Rovers lose out in play off battle.

Report from Andy Harris

Match sponsor:-Halton House Dental Centre

Match ball sponsor:-Kelvin Parker Transport Limited

North Leigh extended their unbeaten run, completed the double over Rovers and established their play off credentials with a narrow victory at Winterfield Road that severely dented their host’s own promotion aspirations.

The first chance fell to the visitors on 4 minutes as a break down the left saw Karl Dodds set up Simon Futcher but he dragged his shot across goal and wide of the far post. Another excellent performance from Ben Lacey down the Rovers’ right wing caused the visitors problems all afternoon and on 15 minutes he beat his marker and send over a cross that just eluded the unmarked Matt Cooper at the near post. Just a minute later he got in another great cross that went through a crowd of players,before hitting Phil Waters and bouncing into the grateful arms of keeper, Adam Lonsdale.

The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half came on 18 minutes as Rovers’ Lee Marshall sent a volley forward that picked out Rob Claridge at the far post and his header beat Lonsdale but came back off the bar. Waters and Charlie Rich then combined well for the home side down the left and Rich’s cross was headed over by the luckless Claridge. There was nothing to choose between the sides and play raced from end to end as Futcher missed another great chance and then a pass down the right channel from Alex Ball saw skipper, Dan Cleverley, sent in a shot that Lonsdale did well to get down to.

Rovers started brightly after the break and a long range effort from Ball was tipped over the bar by the agile Lonsdale. However the visitors should have taken the lead on 55 minutes when Matt Taylor’s shot was deflected for a corner. The subsequent kick went right to the far post where Andy McCabe’s shot smacked against the post.

The game was decided on the hour as North Leigh full back, Stuart Hole, sent in a curling free kick which saw Taylor lose his marker and head home at the near post.

The visitors also had a good case for penalty turned down on 73 mins as Taylor went down in the box under a challenge from Ollie Price but the referee waived play on.

Rovers finished the game camped in their opponent’s half as they desperately sought an equaliser but failed to really trouble the visitor’s resolute defence. 

Teams:
Rovers:  Phillips, Ball, Marshall, Rose, Price, Waters, Rich, Cooper, Claridge, Cleverley (C), Lacey.
Subs not used:  Cousins, Lock, Milsom, Burchill, Redwood.

North Leigh: Lonsdale, Hole (Hutter 77 mins), Caton, Futcher, Huxley (C), Reardon, Dodds (Allen 80 mins), Burnell, Taylor, McCabe, Jackson.
Subs not used: Saunders.

Referee: Mark Derrien
Assts: Iain Bardsley/Jon Fortescue
Attendance: 189

Star Man: Ben Lacey (Rovers)

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Match sponsor was Halton House Dental Centre - New NHS and private patients welcome offering high quality comfortable services.

The match ball sponsor was Kelvin Parker Transport (SW) Limited, 32A Westfield Business Park, Midsomer Norton BA3  4BH Tel-01761 416611

Website:-  http://www.parkertransport.com/

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The Reserves are at home to Nailsea United on Monday 15 March K-O 7-30 p.m.