Poor second half proves Rovers' undoing

Match report from Andy Harris

Rovers, playing their first home game of 2010, began strongly and went ahead in the 6th minute with a great move down the left. Charlie Rich’s cross was spilled by Borough keeper, Mark Brown and Ben Lacey calmly collected the ball, rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home.

Rovers almost doubled the advantage 3 minutes later when Matt Cooper was brought down after a good run. Rich’s inswinging free kick from the right was almost touched home at the back post by Joe White. IThe home side were very much on top at this stage and he hard working White set up Josh Jeffries but his effort went just wide. The visitors showed how dangerous they could be on 17 minutes as Dave Asker’s right wing cross picked out skipper Craig Davis but he headed straight into the arms of Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips. Two minutes later and the home side had a luck escape as Nathan Kirby sent Asker clear but his touch took the ball over Phillips and the bar.

The home crowd thought their side had weathered the storm and extended their lead on 27 minutes as a great passing move ended with White firing home Cooper’s cross only to be flagged offside. The game switched from end to end as both sides had half chances to score but the closest either came was right on half time as Phillip’s free kick picked out Ben Lacey and his coross found Cooper who sent in a shot that was well saved by visiting keeper, Mark Brown.

If Rovers could claim to be the better side in the first half Borough were the better in the second and level within a minute of the interval as leading scorer, Justin Bennett went down in the area under a challenge from Ollie Price. Davis made no mistake to fire home the penalty.

Rovers responded well as Brown then produced two fine and important saves the first on 50 minutes to block a White shot and the to save another Cooper effort after great work from Phil Waters. These proved pivotal to enable his side to take the lead on the hour mark.

A corner from the right was only partially cleared and a blocked shot from substitute, Louie Martin saw a scramble in the box which eventually led to keeper Kyle Phillips kicking the ball into his own net.

White went close to restoring parity with a back post header and Cooper blazed wide after good work from Chris Lane but with Rovers pressing the threat was always there of a quick Borough break and Justin Bennett raced clear to beat the offside trap twice (on 73 and 85 mins) to round Phillips and score easily on both occasions.

Rovers almost reduced the arrears with two minutes remaining as substitute, Paul Milsom headed on  a right wing corner and Coooper saw his header cleared off the line.

Rovers did bag a consolation goal in injury time as skipper, Dan Cleverley, was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty box and Cooper scored from the spot.

Teams:
Rovers:  Phillips, Waters (Milsom 61 mins), Rich (Burchill 81 mins), White, Price, Cousins, Jeffries, Lane, Cooper, Cleverley (C), Lacey
Subs not used: Tovey, Garlick

Borough: Brown, Wyeth (Martin 53 mins), Wooden, Ward, Arnold, Asker, Howes (Ford 85 mins), Davis (C), Kirby (Tambling 85 mins), Bennett, Turvey
Subs not used: Boud, Mobsby

Rovers' Star Man: - Joe White

Referee: Ian Robinson
Assts: David Williams / Mike Halford
Attendance: 207