Kidsgrove Athletic recorded their second win of pre-season with a 4-0 victory at Rocester FC.
Goals from Ruben Wiggins-Thomas, Kyle Blake, Jack Bromfield and Kingsley Adu-Gyamfi ensured Kidsgrove got the win. However, the most important thing for manager Scott Dundas would be the performance and the fact that they managed to get the players more game time as they build up to the new season starting.
Dundas named a strong side to begin the tie with the likes of Kieran Harrison, Kyle Blake and Sam Hall all starting alongside new signings Spencer Gunnell and Bromfield. While Will Byers, Kyle Diskin and Josh Thorpe were among the subs.
One player who deserves credit for their performance was Ben Chesters. The midfielder has stepped up from the youth team at the club and proved why he can be a star for the team in years to come with his performance this afternoon.
He had two chances to open the scoring in the first half which were well saved by Jake Holding in the goal for the hosts. Chesters also had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away midway through the first half when he was cynically brought down as he burst into the area.
Although, the Grove were to be awarded a penalty just before half-time when Adu-Gyamfi tried a spectacular overhead kick from a corner, it hit the hand of a Rocester defender leaving the referee no option to point to the spot.
It was left to Wiggins-Thomas to dispatch a cool penalty as he sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring.
Blake had a great chance to make it 2-0 shortly after the break. However, he would put that effort over the bar, although he would get his goal on 65 minutes when Adu-Gymafi teed him up for a sweet strike which flew into the top corner of the goal.
The Grove sealed the win as they scored twice in a minute. The first was after some excellent work by Jake Lovatt as he teed up Bromfield, who got his second goal in a week having scored in the first pre-season friendly at home to Winsford.
Then just seconds later, Adu-Gyamfi received the ball just outside the area and, noticing the goalkeeper off his line proceeded to chip the keeper, which neatly landed in the back of the net.
Adu-Gyamfi could have got a second when he attempted a diving header. However, it was well saved by the goalkeeper to deny Kidsgrove a fifth.
It’s two wins out of two for Kidsgrove in pre-season and, they will be looking to continue their excellent performances on Tuesday when they host Knutsford in another behind closed doors friendly.
