Rovers will be delighted with this performance and the bumper crowd that turned up to watch it. It was the home side who showed first as a great through ball from Ben Cleverley saw Ricky Hulbert beat the advancing keeper, Paul Evans, to the ball but he was forced wide and the resultant cross was headed over his own bar by Chris Holland although the challenge on him by Rover's skipper, Dan Cleverley was adjudged a foul. City responded, a great ball from Mark Badman saw Darren Evans clear but his shot from an acute angle found the side netting. Jamie Gosling was then presented with a chance just inside the area but shot tamely at Rover's keeper, Kyle Phillips. The same player did better on 18 minutes but his dipping volley cleared the bar and in between Holland did well to get a good block on Rob Claridge after another through ball from Ben Cleverley. The home side were nearly gifted a goal on 26 minutes as Matt Coupe's header back caught out the advancing Evans but the keeper recovered quickly to dive at the feet of Claridge.

City finally broke the deadlock 4 minutes from half time as a sweeping move saw the ball played wide to the right where Gethin Jones either produced a contender for lob of the season or more likely saw his intended cross float over the retreating Phiilips and into the far top corner! The lead was almost doubled a minute before the break but Edward's cross from the right was well cut by the home defence.

With the inevitable changes made at half time the second period belonged almost entirely to the visitors whose obvious strength in depth took its toll. Edwards and Scott Rogers both had early headers that just cleared the bar. The hard working, Stuart Douglas created a great opportunity for substitute, Martin Paul, on 79 minutes but the veteran striker failed to find the target. City should have sewn things up on 82 minutes when Paul turned provider with a great run on the right and his cross was met by Douglas but Phillips produced a great point blank save.

There was no doubt City deserved their win but manager, Andy Jones, will be delighted with his side's performance against a strong City side two steps up the pyramid and who on the evidence of this performance will once again be pushing for at least a play off place providing they can improve their sharpness in front of goal.

Team: Phillips, Tovey, Boys, Trought (Price 52 mins), Hughes, Cousins (Ridewood 70 mins), B Cleverley, Jefferies (Crew 77 minutes), Claridge (Flower 59 mins), D Cleverley (C), Hulbert (Jacobs 28 mins)