Sunday, 1 December 2002

Argent punishes Rovers

Ben Argent scored a wonder goal to hand Castlemere an astonishing win at

Melchester Rovers and pile the pressure on Ron Meevy.

Argent ran through the Rovers defence in injury time and prodded the ball past Paul
Marshall to hand Castlemere their third win in a row.

A Rocky Race special had put Rovers ahead just before half time. But Matt Ryan
equalised in the 80th minute from a Gavin Lucas knock-down.

The late goals were no more than the visitors deserved and they condemned Rovers to
their fifth successive Premiership defeat at Mel Park.

Meevy’s side had looked keen to end their awful run and began much the brighter of the
two teams. After six minutes Race went on a magnificent run from his own half, and as
Karl Friedle backed off the England forward fired a shot just wide of keeper Dave Birch's
goal.

Yet Castlemere nearly took the lead seven minutes later as Rovers failed to make the
most of their early pressure. Argent's outswinging corner was powerfully headed onto
the bar by Ryan, with Marshall watching on helpless in the Rovers goal.

Another corner posed problems after quarter of an hour, but this time at the other end,
with David Gates’ header from Lee Preston's corner booted off the line by Lucas. But
Cas’ were by now more than matching their opponents, and Ryan brought a wonderful
save from Marshall with a well-struck volley from 20 yards.

Ryan and Lucas missed even better chances before Rovers made Castlemere pay for
their wastefulness. Race picked the ball up and let fly from 30 yards out with an
unstoppable left-foot shot that flew into Birch's top corner.

Castlemere, stung by going a goal behind, continued to force the pace in the second
period. Friedle should have equalised when he was allowed a free header just six yards
out, but he was woefully off target.

To their credit the visitors never lost heart, and ten minutes from time they were
rewarded with Lucas' well-taken volley from Ryan's knock-down.
Meevy threw on Dion Templeton and Robbie Bishop to try and grab all three points. And
Bishop went close when his 89th minute snap-shot hit the post. But Argent had the last
laugh two minutes into stoppage time with his sensational solo effort.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Wootten, Gates, Jones, Lawrence, Evans (Templeton 82),
Gronvold, Preston (Bishop 82), Young, McKaffree, Race.
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Svensson, Jackson.
Booked: Young.

Castlemere: Birch, Grunt, Martin (Miner 20), Friedle, Maceus, Alexander (Collins 74),
Argent, Thompson, Wells, Lucas (Greatbatch 90), Ryan.
Subs Not Used: Matthews, Keighley.
Booked: Argent.

Attendance: 22,537

Referee: A Davis (Essex).

Saturday, 7 December 2002

Shenton see off Rovers

Barry Blaney's goal after 10 minutes was enough to secure a valuable

Premiership win for Shenton United and heap more misery on beleaguered
Melchester Rovers boss Ron Meevy.

Rovers were atrocious in the opening half and, despite improving after the break, there
was little to suggest that they are on the verge of a much-needed improvement.

Meevy’s team were up against a Shenton side who had collected just five points from a
possible 24, and who were without four first-team forwards. Shenton boss Clive Thomas
selected Andrew Irole alongside Blaney in a makeshift forward formation, while teenage
midfielder Mark Sayers made his full debut for Rovers.

Despite their injury problems, the home team settled quickly and were rewarded with an
early goal. Blaney was not picked up in the Rovers area and headed Dennis Van
Bosman's corner past Paul Marshall. Van Bosman had almost scored before Blaney's
opener, but he dragged his shot wide of Marshall's goal.

Rovers struggled defensively throughout the opening period, showing no understanding

whatsoever and inviting the opposition to push forward.

Henrik Lundberg blazed just wide of Marshall's goal wide with a shot from the edge of
the area and Roy McGuire forced a good save with a flying header. And Meevy must
have been hugely relieved that Blaney hit the crossbar from six yards with the goal at
his mercy.

With half-time looming, Marshall kept his team in touch with a superb double save,
parrying Van Bosman's initial effort before blocking Blaney's follow-up. But Thomas must
have gone into the break wondering how his team had failed to add to their early goal.

