New boys shine as Rovers return to winning ways.

Match report from Andy Harris

Rovers returned to winning ways but were made to fight very hard by a United side that put their hosts under severe pressure in the closing stages after the visitors had hit the woodwork several times and had three attempts cleared off the line.

Rovers were quickly into their stride and new signing, Hector Mackie came close to a debut goal on two occasions in the opening two minutes. Firstly Matt Cooper set him up on the left of the area but he failed to hit the target and then Mackie played a superb pass to Cooper who cut inside and sent in a fine shot which was well saved by Sam Alexander, low to his left and Mackie following up clipped the ball over the keeper and the United bar. The home side’s first attempt at goal came on 7 minutes as the lively Josh Brigham shot over the bar following a right wing corner. Former “Mango”, Ollie Price then had a header cleared off the line following a Rovers corner. There was no let up in the pace of the game and the home side exerted some pressure as the vastly experienced, Michael Meaker, sent in a great cross that Tom Knighton headed back across goal and Mitchell Page’s looping header cleared the bar.

United had a great chance to take the lead on 32 minutes as a great cross from the left by Danny Haines was controlled on the chest by Brigham but he shot weakly at keeper, Kyle Phillips. It was then the visitor’s turn to spurn a great chance as skipper, Dan Cleverley, picked out Cooper on the right and his cross bounced awkwardly at the far post for Rob Claridge whose header lacked power and was scrambled off the line for a corner.

Rovers finally got the breakthrough they deserved on 39 minutes. Lee Marshall’s left footed, in swinging free kick from wide on the right picked out another debutant, Jordan Rose, at the far post and his header back across goal found the top corner.

The lead lasted barely 5 minutes before Haines’ cross from the left dropped kindly to Brigham who turned and fired home from 10 yards out.

The game was decided in the opening minute of the second half as Claridge went down in the box under a challenge from Scott Hendy. Chris Lane fired his penalty kick straight down the middle, past Alexander who had guessed incorrectly and dived to his left.

The visitors almost doubled their lead on 50 minutes as Lane found Mackie down the right and his cross picked out Phil Waters who sent his header onto the post with the keeper beaten. On 63 minutes Mackie again was the provider as he this time sent Cooper clear but Alexander made a fine point blank save.

With 15 minutes remaining the ball was played back to Phillips who made a poor clearance, which was returned up field to the onside Meaker who failed in his attempt to lob the keeper. However Phillips more than up for that error with a magnificent save 2 minutes later. United took a right wing corner which Phillips punched out to Page on the edge of the area and his volley looked goal bound until the young keeper somehow got down to push it away. Rovers spurned another great chance to kill the game on 81 minutes as Waters sent substitute, Charlie Rich clear but he volleyed wide from just inside the box.

United put their visitors under severe pressure in the closing stages and the referee somehow found 6 minutes of additional time, at the end of which, Lane was stretchered from the field with suspected knee ligament damage.

The win takes Rovers up a place to 4th in the table but if they are to mount a serious challenge for promotion via the play offs they will need to improve on their finishing as they missed far too many opportunities in this match for comfort.

Team: Phillips, Ball, Marshall, Rose. Price, Waters, Mackie (Rich 81 mins), Lane (Cousins 90 mins), Claridge, Cleverley (C), Cooper.
Subs not used: Milsom, Burchill, Lock.

Star Man: Jordan Rose (Rovers)

Referee: Ron Ganfield
Assts: Andrew Hunter / Robert Cockle

Attendance: 185

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