Rocester's budget restrictions will continue, reveals director

BUDGET restrictions at Rocester FC will be reviewed at the end of the 2010/11 season, says club director Barry Smith.

The Highfield outfit will introduce a peppercorn payment to cover basic away-day fuel expenses for the upcoming campaign.

But manager Dave Langston will not be able to utilise a playing budget for at least one more year.

"This season, certainly, there won't be a budget as such," said Smith. "But everything is now being managed properly. The debt is coming down."

On the field, Smith is delighted with the progress being made ahead of a new Midland Alliance campaign.

"Dave has had about 30 players down in training," added the director.

"His job now is to whittle those down."

Smith revealed that striker Chris Sterling, who scored 10 times in 18 appearances towards the back end of last season, could remain at Hillsfield despite reports linking the on-loan striker to a move back to Stafford Rangers. "It's still all a bit up in the air," added Smith.

Rocester continued their pre-season preparations on Tuesday evening and the Romans moved to within one game of collecting their first piece of silverware.

They beat Gresley Reserves 1-0 in the Steve Hackett Memorial Trophy semi-final.

Rocester had to be patient against a gritty Gresley team at Hawfields.

They were rewarded five minutes from time when new signing Stuart Simpson struck a superb winner to send the Romans into Wednesday's final against either host club Newhall United or Stapenhill.

The Romans had the better of the game and displayed much more individual quality than Gresley.

But they found it difficult to create anything in the final third and when they did, Rocester found goalkeeper Paul Hollis in fine form.

Hollis made two notable saves – one in each half – to frustrate the Romans.

He dived full length to his left to palm the ball away after Liam Holt met Craig Hulme's excellent right wing cross first time on the volley. Hollis made another fine save after the break to deny Mark Hodson with his feet, after the striker had been sent clear by Luke Chapman.

Tom Govan came on to replace Hollis for the last 15 minutes and he was soon in the action, blocking two efforts in a matter of seconds before one of his defenders scrambled the ball clear.

Rocester kept probing and with time running out, the game was settled by a moment of brilliance from Simpson.

Sam Wain held the ball up well out near the left touchline before delivering a cross to Simpson, who controlled, turned towards goal and clipped a delightful shot into the top left corner.

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