Record Breaking Rowe Inspires Fever to Victory
30 seconds is all it took Dennis Byrne's men to score their first vs Wanoo's in this rescheduled match. With Simon Williamson being suspended after last weekends outrageous early sending off, Fever were forced to shuffle players around with Danny Kempson moving to centre half, David Pegg retreating back to his familiar role at full back and the same went for Greg Cross who had spent his last 2 games on the wing being moved back to his natural full back position. Gareth Fannin, back from his suspension having been sent off by the same referee who sent Williamson off producing 2 yellows in the victory over MSFC went straight into centre midfield, where he partnered Carl Garthwaite, but the biggest shock of all was with Benny Ho starting his first ever league match, partnering Rowe up front. A shortage of players seemed to be the issue for both sides as kick off loomed, with Wanoo's starting the game and playing the first 25 minutes with 9 men, and Fever turning up with 11 players, with many of the squad having let the whole team down, something that is likely to still be infuriating Byrne. The 11 warriors who turned up to brave the light rain weren't going to let the fans down, and having won the toss, a ball was played straight through the middle, and despite the wetness of the pitch adding more pace than usual to the ball, Alex Rowe, as cool as you like was on hand to slot it past the keeper, with Fever hungry for more.
The 9 men of Wanoo's were determined to put up a fight, and despite having spent almost all of the first period inside their own half found themselves level with a deflected shot slipping under keeper Andy Ritchie, leaving Fever players scratching their heads having missed chance after chance.
It didn't take long before the lead was in Fever's favour, Pallos Levente, last seasons top scorer, victim of crossing too late throughout the first period beat his man, got onto the byline and put a cross past the keeper with Filip Pusnik waiting to tap it in for his 4th of the season until Rowe came sliding out of nowhere and claimed the goal himself, in true strikers fashion.
The 9 men of Wanoo's were determined to put up a fight, and despite having spent almost all of the first period inside their own half found themselves level with a deflected shot slipping under keeper Andy Ritchie, leaving Fever players scratching their heads having missed chance after chance.
It didn't take long before the lead was in Fever's favour, Pallos Levente, last seasons top scorer, victim of crossing too late throughout the first period beat his man, got onto the byline and put a cross past the keeper with Filip Pusnik waiting to tap it in for his 4th of the season until Rowe came sliding out of nowhere and claimed the goal himself, in true strikers fashion.
Rowe's hat trick didn't come in the first period as Fever went into the break up 2-1, much to the frustration of the manager and players but with all credit to the 9 men of Wanoo's who stubbornly prevented an early embarrassing walk over. They were soon up to 11 men as soon as the second got under way, when Carl Garthwaite was provided with the ultimate gift when he found himself with the keeper to beat from short range as the ball bounced in front of him, tamely rolling the ball into the goalkeepers hands, a let off for Wanoo's. Pusnik almost turned provider but his cross was too late for Rowe's liking as the keeper was first to it.
Fever picked up the tempo in the second period and seemed to play much better against 11 men than they did against 9. With the contest looking more even, the Wanoo's team did not look like a team who had picked up 1 point all season. Advantage went Fever's way when Rowe picked the ball up on the edge of the area and launched a rocket of a shot into the top corner past a helpless keeper, to complete his first hat trick for the club, and only the second Seoul Fever player in history to get a hat trick for the club following James Merritt's 4 goals in a 10-1 hammering of CIS Bulkers in the Spring 2012 season. He almost added a 4th with a free kick getting slightly deflected and the keeper saw it last second making a terrific reaction save to tip the ball onto the post.
As Wanoo's continued to push further up the park, stand in centre half Danny Kempson and familiar face, Dan Lappin looked solid at all times and no threats were posed, although Andy Ritchie was called into action a couple of times, punching a ball clear as it looked to be going in at power, and once saving well with his knees at his near post making up for his error for the first goal. Wanoo's then struck a blow in Fevers flow by making it 3-2 at the end of the second period, a scrappy goal giving them a glimmer of hope.
Fever picked up the tempo in the second period and seemed to play much better against 11 men than they did against 9. With the contest looking more even, the Wanoo's team did not look like a team who had picked up 1 point all season. Advantage went Fever's way when Rowe picked the ball up on the edge of the area and launched a rocket of a shot into the top corner past a helpless keeper, to complete his first hat trick for the club, and only the second Seoul Fever player in history to get a hat trick for the club following James Merritt's 4 goals in a 10-1 hammering of CIS Bulkers in the Spring 2012 season. He almost added a 4th with a free kick getting slightly deflected and the keeper saw it last second making a terrific reaction save to tip the ball onto the post.
As Wanoo's continued to push further up the park, stand in centre half Danny Kempson and familiar face, Dan Lappin looked solid at all times and no threats were posed, although Andy Ritchie was called into action a couple of times, punching a ball clear as it looked to be going in at power, and once saving well with his knees at his near post making up for his error for the first goal. Wanoo's then struck a blow in Fevers flow by making it 3-2 at the end of the second period, a scrappy goal giving them a glimmer of hope.
Fever knew what they had to do in the final period and not long after the whistle, Pusnik was put through on goal by Garthwaite and missed a glorious opportunity to all but give victory to Fever. After taking his head out of his hands, he was to make amends minutes later when Rowe played a glorious ball into the box, the captain, unmarked lept like a salmon out of water and took out the goalkeeper as his header trickled in off the post. No celebrations this week from the king of celebrating.
Wanoo's looked to have given up and their defense was being absolutely torn to shreads. Dan Lappin started the move from the back, to Garthwaite who got his 3rd assist of the game, found Rowe at a tight angle who looked to be crossing it where Pusnik was once again waiting, but watched his effort somehow bend and find its way over the line. At 5-2 there was no way back for the Korean team, and with 20 minutes left, it looked to be a case of how many. Once again, it was Rowe who got, as the Spaniards say, a 'manita' simply rounding the keeper off, a move that started with Andy Ritchie lumping the ball up at the right time, something he seemed to be guilty of not doing enough, and it found its way to the ever reliable Rowe, 6-2, game over.
The victory, the first of the season without any cards for Fever puts them on 10 points at the half way stage, 2 points worse off than this time last season, but with only 4 points seperating 6th and 2nd place, the season is still very wide open.
Man of the Match: Alex Rowe
Wanoo's looked to have given up and their defense was being absolutely torn to shreads. Dan Lappin started the move from the back, to Garthwaite who got his 3rd assist of the game, found Rowe at a tight angle who looked to be crossing it where Pusnik was once again waiting, but watched his effort somehow bend and find its way over the line. At 5-2 there was no way back for the Korean team, and with 20 minutes left, it looked to be a case of how many. Once again, it was Rowe who got, as the Spaniards say, a 'manita' simply rounding the keeper off, a move that started with Andy Ritchie lumping the ball up at the right time, something he seemed to be guilty of not doing enough, and it found its way to the ever reliable Rowe, 6-2, game over.
The victory, the first of the season without any cards for Fever puts them on 10 points at the half way stage, 2 points worse off than this time last season, but with only 4 points seperating 6th and 2nd place, the season is still very wide open.
Man of the Match: Alex Rowe