Great Wakering Rovers' stalwart Nobby Johnson was back on duty at the Ryman League Division Two outfit last night - only ten days after suffering a fractured skull when victim of a robbery at the club's Burroughs Park clubhouse.

Nobby and fellow Wakering worker Len Lloyd, who had his 12-year-old daughter with him when the robbers struck as the two men prepared to lock up after a private function, both spent four days in Southend Hospital recovering from their ordeal.

An anonymous businessman has put up a £1,000 cash reward for information leading to the conviction of the robbers and Nobby is to see a speech therapist due to the effects of being hit on the head with a hammer during the assault.

However, despite being advised by fellow club officials to forget about soccer for a few weeks, Nobby was back at the ground last night -- completing the pre-match teamsheets and giving out the programme changes over the public address system.

Despite the appalling wet and windy weather conditions, ever-enthusiastic Nobby made light of his recent trauma by standing out in the elements for part of the action without a coat.

His loyalty was rewarded with a home success that keeps Rovers in fourth place and in the hunt for Division Two honours.

They are five points behind leaders East Thurrock, who won 6-2 at Marlow last night, with three games in hand.

Wakering were a much-weakened side against the second from bottom visitors with Gary Howard, Andy Jones, Danny Scopes, Paul Wheeler and Mark Hampshire all missing and teenager midfielder Dan Trenkel kept on the bench as he's currently having a trial with Southend United.

On the quarter hour Graham Dorrell put the homesters ahead when he got the merest of touches to Neville Hickton's long range effort. After home goalkeeper Dave Hudson had kept Wakering in front with a point-blank save from Glenn Adams, Dorrell made it 2-0 with a penalty.

That was in the 35th minute and Wakering might have gone 3-0 ahead just before the break when Tony Sibanda hit the bar from Hickton's corner.

Chesham reduced the arrears after 58 minutes when ex-Billericay Town man Mark Brewer's wind-assisted corner went straight in, but two minutes later the three points were assured when Flack headed home following a fine Hickton run and cross.

Published Wednesday, February 20, 2002