But Rockets came out gunning for glory in the second half. Matt T was winning everything in midfield, Harry ran his legs into the ground with a tremendous performance up front, whilst James and Harris looked much more solid at the back. Sam chased a lost cause to the byeline, and even when the Juno defender picked up the ball, Sam chased him back to win the ball, and pulled it back for Jack to hit it sweetly into the top corner. Rockets started playing with conviction, as we played some delightful football down both wings, with Jack and Paddy outstanding. Matt T made the equaliser as he arrived at the far post from a corner to volley into the net. Soon after, Sam put us ahead as he intercepted a goalkick, turned, and slickly sidefooted into the open goal. Juno equalised a few minutes before the end with another excellent goal, and indeed could have won it just before the close, but it wouldn't have done justice to our second-half performance.

Man of the match was Jack for his non-stop running, though Harry ran him close. Also good performances from James, Harris, Matt T and Paddy, particularly in the second half.

The first half was certainly close, as Rockets struggled to make an impact on the large pitch, but with the defence holding firm after an early scare, and midfield pressurising, we made several chances with some good wing moves, Jack coming closest with a diving header from Matt T's cross. Matt S was awesome at the back, with the shouts of 'Sheehan' ringing in their ears, Cosmos found it difficult to make inroads. Rockets play out of defence, from the keeper forward, was intricate and pacemaker-ruining, but ultimately provided a solid basis for some excellent moves. Harry scored at the perfect time, just before half-time as he intercepted a clearance, and showed great determination to strike from the edge of the box, despite the defenders around him.

Rockets dominated the second half, and managed to score a further two goals, which was no more than their play deserved. Paddy moved forward from defence with a lot of purpose, whilst Robbie tormented the Cosmos midfield. Chances and shots came and went, with more crosses raining in, and Callum making some great runs forward, his closest effort beating the keeper, but also the bar. Cosmos made some good forays forward, but Dan in goal kept them at bay with some really safe hands. Cosmos held firm until Robbie cut in from the left and put an unstoppable shot past the Cosmos keeper. Hawzher controlled the right with some excellent vision, and was rewarded when he put another Matt T cross into the corner. Sam tried an audacious chip which was well-saved, whilst Jack could have converted Matt T's cross. We lost count of the number of shots which rolled past the post, and overall it was another excellent performance all-round.

The boys are working their socks off for each other. No opposition player is given an easy time of it, and when we win the ball, there are options galore available for the player on the ball.

Man of the match was Dan, in a now unfamiliar goalie position, and it's now so difficult to choose with so many of the boys playing well.

The second half saw Rockets defensive capabilities stretched as the wind provided an extra impetus to the opposition. Some excellent blocking and interceptions kept the chances to a minimum, and when they did break through, Niall was there to pounce on the ball, and he made a particularly brilliant save from one breakthrough. We were undone eventually when a corner took the wind and ended up directly in the net - an upsetting way to lose a match, especially one so close as this one.

Rockets started the match with some brilliant passing moves, and spent the first 30 minutes camped in the opposition half. As so often happens, though, our superb approach play wasn't rewarded with the goals. Chance after chance went begging, mostly through hurried shots after carving open the Didsbury defence, but also from a number of offside decisions, denying us 2 goals. It seemed like it was a competition for the Rockets players to miss the most chances! We finally went in front from a somewhat fortuitous route as Jack's corner went directly into the net, following a slight deflection. From Didsbury's only attack of the first half, they converted their only chance, giving Rockets a sobering lesson in finishing.

The second half was a lot more even, though Rockets play was breathtaking at times, playing the ball in intricate one-twos, from the keeper and defence as well as the forward players. The right-hand side in particularly flowed superbly, and it was only a matter of time before Sam latched onto Jack's pass and his shot sailed into the top corner. Soon afterwards, Jack's corner was touched in by Hawzher, and it seemed we were on the way! But Didsbury's best spell followed as they pressed forward, and they pulled a goal back after a mazy run. Rockets knuckled down again, and Matt T put in some incredible runs down the wing, with some great interplay with Paddy and James. Dan came close with a volley, Hawzher should have scored, and with a bit more awareness we could have finished with a few more goals. Matt T finished the scoring with yet another excellent goal from Sam's through ball to see the game safe.

We're playing some great football now, and the goals will surely come. The great thing was to see all the boys looking for the pass, making space, and closing down the opposition. It certainly causes a few heart murmurs as we play the one-twos around our own penalty box, but I think the boys are enjoying themselves worrying the manager!

Man of the match was Paddy for some superbly confident defending, and for his calm, assured play moving forward.

Harry showed well in the first 20 minutes, powering through onto delicately slotted balls, but was denied by last-ditch tackles and the eccentricity of the goalkeeper. Robbie and Niall played well down the right, whilst Matt T in the middle typified the spirit with some crunching tackles in the middle. The first half was a fairly even affair, Rockets defence marshalling some tricky Great Moor play well. Dan kept us in the game with a brilliant one-on-one save, and had to be alert several times from corners, though the defence outdid themselves with some brilliant blocking from Harris, James and Paddy. Matt S mopped everything up with some great interceptions, and set us going on some breathtaking forward play where our movement off the ball was outstanding, creating several chances which weren't taken. Just before half-time, though, Matt T latched onto Sam's pass, and managed to squeeze the ball inside the far post.

