THE first task for Rocks new manager Steve Butterworth on being appointed during the week was to ensure he was able to turn out a competitive side, for what promised to be a tough test against a Wroxham side who have soundly put their early season woes behind them and climbed to a comfortable mid table position reports East Thurrock United.
With three players, Oli Spooner, Ben Steward and Jordan Peart having departed in midweek from an already depleted squad, the new boss brought back into the fold two fans favourites in Ben Wyss and Amaree Robinson-Jones, who had both recently departed having been deemed surplus to requirements.
Butterworth also introduced two new faces from his previous club Romford, in experienced and much travelled Portuguese midfielder Adalberto Pinto along with wide man Charlie Morris.
On a heavy Rookery Hill pitch which had only just scraped past an early morning pitch inspection, and had very limited preparation due to all the midweek rain, we were never going to get a classic.
Rocks started best, with new boy Pinto quickly making an impression on the home fans with some classy play.
Just eight minutes in Pinto glided past a couple of challenges, before being bundled over some five yards outside the box in a central position. Harry Hope stepped up to take the resultant free kick, but his goalbound effort deflected off a defender’s hip for a corner.
Then Brian Moses and Johnny Ashman linked up, and the latter jinked past a couple of challenges as he cut in from the right. However, no one was in position to get a telling touch on his delightful ball across the six yard box.
Rocks keeper Anthony Page was forced into action on fifteen minutes, an excellent save to tip a decent effort from distance round the post.
