After a disappointing pre-season, Rovers season began as they made the long trip to Diss to play League 2 new boys, Wortham FC, in a League 2 Cup preliminary tie.
After reaching the final of the competition last season, Rovers were hungry to put together another good cup run to hopefully go one better this campaign.
The match started very brightly for Rovers as, from the off, they got the ball down and put together some lovely passing moves. Unfortunatley none of the moves resulted in the Whites being able to get their noses in front and as time ticked by the home side settled down and made the game a far more equal affair.
Rovers did take the lead mid way through the first half, when Ben Cole recieved the ball 20 yards from goal. He showed great composure on the ball to skip past 2 Wortham defenders and in the process, creating enough room for himself to chip the keeper in fine style from just inside the area.
The goal seemed to knock the home side's confidence a little as Rovers went on to control most of the remainder of the half and again put some lovely one touch passing moves together which Wortham struggled to deal with.
Despite being on top, The Whites went into the break a goal to the good and although pleased to be ahead, were a little disappointed not to have extended their lead.
The 2nd half saw the home side up their game as they went looking for an equaliser but Rovers were, for the most part, able to limit them to long range efforts which rarely troubled Scott Glacken in the visitor's goal.
As the half progressed the quality of the game seemed to drain away as both sides began to look tired and a little short of match fitness at this early stage of the season.
With 20 minutes remaining the home side found a way back into the tie, when the Rovers' defence was caught napping, allowing a Wortham striker to skip through unchallenged to level up the match from close range.
With extra-time looming Rovers went very much on the attack, going 3 at the back, to try and steal a late winner. Despite a couple of good chances they were unable to put the ball into the net and the game ended 1-1 at 90 minutes.
A late injury to one of the Wortham players meant that the home side had to play the extra 30 minutes with only 10 men as they had already made 3 substitutions during normal time.
Despite being a man down, it was the home side who broke the deadlock early on, when some sloppy Rovers' defending allowed a free header from 8 yards out which was glanced in to put Wortham firmly in the driving seat.
A very tired, disappointing Rovers went looking to get themselves back into the tie but despite having the extra man, they rarely threatened the Wortham goal and were guilty of playing the long ball far too much, something which Wortham were easily able to cope with.
Despite the disappointment of defeat, Rovers can take some positives from the match, especially the way they got the ball down and passed it around at times and know that they will be stronger fitness wise for the 120 minutes played.
Rovers begin their League 2 campaign next Saturday when they play thier 1st competitive match at their new home, when they entertain Elephant & Castle FC at the British Sugar Ground.
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