Somerset Premier Cup Quarter Final

Rovers will travel to Bridgwater Town in the semi final.

Match Report from Andy Harris

Rovers, as expected, progressed to the Semi Final of the Somerset Premier Cup where they will travel to Bridgwater Town on the Tuesday, 17^th March (KO 7.45 pm).

This was a rather subdued affair played out in front of a “crowd” of 61, mostly Rovers’ supporters, in gloomy conditions (the floodlights had more bulbs out than operative!). Having given the visitors an early scare – Kyle Phillips producing a fine save in the 3^rd minute to catch a well struck volley from Greg Andrews – United seemed content to concede Rovers both territory and possession, getting all 11 men behind the ball and inviting them to break them down, a task that frankly looked beyond them for most of the first half. Rovers should have had a penalty on 16 minutes when a United defender intent on shielding a ball out for a goal kick clearly used both hands to push Ricky Hulbert off the ball but as so often in these cases nothing was given. Hulbert then had a header easily saved by home keeper, Ben Dancy and Tom Knighton at the back post saw his header hit the keeper’s back before being scrambled clear.

The home side rather unexpectedly and totally against the run of play went ahead on 38 minutes with a good passing move which ended with a left wing cross picking out Ryan King just inside the area, he controlled the ball well, turned his marker and fired a shot across Phillips and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Any hopes the United side may have held of creating an upset were quickly dispelled as Rovers hit back to score twice in 2 minutes. Almost immediately from the restart a ball from the right picked out Chris Lane just outside the box and his right foot shot saw Dancey push the ball into the path of the unmarked Knighton who tapped the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. Ricky Hulbert then did well to go on a run down the left of the penalty area and his shot from a narrow angle again saw Dancey push the ball out to Knighton but this time with his back to goal he set up Dean Pendry to fire home.

The second half saw Rovers camped in the opposition half but it was 58 minutes before they effectively made the game safe as once again Dancey made a good save to stop the initial shot, which came this time from Lane, but Alex Ball at the far post was left an easy tap in to open his account for Rovers.

King did have a chance to pull one back on 63 minutes but having been put through he blazed over the bar from 20 yards enabling Rovers to see out the remainder of the game in comfort with both Ben Cleverley and substitute, Matt Crewe, forcing Dancey to make two further good saves.

Team: Phillips, Ball (French 68 mins), Beswetherick, Price, Hughes, Hulbert, B Cleverley, Lane (Crewe 68 mins), Knighton (Claridge 61 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Pendry

Subs not used: Cousins, Jefferies

Referee: Paul Brown
Assts: A Smith / M Hall

Attendance: 61

Star Man: Ben Cleverley (Rovers)

 Other Results:

Bridgwater Town 5 Portishead 1

Brislington 0 Bristol Manor Farm 0 (Brislington win 6-5 on penalties)

Frome Town 0 Welton Rovers 0 (Frome win 5-4 on penalties)