Ross Juniors Sunday side started the new year with a 2-0 defeat against current Herefordshire Sunday League champions Allstars.

It could have been a dream start for Ross as Eli Wooding went clear of the Allstars' defence in the early minutes and had a chance but rushed it. After that promising opening it was the hosts who were the livelier team.

It looked like the long break affected Ross as they were lethargic at the start and slow out of the blocks. Perhaps too many Christmas festivities were taking their toll?

It was certainly a lively and feisty start with some over zealous tackling from the home side in the opening exchanges. One tackle on George Selwyn James could easily have been a red card but just resulted in a yellow. This set the tone of the game for the first 15 minutes as tackles were flying in.

Allstars took the lead in the 17th minute from an excellent cross on the right that was finished well as Sam Dixon drifted in behind the Ross full back. Allstars were dominating the game, helped by Ross' poor retention of possession, and increased their lead, again as a cross from the right was finished well, again by Allstars' Dixon, who was allowed far too much space, to make it 2-0.

Allstars were in total control of the game and could easily have run riot. To their credit, Ross kept their nerve and as the half progressed produced a couple of half chances for Damon Beaumont and Chris Davies. An interesting and lively half time chat developed. But it seemed to have the desired affect as Ross came out determined to restore some pride. Chances were now being created and Eli Wooding and Damon Beaumont, who had both cut increasingly frustrated figures due to the lack of service in the first half, forced the Allstars goalkeeper into good saves.

At the other end, Ross keeper Alex Goode did well to push a shot, from a terrific Allstars freekick, onto the crossbar.

This did not deter Ross, who piled on the pressure, and Ted Loftus set up Damon Beaumont but again the home keeper saved his team. The home side clearly tired in the second half, and coupled with carrying a couple of injuries, produced little in the way of an attacking threat.

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