Heavy loss for Rovers

Manjimup Rovers hosted an in-form Geographe Bay Soccer Club at Collier Park on Sunday, losing 5-1 after a late flurry of goals.

The game started well for Rovers, with a lot of positive play, good movement and communication.

Both teams were well composed and created chances.

Geographe used their formation and runs into space well to create the first goal of the match.

It came from a nice ball up the wing, which the Geographe winger collected in space before crossing to a teammate to tap in.

Geographe quickly doubled the lead with a second goal, after a clearance from a corner was intercepted and a ball back into the box found an unmarked forward waiting in front of goal who duly converted for his team’s second goal.

Sam Kerry made an important intervention minutes later to keep Rovers in the game when Rovers keeper Craig Emslie failed to get a touch on a shot after coming off his line.

Thankfully for Rovers, Kerry was in position to clear the danger.

Despite going behind Rovers were creating opportunities and they went close after Jesse Callaghan latched on to a through ball, only to shoot just wide.

Rover’s Jason Giadresco opened the second-half scoring after Geographe keeper Josh Manning spilled a save. The keeper saved Callaghan’s follow-up with his left foot but the ball fell kindly to Giadresco who put the chance away.

Rovers had the chance to level after being awarded a penalty when Callaghan was tugged by a Geographe defender.

But Jamie Mair’s penalty hit the crossbar and from the rebound Geographe countered and put the game to bed, scoring its third goal after a cutback pass found a striker unmarked in the box.

Geographe’s fourth goal came after some fantastic skill. The Geographe player controlled a rebound well and found himself with the time to place the ball beneath the crossbar.

With seconds left on the clock it was Rovers’ turn to concede a penalty.

This time it was comfortably converted by Geographe for its fifth goal.

Next week Rovers travel to Bunbury to play Bunbury United.