Rovers improved considerably in the second-half. Robbie Bishop – replacing out of form
Irishman Declan McKaffree - met Ritchie Lawrences' cross but guided the ball wide of
Bernard Boule's post.

Boule came to his team's rescue again, denying substitute Dion Templeton after the
striker had headed powerfully at goal after 74 minutes. Seconds later Lundberg was
denied by Marshall as Shenton hit Rovers on the break.

As the match wore on Shenton retained possession superbly, condemning Rovers to their
fourth successive Premiership defeat.

Shenton United: Boule, Blendino, Jepson, Carter, Fino, Van Bossen, Fraser, McGuire,
Lundberg, Blaney, Irole.
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Benson, Tyler, Springett, Sergeant.
Booked: Lundberg, McGuire, Carter.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Wootten, Gates, Jones, Lawrence (Jackson 73),

Gronvold, Preston, Sayers (Pound 57), Young, Race (Templeton 45), Bishop.
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Svensson.
Booked: Gronvold, Templeton, Young, Gates.

Attendance: 17,494

Referee: P Edwards (Devon).

Monday, 9th December 2002 

Meevy explains Durham omission

Melchester Rovers manager
Ron Meevy has maintained
that Keith Durham is still part
of his plans and explained
that his omission from the
first team this month was
due to his lack of fitness.

Durham’s team-mate Paul Evans

had queried Durham's inability to
win a regular place in the Rovers’
team this season, describing the
situation as "a complete mystery
to us".

The 30-year-old has started just

6 times in the Premier League this season and has often been substituted in 8 of his 11
total appearances.

He was not part of the squad for the disappointing back to back defeats against
Castlemere and Shenton United, with two teenagers, Mark Sayers and Tommy Preston
preferred.

"Keith is available for selection like anybody else," said Meevy. "He has been training
with us and he has been making regular appearances, although he has not played this
month and that's because he is not fit. If Evans or anyone else in the squad has an issue
with my team selection, they should come to me first."

Evans promised that the former Rovers captain would work hard to regain his place in
Meevy’s side.

"To put things in perspective, Keith is fully fit and I find is baffling that players such as
myself, Per [Enqvist] and Anton [Gronvold] are being asked to do a job in midfield that
we aren’t comfortable with. Keith should be holding the midfield," said Evans.

"There have been no tantrums, no sulks or anything like that. Keith is desperate to do
his best for the side and is as confused as me as to why he is being treated like this. But
at the moment it seems, for the first time in his career, he is obviously about fifth choice
for a midfield slot.

"Although it's unsettling Keith will keep his head down and carry on working hard," he
told the Daily Gazette newspaper.

Durham's current contract does not expire until 2004 and he earns £25,000 per week.

He remains immensely popular with the club's supporters and his name was chanted
during Saturday's defeat at Shenton United.
Thursday, 12 December 2002
th

Lacona knock out Rovers

Juan Bailadora scored twice to earn Lacona a hard-fought victory at Mel Park
and eliminate Melchester Rovers from the UEFA Cup.

Despite the loss of an early goal and striker Robbie Bishop with a serious injury, Rovers
replied through Anton Gronvold and pushed hard for a winner before Bailadora' late
second goal settled the contest.

The tone of the match had been set after 16 minutes, when Rocky Race stamped on
Gerard Garcia to ensure a full-blooded physical encounter followed.

Occasional moments of skill and flair were interspersed with crunching tackles and off-
the-ball incidents on a bitter night at Mel Park.

The defeat adds to the problems facing Rovers manager Ron Meevy, whose team are
now out of Europe and facing a domestic relegation battle.

Lacona settled quickly and scored after just eight minutes. Dutch winger Kily got the
better of Ronnie Jackson on the right-hand side and cut the ball back for Bailadora to slip
the ball home.

Rovers had already lost Bishop with a ruptured Achilles tendon and the goal only added
to the team's considerable problems.

Race then lit the blue touch paper with an X-rated tackle on Kily, which he followed with
a vicious stamp on the player's head. The Rovers forward was fortunate to only receive a
booking.