The second half saw Rockets dominate the game, with every player playing their part, winning tackles, covering, making space, and wanting the ball. Robbie was outstanding in an unfamiliar fullback role, and Matt S won everything in the air. But moving forward, Rockets really took the game to Great Moor, with Callum leading the line well, and we soon went 2 goals up as some determined play down the left left Jack to strike another of his 30-yard (or is that metres) specials. That led to Rockets' best period of the game as they pushed from defence through midfield with some lovely passing moves. Only the thickness of the post and some brave keeping kept the score down, but eventually the pressure told when Harry set up Callum to chip the keeper for the third. Harry almost made the one-two from Callum, but fortunately failed to connect as he would have been 23 yards offside! There was still time for Great Moor to make an impression, but Niall made an excellent save with his feet, and there was some brave blocking from the defenders, who threw everything at the ball, a welcome change from our usual capitulation in the box. In the end, it was a comprehensive victory, and the boys deserved their clean sheet. Man of the match was Matt S for his commanding back four performance, closely followed by Robbie, both giving our midfield the chance to play with a bit more freedom.

A more attacking lineup from the coach in the second half saw 2 further Hillgate goals from an excellent freekick and a toepoke home, which came directly after Rockets should have scored a second. Of course, it's that time of the game (3 goals behind) when Rockets start playing, and for 30 minutes we battered the Hillgate goal, seeing chance after chance go begging as the ball rolled past the post, the keeper made some good interceptions, some dubious (!?!) tackle came in, or offside was called. Jack pulled a goal back for Rockets after a lovely through ball from Sam, then Sam put a 30 yard freekick into the top corner. Could we do it again? Matt T dominated the midfield with some great running and robust tackling, and as he won yet another ball, the ball broke for Harry to calmly beat the keeper for the equaliser. With time running out, Rockets had another couple of chances to win the game before another poor defensive clearance from a corner allowed Hillgate the winner with 10 seconds to go.

A bit of heartbreak, and scant reward for a brilliant second-half by Rockets, the boys came off tired, having enjoyed the better of the game. If it wasn't for the scoreline, we would have won!

Man of the match went to Jack for his non-stop effort. Matt T deserved tremendous credit for his performance, and Harry put in some lung-bursting runs up front.

Rockets started fast, hard, and with a lot of purpose, but as so often has happened this season, the end result didn't reflect the approach play, and we found ourselves still at 0-0 after 20 minutes, having created probably 7 or 8 decent chances. Robbie and Sam were running midfield, and produced some great through balls, whilst our corners caused a great deal of worry in the Didsbury defence, who produced a number of tremendous blocks to stop Rockets taking the lead. Rockets strikers all looked a little rusty as they miscued, and the scene was set for our usual gifts to the opposition. Didsbury scored a great goal as Rockets stood back and watched, and then a bizarre refereeing decision gave them a freekick, which they dispatched into the top corner. Suddenly we were 2 goals down, and worse was to come when another whipped effort crept inside the post. We still looked positive though, and although Didsbury hit the bar, they relaxed a little, and Rockets came back into the game for the last 10 minutes of the first half. Callum hit the post, Sam and Robbie blasted over, Dan and Harry came close, and we finally pulled 1 back as Matt T drove into the net after several more excellent blocks from Didsbury.

It was a perfect time to score as the ref blew for halftime, and some reorganisation at halftime saw Rockets dominate the second half. We pulled one back immediately after kickoff as Callum scored his debut goal, and Didsbury were on the back foot. Sam dominated the game, as Matt T powered forward winning every tackle, and some slinky interchanges saw Callum bag the equaliser. Didsbury had a good period then, and Kyle had to be brave to block a couple of runs, but Callum soon completed a hattrick with some sharp play inside the box, and Rockets were into the lead!

Should we sit back and protect the lead? That's not how Rockets see the game. Some good midfield play saw another break in which the Didsbury keeper should really have been sent off as he caught the ball 5 yards outside the box to stop a fifth. Jack's freekick almost saw justice done, but Rockets were looking for goals every time they had the ball. Some good play from Matt S made openings, and after a cynical tackle, Dan dispatched the penalty with confidence. There was still time for another goal as Callum took his debut tally to 4 from an awesome pass by Robbie, and Rockets played out the last few minutes with a bit of showboat passing.

An incredible comeback from Rockets then, but really no more than the boys deserved with their attacking play. It was particularly pleasing to see the simple pass being played, making the ball do the work, and the number of passes completed in the game must have been off the counter! It'd be nice for the coach not to have to replace his pacemaker every match - if only we could go 1 goal down instead of 3, it might help!

Great performances from Robbie on the right, Harris and Michael at the back, and Callum up front (not a bad debut!), but man of the match went to Sam for an outstanding second half in particular, snuffing out the Didsbury threat players, and still finding time to drive Rockets forward.

The second half proved a bit of a disappointment for Rockets as they were lethargic, and stood back off the ball too much, with Hale looking much the better and more committed team. Still, Rockets went further ahead as Matt T's corner was met powerfully by Hawzher on the volley. That seemed to galvanise Hale (I don't mean they became rustproof), and they put Rockets defence under a lot of pressure. Kyle was outstanding with 3 or 4 saves, but equally, the defence stood firm with some superb blocking, including a great goalline clearance from James, and on a breakaway move, Matt T crashed a shot against the bar. Hale got a deserved second as a nearpost flick trundled across the line, but it was too little too late, and Rockets came off as victors by a single goal.

Man of the match was Sean for some excellent defensive work, but we mustn't let teams dominate the game like Hale did in the second half, or we'll be coming off second-best in the scoreline as well as the play.