Junior Phenomenal in 6 goal Reserve Rout
By the ed
September 4 2002
Junior bagged a hat-trick, Zdrilic bagged a brace, as Walsall hammered Rotherham 6-1. O'Connor and Carbon returned to action, and it all looks rosey again.
Walsall Res 6-1 Rotherham Res
Goals: Herivelto 10' (Walsall), Zdrilic 16' 85' (Walsall) Junior 45' 60' 65' (Walsall) Monkhouse' (Rotherham)
Man Match: Junior (Walsall)
This match was full of positives which excited everyone in the ground. The return of Carbon and O'Connor was a major boost, and there excellent performances were encouraging.
But, it was the bleached haired Brazilian Junior who stole the show with a performance that eclipsed that of Zdrilic and O'Connor who pushed him close for man of the match award.
Herivelto opened the scoring with a low shot that left the keeper with no chance, it was then Zdrilic who took his chance well, by firing a powerful shot from the middle of the penalty area.
Walsall were dominating the game, with O'Connor and Pedro Matias pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Rotherham were failing to get enough men forward to threaten the Walsall goal and most of the play was in the Rotherham half.
Then on the stroke of half time captain Mark Wright made a trade mark run down the right flank and crossed a ball which met the head of climbing Junior and went in via the cross bar.
Half Time Saddlers 3-0 Millers
Rotherham came out in the second half and tried to take the game to Walsall but with Barras and Carbon now playing as center halves, they had little chance to make an impact.
Junior grabbed his second goal of the game after 60 minutes as Herivelto, who was giving the Rotherham defense a hard time got a cross in from the left wing which was again met by the head of junior, with it this time being aimed in to the bottom right hand corner. Five minutes later, Walsall had a free kick on the edge of D, which Junior stuck away with ease, in to the top corner, Hat Trick Complete.
With the score at 5-0, Rotherham did score a goal, but from where I was sitting, I couldn't see how it went in, (I think it was a header from a corner).
Walsall weren't finished, as Junior, Herivelto, Zdrilic and Rodrigues continued raids on the Rotherham Goal. It was from a Rodrigues run that Zdrilic got his second goal of the game, and showed the management he too could take his chances, with a similar finish to his first.
Walsall did field a strong side, Junior, Carbon and O'Connor, should expect to make there way in to the starting eleven for this weekend. Zdrilic has improved since the last reserve home game against Wolves, Zdrilic is a true penalty box player and as s similar to Wayne Clarke.
There is nothing i can write here to do justice to Junior today, he was simply Phenomenal. The prospect of Junior and Jorge is mouthwatering, while on this performance today, fans can be confident that Pedro could fill Corica's boots in midfield
Report:
Ward 7/10 - Not troubled. Kicking was good.
Wright - 8/10 - Got forward very well, swapped flanks in the second half.
Carbon - 7/10- Played full back then Center half, Rock Solid.
Barras - 7/10- Didn't put a foot wrong, Had Robins in his pocket.
Gadsby - 7/10- Steady Performance, swapped with Carbon in second half.
Rodrigues - 7/10- Committed performance, improved in 2nd half.
Herivelto - 8/10- Lively, a joy to watch, very effective in opposition 3rd.
O'Connor - 8/10- Controlled the game while he was on the pitch. Faultless
Matias - 8/10- Passing was superb, supported forwards well, Solid tacking.
Zdrilic - 8/10- Build up play good, some nice touches, took his chances well.
JUNIOR - 10/10 Flicks, Runs, Tricks, Passes, closed down, In the air. GOALS.
Subs:
Stanley - 7/10- Replaced O'Connor, Passing was good, but not as penetrative as O'Connor.
Cunliffe - 7/10- Replaced Carbon, didn't make an impact.