After last week's victory, Ross entertained Pembroke County knowing a win could see them go top of the league if Cardiff & UWIC C slipped up. Ross were without two crucial players, veteran striker Adrian Williams and the midfield Duracell Richard Hitchiner, this meant that team had to re-shuffle. Sam Warner was promoted to centre forward and Chris Chalk was called up from the 2nd XI to help plug the midfield gap.

The game itself wasn't a classic. Ross struggled to find their rhythm and were pressed hard by the visitors. Ross took the lead against the run of play after Sam Warner, who proved to be a constant thorn in the side of the opposition, latched on to a Richard Jennison ball down the line then proceeded to drift past the Pembroke defenders, before slotting the ball past the on-rushing keeper.

Instead of spurring Ross on to take control it further energised Pembroke who squandered several opportunities to level the score. Ross conceded a penalty flick which was fantastically saved by George Goldsmith in the Ross goal, but eventually the pressure told and Pembroke pulled level from a short corner, which deflected off the stick of the on-rushing Ross defender into the net, leaving George Goldsmith no chance.

They say you are most vulnerable when you score and this was proven as Ross went straight from the restart into the Pembroke D and scored, Phil Evans getting the decisive touch, to take Ross in at half time 2 -1 up.

In the second half, Ross went out looking for a better performance and the vital next goal. Kristian Franklin duly delivered for the home team after picking the ball up on the edge of the D. He drove into the opposition D before firing a rocket of a shot across the Pembroke keeper into the goal.

For the rest of this story please see this week's Ross Gazette.

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