Gronvold equalised for the home team with a cushioned volley from a tight angle after
an intelligent knock-back across goal from Dion Templeton. The Norwegian's reward for
scoring was a boot in the nether regions from a Lacona player shortly afterwards.

Bailadora headed narrowly over and almost pounced on a half-save from Paul Marshall,
while Marcos Tomillo forced an excellent save with a brilliant long-range shot after the
Spanish team tried to add to their advantage.
Race almost scored with a flying header early in the second-half but clear-cut chances
were at a premium as Lacona concentrated on preserving their slender advantage.

A series of niggling challenges disrupted the flow of the game, but Rovers almost
profited from a needless foul when Danny Jones rose to the subsequent free-kick, but his
effort narrowly missed.

Minutes later Marshall got down quickly to deny Kily's superbly struck snapshot. But
Bailadora made the most of a fortunate ricochet to smash the ball past Marshall with 10
minutes remaining and take the tie beyond Rovers. And Marshall was required to make a
good save with full-time looming to prevent Dani Oro from increasing Lacona's lead.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Jackson, Gates, Jones, Wootten, Evans, Gronvold,

Sayers, Young, Race, Bishop (Templeton 9).
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Lawrence, Kerrigan, Preston, Pound, McKaffree.
Booked: Evans, Race.

Lacona: Opuestos, Miguelito, Afuera, Girardo, Llavero, Mateo (Alex 57), Garcia,
Romero, Kily (Angulo 78), Oro, Bailadora (Helios 90).
Subs Not Used: Roberto, Crema, Lazic, Kepa.
Booked: Garcia, Llavero, Oro, Afuera, Alex.

Attendance: 24,123

Referee: M Beroni (Switzerland).

Friday, 13 December 2002

Rovers spiralling out of control

So, that's another fine mess
Melchester Rovers have got
themselves into.

Dumped out of the UEFA Cup,

and missing out on the precious
millions that a place in the last
16 automatically brings, things
are lurching from bad to worse
for the financially-hamstrung
club.

Thursday's hapless defeat at the

hands of Lacona provided a neat
window on a sorry season for
Rovers.

Manager Ron Meevy was within inches of being attacked by an angry fan. Team-mates
Steve Wootten and Paul Evans were pushing and shoving each other and the terrace
chants were for Meevy to go, chairmen the Vinter brothers to go and former exiled
midfielder Keith Durham to return. And on Thursday, Meevy had every right to turn to
Rocky Race and sigh: "That's another fine mess you've got me in to."
Meevy though, is not laughing. Few people are at Mel Park these days. After all, this is
no classic comedy, more a twisted plot of scandal, violence, intrigue and financial
disasters that would beggar belief had someone scripted it.

Melchester Rovers is truly a club in a mess. A hopeless, tangled mess and one that won't
go away simply by sacking the manager.

The fans, understandably, want a scapegoat. But the media frenzy that would surround a
Meevy sacking would merely paper over the cracks that are rapidly becoming chasms.

Keith Durham highlighted that last month when he described Leeds as a "disgrace" in an
interview with a local newspaper. A club fine and an extension to his spell on the
sidelines will be the price of his honesty.

But Durham is right – Melchester Rovers are a disgrace right now. At least £60m in debt
- more if you believe some whispers - they have borrowed the same amount and
mortgaged the debt against attendances over the next 25 years.

Meevy needs to sell off his assets to help ease that expanding debt, but he also needs to
buy to mould a team of his own. And, while the debt rises, the value of Rovers' on pitch
stock devalues almost daily.

In any case, Rovers surely cannot afford to sack Meevy, a manager appointed on such a
lucrative two-year deal in the summer that any severance would cripple the club yet
further.

Those supporters who see that direct their anger at the Vinters. Those without an
argument either way simply continue to heckle misfiring forwards Louis Fodette and
Declan McKaffree as if their jeers will lead to goals. Chants for the return of Roy Race
only serve to drive a deeper wedge between Meevy and the supporters.

Whoever is to blame, Rovers are out of control. Keith Durham, Paul Evans and now
Rocky Race are all likely to be left out of the Deans Park park for disciplinary reasons.
These self-inflicted wounds do nothing to present a united front to the current
challenges.

