Added Dec 18th 2007 -

Rothwell Town 1 - 2 Woodford United

Would the real Rothwell Town please stand up as there are clearly two versions.

And both were on display in this BGB Southern League Division One Midlands game.

In the first half, the Bones were dominant, attacking and the only mystery was how they only managed one goal when they should have had the game sewn up.

However, during the interval, someone swapped the Rothwell players for a team of look-a-likes who showed little appetite for the game.

This allowed their county rivals Woodford to not only control the game but go ahead and win it to leave the Bones still languishing near the foot of the table.

The central figures in the proceedings were referee Mr Simmons and Woodford striker Tom Bewick.

In this festive season, Bewick seemed to be playing Santa Claus as he gave Rothwell two presents in the form of two glaring misses.

However, he also had the last word by scoring the winning goal after Mr Simmons didn't send him off for what looked a certain second booking moments before his winning strike.

Martin Flannigan saw a header turned on to the post by Woodford keeper Matt Finlay as Bones dominated the first half-hour.

However, Woodford should have taken the lead on 29 minutes when Bones keeper Tom Smith spilled Anthony Pownell's shot leaving Bewick with a tap-in that he somehow put wide.

Rothwell made him pay 10 minutes later when Michael Boyle-Chong's shot was blocked but the ball broke to Paul Rice who finished well.

Smith tipped over a Glen Hawkins header on the stroke of half-time and that was almost Rothwell's last contribution to the game as they seemingly didn't bother coming out for the second.

Bewick was booked for dissent on 55 minutes and then produced another glaring miss three minutes later when blazing over an open goal after Pownell's shot had come back off the bar.

As Woodford increased the pressure, Rothwell's defence began to break and finally cracked on 70 minutes as Hawkins headed home unchallenged from a corner.

By then Bewick had escaped his second booking and he made full use of his reprieve in the 83rd minute as the Bones failed to clear a free-kick and the Woodford striker bundled home the winner.

Rothwell: Smith, Bridgeford, Tolton, Rice (sub McInally, 84 mins), Kattus, Flannigan, Stead, Boyle-Chong, Underwood (sub Cross, 65 mins), Koriya, Purton (sub Ulkan, 65 mins). Sub not used: Boath.

Woodford: Finlay, Fitton, Standen, Ridley (sub Haynes, 32 mins), Harris, Fountain, Pearman, King, Bewick, Hawkins, Pownell. Subs not used: Lorraine, Hyde.

Referee: Mr T Simmons

Goal: Rice (39 mins, 1-0), Hawkins (70 mins, 1-1), Bewick (83 mins, 1-2)

Bookings: Bewick (dissent)

Chairman's man of the match: Paul Rice (commanding presence at both ends of the pitch)

Match rating: 6