Rocks Review: Merstham 0 Rocks 4

A FOUR-STAR performance from the Rocks saw them maintain their bid for promotion at Merstham.

Ben Andrews and Steve Harper each scored their first goals for the Rocks before the more familiar figures of Jason Prior and James Crame doubled the advantage in the second half.

The win leaves the Rocks still fourth in the table but they’re now just a point behind new leaders Dulwich Hamlet.

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In the opening few seconds, the Rocks came close when good work on the left from both Darryl Wollers and Ben Johnson saw the latter’s cross elude Prior at the far post.

In a very open start, the hosts came close in the 13th minute. Former Rocks winger Sam Tucknott raced through to unleash a drive from 30 yards but keeper Craig Stoner got a hand to it before scooping the ball to safety at the second attempt.

However, the Rocks took the lead in the 21st minute when Harper sent over a low corner for Andrews to fire home through a crowd of players from 15 yards.

Eight minutes later, the visitors’ lead was doubled when, after Prior did well to win a throw-in, Wollers sent over a cross for Harper to plant a bullet header into the back of the net from 12 yards.

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The Rocks survived a few scares. First when Liam Wright saw his second attempt cleared off the line by Jon Marzetti after Stoner had blocked his initial effort.

Stoner was then called in to action again, doing well to tip Folkes’ deflected effort wide of the post.

Just before the break, the Rocks should have made it three. Prior latched on to Harper’s hook into the box but could only fire wide with the goal gaping.

Five minutes into the second half the Rocks effectively made the points safe with their third goal.

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Andrews flicked on Johnson’s corner for Prior to nod home from inside the six-yard box.

The match faded as a spectacle after that but in the 90th minute, Crane made it 4-0 with an unstoppable drive from 25 yards.

ROCKS: Stoner, Marzetti, Wollers, Crane, Axten, Andrews, Harper, Wills, Prior, Dodd, Johnson. Subs: Blatchford, Bond, Breach, Sackman, Boyle.

ROB GARFORTH

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