Melchester Rovers started 2019 challenging at top of the Premiership, but could finish it
bottom of the barrel. If this kamikaze club hits rock bottom, then the consequences
could be dire beyond belief.
Monday, 16 December 2002

Rovers end losing streak

Goals from Ronnie Jackson, Dion Templeton and Ryan Young ensured
Melchester Rovers defeated Deans Park and ended a six-game winless run.

The victory relieves the pressure on beleaguered Rovers boss Ron Meevy, whose future
at the Midlands club was said to be in real doubt going into the fixture. But the result
deepens the problems for Deans Park, who remain second bottom in the Premiership
table with just three wins all season.

Jackson got Rovers off to a superb start with a spectacular goal and Templeton pounced
after some poor defending by the home team. And Young capped a successful evening
with a stunning strike late in the match.

But Deans Park did create numerous chances and Rovers were again indebted to
goalkeeper Paul Marshall, who brilliantly saved a first-half penalty and several long-
range shots. Calvin Timberland, Curtis Murphy and John Michaels all went close in the
opening stages as Deans Park started brightly. But Rovers took the lead with a stunning
goal that came totally against the run of play.

Jackson played a neat one-two with Declan McKaffree as he surged goalwards before
letting rip with a thunderous left-foot strike from 20 yards. And Rovers' evening got
evening better when a horrendous mix-up in the Deans Park defence gifted Ron Meevy's
team a second goal.

Dave Case and Rich Wilde both left Ritchie Lawrence's seemingly innocuous cross, which
bounced against the post and into McKaffree's path. The Irish foward's header seemed to
be going wide but Templeton, starting in place of the dropped Rocky Race, stabbed the
ball home from three yards.

Deans Park were handed a lifeline after Lawrence was adjudged to have handled the ball
as he fell to ground in the penalty area. Rovers' players were incensed by referee Geoff
Branch's decision and felt justice was done when Marshall brilliantly tipped Murphy's
penalty onto the post.

Deans enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure early in the second half, but a combination
of poor finishing, stout defending and brilliant goalkeeping from Marshall kept the
visitors in charge.
The Rovers goalkeeper brilliantly tipped a long-range shot from Wilde against the
crossbar and denied Murphy. And Rovers took the game beyond Deans Park when
sixteen year old Young unleashed a venomous shot after the Park defence had fatally
backed off.

Deans Park: Benjamin, Case (Connolly 78), Priestley, Jeffries, Connolly, Hall, Wilde,
Michaels (Steed 81), Timberland (Stockwell 79), Miles, Murphy.
Subs Not Used: Niclasen, Stern.
Booked: Wilde.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Wootten, Gates, Svensson, Lawrence, Jackson, Gronvold,

Sayers, Young, McKaffree, Templeton (Preston 80).
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Jones, Pound, Evans.
Booked: Sayers, Lawrence, Jackson.

Attendance: 23,378

Referee: G Branch (Peakshire).

Saturday, 21 December 2002

Marshall error gifts Kingsbay point

A bizarre free-kick by Fernando Di Francesco ensured that Melchester Rovers'

winless run at Mel Park continued as Kingsbay earned a deserved draw.

Di Francesco's looping 30-yarder in the 89th minute deceived Paul Marshall and crept
into the net to cancel out Declan McKaffree's 74th-minute opener for Rovers.

Although Rovers ended their five-match losing streak at home, they are without a win at
Mel Park since 14th September and the pressure remains on Ron Meevy.

Kingsbay were left thankful for a point as their solid first-half display looked likely to
yield nothing until Marshall’s late misjudgement.
Meevy’s only change from the team which thrashed Deans Park 3-0 on Monday saw the
introduction of fit again Rocky Race for injured midfielder Anton Gronvold.

Although unbeaten in their last four Premiership games, Kingsbay's previous four trips to
Melchester had yielded four defeats with no goals scored. But in the first half, their bad
run in the Midlands seemed in little danger of continuing, with goalkeeper Arvo Viitta
rarely troubled in a scrappy half.

