Great Wakering Rovers produced a fine performance just before Christmas by putting five past Stansted on Saturday. Goals from Raheem Gray, Callum Boylan, Dominic Locke and a brace by Harry Talbot completed the route.

The win boosted the Rovers quest for the playoffs as they are now up to third in the table and just four points off the top and are slowly pulling away from the chasing pack just outside the playoffs. They are now unbeaten in four league games, scoring sixteen goals and haven’t conceded a goal in 270 minutes of football.

Rovers were given a boost in defence as they welcomed back defender Oliver Jenkins after his short spell at Hullbridge Sports. They made the one change with Ollie coming into the heart of the defence for the absent Thomas Barton.

KICKOFF:

Great Wakering Rovers made a flying start in the first half and could have been ahead in just under five minutes. Harry Talbot received the ball on the right after some good build up play through the midfield, he fizzed the ball into the area which Matthew Smith in the Stansted goal miss held. Callum Boylan was sneaking around at the back post but luckily for Smith, he blasted his shot just wide of the right post.

Two minutes later, Stansted had a chance at the other end which caught the Rovers defence out when James Baughurst got past but George Martin bravely came out and got to the ball first.

With ten minutes on the clock, a stoppage in play halted the game when Callum Boylan required treatment after a nasty challenge from James Baughurst brought down the Rovers number nine and a mini brawl occurred. Thankfully the referee kept control of the game and calmed things down. Rovers James White was booked for his involvement and James Baughurst was booked for the challenge.

Just over a minute later, Rovers took the lead. Alfie Whiteaker took the corner from the left to curl a brilliant in swinging corner towards the edge of the six yard box and Harry Talbot rose highest to head the ball into the top right corner.

The goal set the tone for the Rovers as the Stansted started to struggle to keep the hosts at bay. However, Stansted were present with a golden opportunity to level the score. A mix up at the back caught the rovers out and Callum Fitzer ran through on goal. However, George Martin who has been in great form of late stood up tall and stuck out his right leg to make a point blank save to preserve the lead.

With just under fifteen minutes until halftime, Rovers doubled their lead. Great build up play from the left side found Bradley Bennett running down the left side and passed the ball on to Harry Talbot and he squared the ball across the area to the back post to an unmarked Raheem Gray who took one touch and passed the ball into the bottom right after giving the goalkeeper the eyes.

Rovers saw out the remainder of the half with some good spells of possession.

HALFTIME: Rovers 2-0 Stansted

Rovers came out into the second half in great fashion as they looked to take the match up a gear. It didn’t take long as they added their third of the game ten minutes in.

Raheem Gray chased down a ball inside the area after a mix up in the area which Carl Conway failed to clear and Gray pounced on the ball. Matt Smith came charging out of goal but Raheem got his head up and passed the ball to an unmarked Callum Boylan who scored into the empty net for his seventeenth of the season.

Rovers enjoyed loads of possession in the second half and continued to pass the ball around which caused much problems for the away side.

With twenty minutes left, Rovers added their fourth. Matt Smith took a goal kick which went straight to Harry Talbot just outside the area and he charged towards goal before he slipped the ball past the on-rushing Smith into the bottom right corner for his brace and his fifteenth of the season.

Four minutes later, Rovers made it five. A cross wasn’t cleared in the box and Harry Talbot managed to poke the ball on to the right side of the area to an unmarked Dominic Locke and the substitute got the ball out of his feet before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.

The game calmed down for the rest as Rovers saw it out to make it four straight wins and delivered a great performance for Christmas.

FULLTIME: Rovers 5-0 Stansted

Great Wakering Rovers are now up to third in the Essex Senior League at the halfway point and are in a fantastic position at this stage. They will now turn their attention to next Saturday as they travel away to Benfleet on the 28th December.

Merry Christmas to the team and the supporters, please keep up the good work you’ve done.