Rovers unbeaten league run reaches double figures!

Match report from Andy Harris

What looked a tight encounter on paper proved to be equally so on a surprisingly good playing surface at Waterside Park bearing in mind the recent rain.

After a quiet opening it was Rovers who had the first opportunity to score as on 10 minutes Kane Ingram was fouled just outside the angle of the penalty area on the right hand side. Charlie Rich’s inswinging free kick saw Ingram send his header onto the inside of the far post where it rebounded conveniently into the arms of a relieved home keeper, Paul Strudley.

Ingram had a further chance 3 minutes later but his header from Rich’s left wing corner cleared the bar. Ben McCreedy for Thatcham and Chris Lane for Rovers both failed to hit the target with shots from the edge of the box before on 26 minutes the visitors spurned the best chance of the first half. Another Rich corner from the left saw debutant, Alex Kite win the header down and Ingram spun but flicked the ball again in the waiting arms of Strudley.

Thatcham’s best effort in the first half came from defender, Matt Bowler, whose 32nd minute header from a right wing corner just cleared the bar and landed on the top of the net. Rovers then put a good move together as Robbie Claridge found Lane on the left and his cross was only partially cleared but Matt Cooper’s shot went just wide of the post. The player’s frustrations threatened to boil over as first Josh Jeffries went into the book for a foul and a minute later Town’s, Dean Stow, joined him. The final chance of the half fell to Lane but his shot at the second attempt was well saved by Strudley.

Rovers began the second period strongly and a poor defensive clearance saw Claridge unselfishly spurn a shooting chance in favour of setting up Lane but his shot went wide. Despite territorial advantage and more possession the home side got back into it and first Rovers keeper, Kyle Phillips had to made a save from Simieon Howell and the Town skipper, Jamie Leacock, sent over a cross from the right which Dave Asker volleyed just over the bar.

Thatcham then spurned a great chance to strike the first blow as Rovers’ substitute, Neikell Plummer, had a pass intercepted and a through ball sent Danny Keen clear but the striker sent his shot over Phillips and the bar.

The hosts were enjoying their best spell of the game but Rovers caught them on the break, in what proved to be the critical move of the game, on 78 minutes. Jeffries pass split the Town defence and Cooper raced clear and lashed his shot past the advancing Strudley and into the net to give him his 6th Rovers’ goal in as many games.

The closing stages of the game became frenetic as Thatcham chased an equaliser allowing Rovers the opportunity to break, which Lane did on 87 minutes setting up Plummer, whose well struck shot from the edge of the box was well saved again by Strudley. In injury time Adam Wallace did well to get in an overhead volley for the home side but it was Cooper, back in defence, who got in the vital header clear as and Rovers broke and this time it was Cooper’s turn to force a good save from the keeper before he set up Claridge for a shot that went agonisingly close to the far post.

The referee’s whistle sounded just after and Rovers collected all three points and stretched their unbeaten run to 10 games enabling them to consolidate third place in the league.

Team: Phillips, Ingram (Plummer 67 mins), Rich, Kite, Price, Cousins (C), Jeffries, Harvey,
Claridge, Cooper, Lane.
Subs not used: Ball, Milsom, Waters

Star Man: Ollie Price (Rovers)

Referee: P Lavelle
Assts: C Burton / A Moody

Attendance: 96

Their website is at- http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/thatchamtown/