Bay had very much the better of the few chances against their lacklustre opponents.
Although Rovers began well, with Dion Templeton's early header looping wide of the
goal, the visitors should have taken the lead on 14 minutes. An unchallenged Barry
Dunbar headed over from inside the six-yard box after Michael Elm's fine cross.

Aside from a deflected Race free-kick, Rovers offered little to suggest they would repeat
their Deans Park goal bonanza.

Kingsbay were left cursing their luck when, after a flowing move, Di Francesco crossed
beautifully for Dunbar, who blasted the ball against the Rovers crossbar.

Marshall had to save with his legs from Jimmy Drummer and Dunbar headed wide as
Kingsbay finished the half strongly.

But the visitors were to be made to pay for failing to capitalise on their domination.
Meevy brought Louis Fodette on for the ineffectual Dion Templeton shortly after half-
time, and the Frenchman brought an urgency which Rovers had previously lacked.

Soon after the substitution, McKaffree forced a brilliant save from Viitta and Fodette also
tested the Bay stopper.

Rovers came even closer on 62 minutes when Elm deflected a McKaffree shot on to the
post but there was no escape for Bay 12 minutes later. David Gates headed a Race
corner on to the post, but the rebounded fell to McKaffree who thundered the ball home.

Marshall had already saved a Drummer shot and Kingsbay continued to create half-
chances. Yet no-one would have predicted their bizarre late equaliser, which heaped
more misery on the Mel Park faithful.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Jackson, Gates, Svensson, Lawrence, Wootten, Sayers,

Young, McKaffree, Templeton (Fodette 53), Race.
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Jones, Preston, Pound.

Kingsbay: Viitta, Kenny, Frukthager, Michaelsson, Overway, Di Francesco, Legg, Elm,

Venus (Andersson 83), Drummer, Dunbar (Pavlovs 62).
Subs Not Used: Davies, Poole, Jones.
Booked: Venus.

Attendance: 23,687

Referee: C Fisher (Cumbria).

Thursday, 26 December 2002

Rovers sink Oldfield

Jack Pound become the Melchester Rovers’ youngest Premiership scorer as Ron
Meevy’s side came from behind to beat Oldfield.

Jaime Arango was the only player able to capitalise from a string of excellent first-half
chances for both sides to give Oldfield the lead at the break. And the home team had
several opportunities to double their advantage before Pound struck.

At 16 years and 357 days, Pound is almost a year younger than team-mate Declan
McKaffree was when the Irishman scored his first Premiership goal against Tynecaster
United in February 2000.

Oldfield continued to create numerous chances after Rovers levelled, but the away side
sealed a valuable away win when substitute Dion Templeton scored a late penalty after a
foul on McKaffree.

The Irish forward should have opened the scoring for Rovers after 10 minutes. McKaffree
was through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat but was foiled by an excellent save
from James Butcher.

Kenny Proctor then came close to scoring for Oldfield. The Rovers defence backed off
and allowed Tommy Goode to knock a cross into the Rovers penalty area. Proctor rose
above Ronnie Jackson and appeared to have given his team the lead only for his header
to hit the crossbar.

But after 34 minutes Oldfield did opening the scoring. Arango connected with Goode's
cross and his effort went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Rovers had enjoyed several half chances prior to Oldfield's goal, which came against the
run of play. And the visitors afternoon worsened when Rocky Race was withdrawn with a
suspected broken nose.

Proctor almost doubled the home team's lead but Paul Marshall managed to save his
shot from 14 yards.

Arango forced another save from Marshall shortly after the resumption of play - and
Rovers soon made Oldfield pay for their profligate finishing.
Pound - who had replaced Race - smashed the ball home for his first senior goal after a
precise cross from fellow teenager Ryan Young.

Undaunted by Rovers' goal, Oldfield went in search of a winner. A Trond Strom header
was blocked on the line, Proctor was denied by Marshall and wasted another good
chance while Goode also went close.

Louis Fodette almost stole the points for Rovers with full-time looming but his shot from
the edge of the area was well saved. But substitute Templeton did guarantee a happy
Boxing Day for Rovers when he converted from the penalty spot after McKaffree was
fouled in the penalty area.

