GODMANCHESTER Rovers made heavy work of their 2-1 win over visitors Rothwell Corinthians in the FA Vase on Saturday – in a game that amazingly featured 75 minutes of injury time.

Paul Bass made it 2-1 in the 90th minute of a game that had failed to ignite, but moments later Corinthians were through on goal and after a foul on the edge of the area, they were awarded a free kick. That was at 4.50pm. At 6.05pm, Andy White smashed that free kick way over the bar and the referee blew up for full time.

If White had scored, the game would have gone into extra time.

It was an injury to Rothwell defender John Boss that caused the one hour 15 minute delay.

Boss when down in a heap during that final attack and first the physios and then a paramedic suspected a broken leg.Boss was in agony in the centre circle and it was almost an hour after he had gone down that an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital.

As the ambulance left the pitch, Godmanchester lined up their wall, and White – who surely had too much time to think about the kick – smashed the ball high over the crossbar.

The referee had decided early on that, because of the goalscoring opportunity, the free kick would have to be taken.

“I think it was very unfair on the players,” said joint manager Neville Nania. “If they had equalised I think it would have been very difficult for both sets of players to play another half an hour.

“But, whatever, the performance was very lacklustre and there was a bit of complacency in there.

“Ely City beat Rothwell 7-1 in the FA Cup so we didn’t watch them because we thought it would be an easy game. I think we went down to their level a little bit.”

Rothwell took an early lead after a back pass fell to Andy White who was able to round Rob Mackney and fire the ball home.

An equaliser followed on 40 minutes when Bass was lucky to get a second chance with a blocked cross which spun back to him just inside the goal line on the right. The striker picked out Nicky Hurst at the back post perfectly and the defender headed the ball home.

The second half was a dull affair – only livened up by a couple of James Hall shots which were well saved by the Rothwell goalkeeper – and the game looked to be going into extra time as Bass ran on to an excellent through ball and superbly lobbed Bradley Wilson for the late winner.

“It was disappointing in one respect but maybe a learning curve in another. We have to learn from these things,” said Nania. “The team that started should have comfortably won the game. It was good for Paul Bass I suppose, he’s getting his fitness back and he gets a goal and makes one – and that shows the value of having a natural goalscorer in the team.

“But we underperformed in lots of positions today.”

On Saturday, 15th placed Goddy play their fifth Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League Premier Division game – but their first at home, when Stanway Rovers visit Bearscroft Lane.

Goddy: Rob Mackney, Stephen Hurst, Tom Evans (Jon Hall), Tom Moran, Adam King, Mike Hyem, Jason King, James Hall, Paul Bass, Aaron Mackay (Chris Hyem).