Stalemate at Winterfield Road.

Match report from Andy Harris

Match sponsor:- PH Roofing Limited of Westfield

Match ball sponsors:-E J Berry & Son Ltd of Bristol http://www.ej-berry.co.uk/

Fortunately this was a far more entertaining game than the scoreline would suggest and overall it proved to be a fair result.

Both sides began brightly but the first chance fell to Rovers in the 11th minute when a Charlie Rich free kick from the right saw Matt Cooper flick on a header which Alex ball volleyed straight at visiting keeper, Tom King. Just 3 minutes later and Ben Lacey set up Rob Cousins to cross to the back post where Rob Claridge nodded the ball down to John Lock who poked the ball just wide. Josh Jeffries for Rovers and Alex Sykes for Bishops Cleeve both failed to hit the target with volleys.

Rovers should have taken the lead on 21 minutes when a great ball from Lacey sent Matt Cooper clear but he shot across the goal and wide of the far post. The visitors responded and twice Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips was forced to punch away difficult crosses under pressure and the on 28 minutes he pulled off a great save to touch away a shot from Elliot Kennedy. Phillips continued to be the busier of the two keepers as he produced two great saves from striker, James Versaci, first getting down low to his left to push away a shot and then touched over a header from corner.

Rovers had a let off immediately after the break as a cross from the left by John Cant was headed onto the post by Versaci ,which rebounded safely into Phillips’ hands. The home side responded and Cooper did well to get on the end of a long throw and set up Rob Claridge but his shot was cleared off the line.

Rovers applied plenty of pressure as they desperately sought a breakthrough but the visitor’s defence well marshalled by skipper, Richard Mansell was rarely troubled although Lacey did produce a fine run and cross  on 85 minutes but no one managed to get on the end of it and Rovers were forced to settle for a hard earned point.

Teams:
Rovers:  Phillips, Ball, Rich (White 55 mins), Lock, Marshall, Cousins,  Jeffries, Cooper , Claridge, Cleverley (C), Lacey
Subs not used:  Collier, Milsom, Waters, Burchill
Bishops Cleeve: King, Crowford, Mansell (C), Jackson, Mayo, Avery, Jones, Sykes (Davis 77 mins), Vercasi, Kennedy (Lewis 68 mins), Cant (Haddock 85 mins)
Subs not used: Avery, Pearce

Star Man: Kyle Phillips (Rovers)

Referee: A Bromley
Assts: S Paul / C Stevens
Attendance: 220

Bishop's Cleeve website can be found at :- http://www.webteams.co.uk/club.asp?club=bishopscleevefc

The match sponsors P H Roofing & Building Contractors. 12 St. Peters Road, Midsomer Norton, BA3 4BJ (Telephone:- 01761 410539) man of the match was Rovers keeper Kyle Phillips.

The match ball sponsor were E J Berry & Son Ltd., Unit 3, Oak Lane, Fishponds Trading Estate, Fishponds,
Bristol. BS5 7UY (Tel:- 0117 9584020) who are new sponsors this season.

Their website is at:- http://www.ej-berry.co.uk/

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