Oldfield: Butcher, Wright, Burley, Coldharbour, Goode, Piper, Thornton (McCarthy 82),
McTinn, Arango (Marcus 82), Proctor, Strom (Kelly 82).
Subs Not Used: Hammond, Buchmann.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Wootten, Svensson, Jackson, Lawrence (Jones 58),

McKaffree, Gronvold, Sayers, Young, Fodette (Templeton 77), Race (Pound 36).
Subs Not Used: Cooper, Preston.
Booked: Fodette.

Attendance: 44,029

Referee: D Mitchell (Lancs).

Saturday, 28 December 2002

Kelburn crash to Rovers

A second goal in three days from 16-year-old Jack Pound gave Melchester
Rovers a valuable victory and dented Kelburn's title ambitions at Mel Park.

Kelburn manager Enrico Capucci's seven-man reshuffle of the team that drew with
Kingsbay backfired as David Gates and Pound put Rovers 2-0 up by half-time. And
despite further changes at the break, Kelburn could not get the goal they needed to
spark a comeback as Freddy Lightbourne and Bobby Van Sturen squandered chances.

Capucci had begun with a major revamp of the meanest defence in the league, Mike
Balthasar, Terry Johnson and Heinrich Rost making way for Fernando Argenteria, Walter
Fielles and Gordon De Cochon.

Despite their wholesale changes Kelburn made the more coherent start, with Fielles
heading wide and Giancarlo Zanetti shaving the bar with a free-kick early on.

But Rovers began to work their way into the game and their growing momentum was
rewarded with a goal on the half hour. Declan McKaffree's shot was deflected wide but
there was to be no second escape for the Kelburn defence. Ryan Young swung in the
corner and Gates headed home via a Fielles deflection to score on his return to the team
after an ankle injury.

If that goal cast doubt on the wisdom of Capucci's selection, there was worse to come on
the stroke of half-time as Pound doubled Rovers' advantage. On the field for only 15
minutes as a substitute for the injured McKaffree, the teenager, who on Boxing Day
became the Rovers’ youngest scorer, struck with a superb effort.

Picking up Louis Fodette's pass in first-half injury time, Pound beat his man before
thumping a right-foot shot low into the net with Blues keeper Erwin Van Slijk powerless
to stop him.

Kelburn's predicament prompted Capucci to make two further changes at the break,
bringing on Johan Gedoeoever and Van Sturen forManu Grand and Argenteria.

Van Sturen spurned a glorious chance in the 56th minute, firing wide when poised to
finish a superb Kelburn move. And Kelburn gained final proof their luck was out when
Lightbourne blazed over the bar from Gedoeoever's flick with 15 minutes to play.

Melchester Rovers: Marshall, Wootten, Gates, Jackson, Svensson, McKaffree (Pound

30), Gronvold (Preston 85), Sayers, Young, Fodette (Templeton 83), Race.
Subs not used: Cooper, Jones.
Booked: Race, Sayers

Kelburn: Van Slijk, Argenteria (Gedoeoever 45), Debille, Fielles, De Cochon, Maric,
Austin, Lightbourne, Grand (Van Sturen 45), Zanetti, Eidursson.
Subs not used: Carluccio, Rost, Johnson.

Attendance: 25,122

Referee: G Snape (Oxfordshire)

Summary

Melchester Rovers 1–2 Castlemere

Race 42’ Ryan 80’
Argent 90’

Shenton United 1–0 Melchester Rovers

Blaney 10’’

Melchester Rovers 1–2 Lacona

Gronvold 22’ Bailadora 13’, 72’

Deans Park 0–3 Melchester Rovers

Jackson 12’
Templeton 16‘
Young 75‘

Melchester Rovers 1–1 Kingsbay

McKaffree 74’ Di Francesco 89’

Oldfield 1–2 Melchester Rovers

Arango 34’ Pound 51’
Templeton 80’ (pen)

Melchester Rovers 2–0 Kelburn

Gates 30’
Pound 45’
NEXT MONTH – Can a new year bring good fortune for the Rovers?