Velocity Wessex League Premier Division – Saturday 6th April 2024
Baffins Milton Rovers 2
(Welham 12, Seokjae Lee 57)
Shaftesbury 3 (Green 49, 72 Pitman 76)
‘Milligan Quest’ as Rockies carve out a win at Thompson’s Rovers ‘
Brett Pitman secured an impressive comeback at the PMC Stadium to give the ‘Rockies’ a 6th successive victory in a row in difficult windy conditions on the South Coast against a Baffins Milton Rovers side pushing for a play off position.
Baffins Milton Rovers made the most of the conditions early on. Shane Murphy had to push Fin Bello’s vicious effort onto the bar as the home side looked to seize the initiative early on.
They did so in the 12th minute when Harvey Welham broke clear of our defence and slotted the ball past the advancing Murphy to give the home side the lead.
Despite playing some neat interchangeable football the barrier of a strong wind proved difficult and Ash Wells did well to prevent Tyrhys Lukonyomoi getting them further ahead as Danny Thompson’s Rovers looked to make the most of the conditions.
Eddie Perrett was as ever solid though even his throw in’s got held up in the wind. Perrett’s return has been a game changer in the season and he has really made his second spell here count.
Dan Bartlett and Ben Satterley were creative in looking to link in Brett Pitman and Stuart Green though in all honesty going in at half time 1-0 down wasn’t that bad as we had worked hard to stay in the game. Louis Kellaway and Cam Beard were putting themselves in the mix as ever which gave Jim Milligan a platform at half time to sway the game our way.
Bartlett was the creator shortly after the break and planted the ball into the area where Beard and Green were in with Green connecting forcing a home defender to divert the ball into the net past a sprawling Roux Hardcastle to level the scores.
Baffins however took the lead again when Miles Everett wrestled his way clear from Liam Farrugia and Murphy couldn’t quite hold onto the effort which Seokjae Lee rammed home to put them 2-1 ahead.
With a strong wind buffeting crossways it was difficult for the players to sometimes know where the ball was going let alone any of us in the stands! Milligan however wasn’t afraid to make changes and brought Callum Sweeney on for last weeks star man Farrugia.
Sweeney was able to pin the ball down with Kellaway allowing Bartlett and Satterley to create and allow Beard to connect with a flying header that Hardcastle pushed away brilliantly.
We kept going and Bartlett opened up an opportunity for Green who put the ball past Hardcastle to level. We were exacting the press to win a game of football and now having more of the ball. It’s no good claiming dominance unless you actually make it count.
Six minutes later Pitman won the game back flicking in the winner with and absolutely ridiculous effort only a player of Championship quality could possibly exact completely diverting the ball over Hardcastle who already had timed his dive except the ball was elsewhere and nestled into the net for what was the winner.
Milligan wasn’t finished here. Greg Peel and Asa Philips were brought on for Green and Pitman and we formed an offensive barrier. Peel was dragging the play wide and turning Baffins with Philips aerial prowess effective.
Ash Wells picked up an unfortunate yellow card for a high challenge which wasn’t intended as both players went for a high ball. Milligan also found himself in referee Mr Osofa’s book for giving it the beans from the dugout.
We withstood some late pressure and soaked it up as Thompson’s Baffins went more direct. Murphy and his defence of Wells and Davidson doing their work to ensure a victory that two months ago we may well have not got.
As for Thompson, well there’s a lot to play for his Baffins side. Brockenhurst won 2-0 against Fareham Town to remain in 5th place though his side are every bit as good as anyone after some frustrating postponements all season.
This was a hard earned win and a draw would have been a good result. Milligan however is a winner and this is a different Shaftesbury now. We have beaten three top sides in AFC Portchester, AFC Stoneham and Baffins Milton Rovers. We have a Dorset Senior Cup final and play offs to look forward to. Let’s see what we can do.
Baffins Milton Rovers – Hardcastle, Bello, Bartlett -Scott, Evans (Capt), Waister, Sanders, Welham, Kerton, Lukonyomoi, North, Everett
Subs used – Seokjae Lee, Francis, Patterson
Shaftesbury – Murphy, Farrugia, Davidson, Wells, Beard, Kellaway, Bartlett, Pitman, Green, Perrett, Satterley
Subs used – Sweeney, Peel, Philips
Officials – J.Osofa, T.Latter, P. Cox
Attendance – 56
Report/Photos – Avril Lancaster
