Rossington finished the regular Northern Counties East League Premier season strongly with a victory at home against the Pikes.
Ross Hannah rampantly fired Rosso into the lead on the 32 minute with an immaculate free-kick into the far bottom corner.
Three minutes from time, Hannah secured his brace with a well worked goal after linking up with player manager for the day Ben Hunter to confirm the victory.
The final game of the regular NCEL Premier season started with top goalscorer Hannah almost beating Harrison McGuire from outside of the box in the opening minutes only for his fair effort to finish just wide of the far post. Hannah three minutes later was then denied by McGuire who came out of his area and halted Rossington’s number ten in his tracks as he arrived into Pickering’s box.
Prior to Pickering’s Noah Watling being booked, Brad Grayson almost scored from a free kick only for the Pike’s shot-stopper McGuire to make a crucial save at the top right-hand corner.
Minutes later, Hannah was close again this time of which his saved effort earnt a Rossington corner. The hosts continued to threaten as Paul Sherburn provided a back post header from the set-piece but narrowly missed the target.
With Rossington awarded another dangerous free-kick, top goalscorer Hannah stepped up and delivered a magnificent free kick which fired into the bottom left-hand corner to mark his 22nd goal of the season and break the deadlock.
After Rosso’s man between the sticks made a great save at the bottom corner, the first half ended a couple of minutes early following a Pickering player receiving treatment of which an ambulance was called and arrived for assistance.
Following the game restarting just under 40 minutes later and after Jack Harrison was subbed off for Cody Prior, Hunter’s side came close to a second as Sherburn cut inside, beat McGuire in-goal but was denied by the post.
Following two more substitutions and in a game which Rosso made seven changes to their starting XI, Hunter and Hannah linked up for Hannah to score his brace on the 87 minute of which concluded game number 38 of the regular campaign for Rosso and on the favourable side of a 2-0 scoreline, all ready for the play-offs to commence in the coming weeks.
ROSSO XI: Pollard (GK), Nelthorpe, Allen, Harrison (46’ Prior), Hough (82’ Laws), Parkin, Sherburn (70’ Kianga), Grayson, Hannah, Thomas, Hunter.
Unused Substitutes: Langton.