After two improved performances, Rovers were looking to continue this improvement in this game against the Police. Manager Kirk put the same team out that started against Leam Hibs with the exception of a new strike partner for Alex, in the formidable form of J-Dog (Jamie Wood), making a well earned 1st start of the season.
This game was being played in ideal football conditions, although the pitch was a bit on the heavy side.
The Police started the brighter team as Rovers once again took their time to get out of the block. Having said that when the Rovers had possession they played some neat football if not really creating any chances.
The pattern for the 1st 20 mins saw the Police coming close on several occasions, but for some sterling defensive work and some world class saves from Craig, they were kept at bay.
The deadlock was cruelly broken on the 23rd minute when a low hard cross was accidently but professionally turned into his own net by Kevin. Up to this point Rovers were coping well with the long ball tactics of the Police.
This seemed to have a positive reaction for the Rovers, who now started to put their foot on the ball, with both Ian and Bart starting to slowly come to grips with the midfield. Rovers started to put pressure on the Police. Jamie playing well alongside Alex did well in holding up the ball and played some simple balls. He was unlucky not to score when a ball played by Alex to Jamie on the edge of the box, was struck sweetly but unfortunately went straight into the keeper’s arms. The remaining 10 mins of the 1st half saw Rovers putting increased pressure on the Police. The back four dealing well with what attacking options the Police could muster , number of ‘psycho wilko’ tackles ensuring the Police knew he was there.
Half time: Police 1 Rovers 0
A constructive half time talk saw the Rovers start the second half in the same way as they finished the 1st, with attacks on the Police goal, but not with any clear cut chances.
After 54 minute Rovers made their first substitution, with Jake coming on for Jamie. A reshuffle saw Jay move into centre midfield with Bart and Ian moving up front with Alex. The team looked a little more balanced and good work by Lee on the left and Jay and especially Bart in the middle started to take control of the game. The Police continued to make a game of it, but their attacking options were becoming all too predictable and Adey ,Kev, Skid and Nick were having the upper hand.
Rover’s changes almost paid off from the start, both Ian and Alex working the ball well, produced a cross for Jake, who coming from behind his marker was just unable to control the pass when homing in on the Police Goal.
A second change on 62 minutes when ‘psycho wilko’, who had made some trademark all thunder tackles was replaced by Rob Emerson.
The Police now started to get a bit frustrated and concerned, however a second cruel blow gave them more than they deserved when a well struck shot from the edge of the box was turned again into his own net by Kevin.
Rovers could have given up the ghost at this point, however they knew they were the better team and continued to take the game to the Police.
Rovers were in the ascendancy, with probes into the Police area becoming more frequent. Eventually Rovers hard work was rewarded when Alex broke down the right, a cross into the box saw Ian being taken down from behind and a penalty was the outcome. Alex stood upto the mark and drilled the spot kick into the net on 80 mins.
Ten minutes remained and the Police were tiring, Bart was making the midfield his own. The Police were getting more and more anxious and this spilled over with an incident with Jay, the Police player being lucky not to get a yellow card. This was followed shortly with a crunching tackle by Lee on the same Police player leaving him in a heap on the floor. Rovers still pressed on.
Then on the 89th minute Rovers thought that they had earned extra time, in a move that pressed the Police into desperate defence, a move saw Ian move onto a ball which he unduly thrashed into the net. Joy however turned to anger and despair as the Police Linesman judged Ian to be offside, this despite the fact he was a good 10 yds from the line of play. The referee consulted the linesman before ruling out the goal. The final whistle went 2 minutes later.
Rovers were robbed of the opportunity to play extra time, which if they had would surely have one.
On the return to the changing rooms , Rovers fears were confirmed when a couple of Police defenders confirmed that Ian was no way in an offside position when he scored ,and that we should have gone on to play extra time. A result which the Police did not deserve.
In conclusion, I feel that we have started to build on our recent performances. Our confidence is returning and the results will soon start to go our way again.
Kirk
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