.