Clinical Boars win tight battle: Roffey 2 – 0 Lingfield

Roffey beat an impressive Lingfield side who went into the match on the same points as the Boars, and have been much improved since last year. Naim Rouane was without Charlie Gibson, who has been playing for the England 6 aside team, Tres Difika, who has signed for Whitehawk, and Dan Pearse with injury, but welcomed back Tom Caplin. The teams were escorted onto the pitch by children from Kingslea Primary as part of the Boars’ guest school scheme.

The game set off at a furious pace and within the first 30 seconds Byron Napper had released Bailey Moyo down the right and with Stan Berry driving into the area Moyo cut the ball back to the edge of the box where Jordan Mase opened his body up and hit a fierce side footer just inside the far post for the most clinical of finishes.

Lingfield responded with some fast attacks that kept the Roffey defence on their toes with Luke Harrison doing especially well to contain their impressive left winger. Charlie Burton was busier than in most recent games without being fully stretched. At the other end the Boars always looked dangerous with Callum Chesworth and Moyo repeatedly getting behind the visitors back line with just the final touch missing to the crosses. The ball was being moved very quickly by both sides, and no quarter was given in the midfield challenges. It was clear this was going to be 90 minutes of highly competitive football between two teams that played excellent football.

Roffey suffered a blow on twenty-two minutes, when James Pearse, just returned from a long injury absence, went down under no challenge and had extensive treatment before limping heavily off the pitch to be replaced by Evan Hoarty. Seven minutes later Roffey came close to doubling the lead when Berry muscled his way in front of a defender to get onto a through ball and was only denied by an excellent save from Chisholm in the Lingers goal. Moyo latched onto the rebound, but his effort was cleared off the line.

Lingfield were still a threat, and Burton twice had to get down sharply to shots from inside the box. Roffey suffered another injury blow on forty-two minutes with Moyo having to be replaced by Luca Allen. Into first half stoppage time and the Boars doubled their lead. Mase looked like he might get past the last defender but instead he steadied himself and squared it for Berry who drilled it into the bottom corner to great cheers from the Kingslea contingent ‘well done Mr Berry!’

The second half was similar to the first, with Lingfield always carrying a threat but the Roffey shape and discipline generally containing them. But the visitors did come agonisingly close to pulling one back with what looked like an open goal until Harrison pulled off a miraculous goal line clearance to keep the clean sheet. Max Mesquita replaced Stan Berry as the pace of the game showed no sign of slacking. Hayden Skerry replaced Tom Caplin to get some valuable minutes on his way back to match fitness and as the game neared the end Lingfield threw everything they could at the Boars but Burton was well protected and Roffey saw out the game for a valuable three points.

Roffey have another tough game this Saturday when they travel to second place Eastbourne United.

Roffey: Burton, Harrison, Pearse(Hoarty), Napper, Meeres, Caplin(Skerry), Wood, Mase, Berry(Mesquita), Moyo(Allen), Chesworth. Sub: Watson Price