Not only did Taradale defend
the cup but they already had the
ComputerCare Pacific
Premiership league title and
Challenge Trophy in the
clubroom silverware cabinet.
``I'm rapt with the guys. We
had a big squad but it got
dwindled down towards the end
of the season.''
Before the game they had
spoken about lifting the
physicality stakes against a
younger, quicker side.
Winning 50-50 challenges was
vital so the Perry Cotton-
captained Taradale followed the
script.
``We scored three
goals but could have
had probably two
more,'' James said.
``[Goalkeeper] Toby
[Doyle] didn't make a
save. He punched two
away at corners and
maybe a freekick so
that was all.''
Adopting a
mentality of keeping a
clean sheet, he felt, was
also a sure way of winning
games.
In the first 15 minutes both
sides made silly mistakes but it
was obvious the Blues' defence
was brittle, especially Oli
Chapman.
In the 17th minute,
Chapman's unforced error gifted
a ball to Greg Jackson who failed
to capitalise, firing it straight
into Rovers goalkeeper
William Stockill.
While both sides
whinged following
amateurish fouls, referee
Andy Parker and his
assistants had excellent
control, pinging players
in aerial tussles for
fending or using their
elbows.
It wasn't until the
31st minute that Dean
Johnston clipped the
left upright but had the presence
of mind to follow up the ricochet
to put Dale up 1-0.
A minute before halftime,
Matt Bruin got into the act,
tapping the ball into the net for a
2-0 lead from about 5m out on the
far post after Richard Gearey
worked the ball in for Johnston
to put a deft pass across the face
of the goalmouth.
The game lost its mojo seven
minutes into the second half
when Bruin exchanged a one-
two with Johnston into the 18m
box before slipping it past a
stranded Stockill for an
unassailable 3-0 lead.
If nothing, the Nick
Matheson-skippered Rovers
youngsters would have come out
wiser knowing the injection of a
crop of top league players
doesn't necessarily equate to
cohesiveness.
Harley Rodeka played like an
individual, midfielder Rudi
Bauerfeind wasn't far off and
gifted too many silly freekicks
while veteran Regan Cameron
needed to take a little more
ownership in marshalling the
defence.
Rovers coach Matt Hastings
said Taradale were always going
to be superior technically with
former National League and
Central League experience.
``I've got no qualms about
where my youngsters will go
later in life but today experience
played a [major part] so it's
frustrating,'' Hastings said.
While not making excuses,
Hastings said it was difficult
throughout the winter to find
continuity with players going up
and down from the premiership
and the Central League Rovers
side his father, Grant Hastings,
coaches.
``You have to give credit to
Taradale but individual errors
cost us three goals today,'' said
Hastings, vowing to return as
coach next season.
