Rovers just hold on to claim the points

Match Report from Andy Harris

Rovers just held on to claim a vital win despite a valiant effort from the visitors in the closing stages.

The home side dominated the opening exchanges and having spilled a cross from the left in the opening minute Uxbridge keeper, Gary Ross, did well to save a shot from debutant, Tom Knighton as he latched onto a long clearance from Rovers’ keeper Kyle Phillips after just 5 minutes. Two minutes later and a great run and shot from Chris Lane down the left saw Ross again fail to hold and this time he very nearly paid the penalty as from the resultant corner, Alex Ball won a clean header but Ross redeemed himself with the save. Josh Jefferies then went agonisingly close with a volley before on 13 minutes the visitors showed their threat for the first time with Phillips saving well to deny central defender Melvyn Baptiste who won a header from a free kick on the right.

Rovers deservedly went ahead on 27 minutes when skipper, Ben Cleverley’s free kick from the left was headed back across goal by Ollie Price and was touched home by Knighton.

Rovers continued to dominate and doubled their lead on 38 minutes as Knighton played a superb pass out to on the left to Lane who went past two defenders before releasing Jefferies who beat Ross with a low shot from just inside the area.

Any hopes Rovers made have had an of an easy victory were quickly dispelled as Uxbridge pulled a goal back within a minute as Baptiste’s superb header back across goal from a free kick on the right gave Phillips no chance.

The visitors were almost level at the break as first Danny Tilbury volleyed just over the bar and then Phiilips produced an excellent save to deny David Warner.

The second half saw Lane create a shooting chance for Rob Claridge on 56 minutes only for Ross to produce another fine save. From then on Uxbridge dominated proceedings and will feel themselves very unlucky not to have taken something from the game. Substitute, Lee Tunnell saw his 57th minute, deflected shot come back off the post, skipper Neil Davies went close with a volley and a long range effort from another substitute, Dave Lawrence went wide with Phillips stranded having just left his line to kick a through ball clear. However the visitors saved their best effort to last as in the 89th minute a spectacular diving header from Kevin Warner following a cross from Matt Bicknell on the left, just cleared the Rovers’ bar.

This was a vital win for the home side as they look to get their play off aspirations back on track but the recent lack of match fitness seemed to tell towards the end. Rovers face another fierce test as third placed, AFC Totton, visit Winterfield Road this Saturday (KO 3 pm).
 
Team: Phillips, Ball, Lane, Trought, Price, Cousins, B Cleverley (C), French, Claridge, Knighton, Jefferies (Tovey 74 mins)
Subs not used: Hughes, Pendry, Hulbert

Referee: Nevil Brimming
Assts: Graham Harris / Larry Cousins

Attendance: 110

Star Man: Tom Knighton (Rovers)