Crookham Rovers U23s produced a dominant attacking display to secure a 4-2 away win against Wey Valley, keeping them in fourth place in the league with the end of the season in sight.
The match began in dramatic fashion when Rovers appeared to take an early lead through Harry Barber, finishing off a superb defence-splitting pass from Kyle Duffin. Despite the goal being ruled offside, the move set the tone for Rovers’ attacking intent throughout the game.
However, Wey Valley struck first, taking a 1-0 lead, but Rovers responded in style. Cameron Corlett levelled the score directly from a curling corner kick, before Jake Bailey put the visitors ahead with a superbly placed shot from the edge of the box. Wey Valley found an equaliser from a long, speculative cross before half-time, sending the teams in at 2-2.
The second half saw Rovers regain control. Captain Thomas King’s quick throw found Mikey Gyuzelev, who lofted a looping shot over the keeper to restore the lead. The win was sealed by Nate Holloway, who fired in a fine strike from outside the box to make it 4-2 with his first goal for Crookham Rovers.
New signing Craig Rush almost marked his debut with a goal, but his effort struck the crossbar. Meanwhile, injuries impacted the second half, including a knock to goalkeeper Calum Walsh. With no substitute keeper available, Jake Bailey stepped up to fill in between the posts, helping to keep a determined Wey Valley attack at bay.
Speaking after the match, Rovers' Manager, Andrew Barber praised the team’s resilience: “The lads showed great character today, especially after conceding twice. We stuck to our game plan, played some brilliant attacking football, and got the result we deserved.”
With momentum on their side, Crookham Rovers will now look to build on this victory as they push to finish the season strongly.