Rock on Rosary!

What a difference a week makes! Last Tuesday Rosary limped back to Alum Rock from Shard End having suffered back-to-back defeats but Monday evening they emerged from Erdington with four points in the bag after victories against title-fancied sides Short Heath and hosts, St Barnabas.

But it was the latter two who took to the stage first and produced a cracking, end-to-end clash and one in which saw Short Heath take a 1-0 lead into the break. The game continued in the same vein and it was probably just that St Barnabas equalised to secure a point. It was a belter-of-a-game that set the tone for the other two ensuing games.

Short Heath began brightly against Rosary, in the evening’s second fixture, but Rosary gradually clawed their way back into it and began to ask some questions and were rewarded when their striker poked home at the far post. Short Heath though were quickly back in business and levelled through a thunderous strike which flew in off a post. Rosary’s keeper was kept honest throughout and Heath looked for a winner but in another terrific encounter, it was Rosary who netted the decider. A well-struck free-kick flew in despite a valiant attempt from a Short Heath defender to keep it out. A famous win then for Rosary and their first in the league for almost two years.

A buoyant Rosary bounced into their next game with home side, St Barnabas and it was yet another pulsating game with thrills and spills at either end. St Barnabas eventually broke the dead-lock when their tall, elegant midfielder struck a beauty of a strike beyond Rosary’s ‘keeper. Rosary though weren’t to be denied and from a corner routine, the ball broke to the edge of the box where their left winger was waiting to volley home. Honours even in yet another breath-taking clash.

Full respect to St Barnabas’s parents and carers who applauded Rosary’s players and staff back to their mini-bus by– a lovely, genuine, gesture to end a brilliant evening’s football. Kudos to all!