Rovers Cruise Into Next Round Of Westfield FFA Cup
Rochedale Rovers 9 (Cameron 6', 33'; Fellows 27', 31', 35', 47'; Norris 57', 80', Faichnie 87') Pine Hills 0 HT 5-0 Played at: Underwood Park
A devastating four goals in eight first half minutes helped Rovers ease their way through Preliminary RD3 of the Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday night after a largely second string side brushed aside Capital League 2 strugglers Pine Hills 9-0 with Sam Fellows bagging four of Rovers goals. Lewis Cameron got the scoring underway after just five minutes into the game when he linked up with Todd Norris and despatching a clinical shot into the bottom right corner of former Mitchelton reserve keeper Damon Wenck's goal. Wenck did well to prevent Cameron grabbing his second midway through the half with a good block but moments later he was unable to prevent Rovers extending their lead when Cameron did well to stay on his feet in the box after a trip before slipping the ball back to Fellows who tucked the ball home for his first of the night. Fellows second came six minutes later with a more selfish effort that saw him lash the ball into the back of the net from 20 yards out, with Wenck stranded. Cameron got his second of the evening just after the half hour with a swift side step away from his opponent before firing the ball across Wenck's goal and into the bottom far corner and just three minutes later, Fellows secured his hat trick with a deft first touch that carried him into the box before he too guided his shot across Wenck. The game was effectively over for Hills although they kept playing and tried to create an opening, only for their higher placed opponents to quickly close down anything they attempted to muster. Rovers quickly resumed from where they left off in the first half with Cameron again involved, setting up Fellows who smashed the ball high into the back of the net from six yards out and giving the hosts their half dozen. Norris made it seven just three minutes later when responding quickest to a loose ball and firing in off Wenck's far post. Rovers coach Scott MacNicol then opted to give a couple of Rovers' under 18s a run with Cameron and Ryan Stenhouse making way on the hour for Will Eaton and Jackson Rossi to taste FFA Cup action, and Eaton almost got in on the goals when he forced Wenck into a superb save shortly after. Wenck produced his best of the game with a superb double save with quarter of an hour remaining. Ryan Faichnie embarking on a lengthy run, squaring the ball to Eaton who's shot was parried by the Hill's gloveman. Norris followed up on the rebound and was also denied by Wenck who recovered to again repel the goal bound effort. With ten minutes remaining Norris got his second with a neat turn and shot in the middle of the box which Wenck could do little about and the scoring was complete shortly before the end with Eaton finding Faichnie who made no mistake from close range to cap off a solid performance from the midfielder. Hills will take away some lessons from this clash and turn their attentions to kick-starting their league season where they are yet to earn a point. For Rovers, it was a clinical display from a side that should be vying for a top four finish come August and perhaps a cup run that could see them reach the national stage.
Coaches Remarks:
Scott MacNicol - Rochedale Rovers: "It was a good hit. We had about 5 or 6 new players out their tonight with Sam (Fellows) getting good minutes. It was good to get through which is the main thing with these games and no injuries either." Will Allan - Pine Hills: "We were beaten by a vastly superior team and they played the kind of football we are aiming to play at our level. We've got a very young team and we're just learning. We've got to return now to our level and keep pushing and keep improving."
FB Media Player of the Match: Lewis Cameron - Rochedale Rovers.
Despite only playing for an hour, his contribution sealed victory long beforehand. Hills had now idea how to handle the Scot who looks to have rediscovered his form.
Match Stats:
Possession: 63% - 37%
Shots on target: 19 - 3
Shots off target: 9 - 1
Corners: 12 - 1
Free Kicks: 7 - 7
Offside: 2 - 0
Yellow Cards: 0 - 1
Red Cards: 0 - 0
Team line-ups
Rochedale Rovers: Harkin (gk), Ackland, Bearman, Cameron (Rossi 60'), Fellows, Fields, Nagata, Shizuno, Norris, Ortega (Faichnie 36'), Stenhouse (Eaton 60').
Subs: Faichnie, Eaton, Rossi.
Pine Hills: Wenck (gk), Allan (Boland 54'), Anson, Barrett, Cassmatis, Gifford, Irwin (Roach 54'), Jones, Kolade, Panter, Solano (Heskett 64').
Subs: Lefroy (rgk), Boland, Heskett, Roach. REFEREE: Anton Shchetinin
