Monday, 21 October 2013

Bristol Rovers 0 Wycombe Wanderers 1

My piece from Sunday's paper

Max Kretzschmar showed his class to teach Rovers a late lesson in front of his school mates.

Super sub Kretzschmar, 20, sealed the win from six yards in the 82nd minute after keeper Steve Mildenhall palmed a low shot from fellow substitute Jon-Paul Pittman into his path and then revealed:

"I managed to get tickets for six of my mates. They are all at university in Bristol now, but we all went to school together and so it was great to share the moment with them."

Midfielder Kretzschmar, 19, has now scored three times from the bench since breaking into the first team in August.

And Kretzschmar is delighted to be making the grade at Wycombe after leaving the Southampton Academy at fifteen. He said:

"I was there with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was tough leaving, but I've really enjoyed my time at Wycombe and now I just want to repay their faith in me."

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has been impressed with Kretzschmar and explained:

"He was the only player we had last season who didn't get onto the pitch. Physically he hadn't quite developed. Teenagers develop at different rates and so you don't want to push them too early. Max was frustrated, but channelled it in the right way. He gave up his summer holiday to do extra work in the gym instead and it's paying off."

A relieved Ainsworth admitted:

"They made us work extremely hard. They were organised and strong - everything you'd expect from a John Ward team. I made the point at half time that we'd have to be patient and that it could take 80 to 90 minutes. That's how it turned out."

Disappointed full back Michael Smith lost Kretzschmar for the winner, but was honest enough to say:

"We gave 110%, but haven't played well enough. I'll take the blame for the goal though."

It was tough on Mildenhall and Rovers who had to work hard from the 26th minute when striker David Clarkson was shown a straight red card for swinging an arm at midfielder Josh Scowen on the half way line, but manager John Ward was still impressed with his team and said:

"We tried very hard, but it has not gone our way. It is my job to get these boys up and going again on Monday morning. We are having a tough time - it is 'dig-in time'. It is question of everyone pulling together."

Rovers have now not won in eight outings, but manager Ward defended Clarkson. He said:

"I don't think he has a bad bone in his body and can't imagine he has punched anyone on purpose. If anything he's the sort of person who could do with being a bit more aggressive."

Five minutes before Kretzschmar's winner Mildenhall had done superbly to dash out and block a Pittman effort with his chest.

Wycombe huffed and puffed, but could not take advantage and were restricted to long range shots after Clarkson's dismissal that Mildenhall dealt with easily.

Wycombe keeper Matt Ingram had to be at his best as early as the second minute to turn Sean Clucas's header past the foot of his post.

And former Rovers striker Jo Kuffour saw an attempted overhead kick fly over the bar from twelve yards in what was a dire spectacle before Kretzschmar settled it.
... and from this morning's edition

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