HUNGERFORD TOWN 2 ROVERS 1

Rovers recent revival was halted at second place, Hungerford Town, but they more than matched their opponents for most of this game.

Indeed it was the visitors who made the perfect start, winning a corner on the left in the 3rd minute, which was taken by Craig Loxton, with his right foot and Marcus Mapstone at the far post headed home.

The home side responded as the impressive, Ben Pugh, headed on to Mark Draycott who volleyed well wide and then on 8 mins a long cross field ball went over Stuart Tovey’s head allowing Bradley Gray to race into the box and he went down under a challenge from keeper, Kyle Phillips, but the referee waived play on. Rovers were now restricted to break aways and a great run and cross from Lacey saw Charlie Rich out jump his marker at the far post but Town keeper, Paul Strudley, saved comfortably. The home keeper did made an error on 18 mins throwing the ball out to his skipper, Diak John, who was caught in possession by Ben Osman but his subsequent cross was well cut out at the near post.

Throughout the first half and playing down the slope, the home side played balls over the Rovers defence and on 22 minutes one such pass went over the head of Mapstone to be collected by Luke Hopper and although Phillips got a touch he couldn’t prevent the shot finding the bottom corner of the net.

Gray caused Rovers problems down the left all match and he picked out Hopper with a cross that Phillips saved comfortably and then sent in a shot that caused the keeper more of a problem. It was the 28th minute before Strudley had to make a decent save and it came from a shot from Nick McCootie after he did well to dispossess defender, Jon Beardmore. Gray took a 38th minute free kick which found Pugh, but McCootie back in defence, did well to block and then scramble the ball clear.

The Hungerford come back was completed on 48 minutes as Rovers conceded a corner on the Town right, which the visitors looked to have defended well as the kick from Gray seemed to be drifting out beyond the far post, but with the defence appealing in vain for a goal kick, Beardmore hooked it back across goal and Tom Fila headed home.

Rovers best chance of salvaging a point came 10 minutes later with a neat passing
move down the centre, which ended with McCootie’s flick on, sending Osman clear but with only Strudley to beat he sent his shot narrowly wide of the post. Town then responded well as Draycott forced Phillips into another excellent save and then they were unfortunate to have a goal ruled out, as a ball into the area saw Mapstone and a Town player clash heads causing the referee to blow for the injury just as Gray struck a superb volley past the diving Phillips. Rovers did go close on 68 minutes as Rich’s corner was headed on by Pearson and McCootie’s touch was cleared off the line.

Rovers looked to been handed a lifeline with 14 minutes to go when Gray was shown a straight red card as the referee adjudged he had elbowed Pearson and although the defender did recover well enough to send in a header that Strudley coped with easily, it was Town who came the closest to adding to the score line as Pugh saw a shot come back of the post before he set up Ian Herring for a shot that Phillips did well to save.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Tovey (Scott Brice 34 mins), Jack Allward (Kris Miller 74 mins), Marcus Mapstone, Stuart Pearson, Charlie Rich, Craig Loxton, Ben Lacey, Nick McCootie (Ryan Gay 90 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Osman.
Subs not used: Steve Bridges, Josh Jeffries.

Rovers Star Man: Kyle Phillips

Referee: Andrew Dine

Assts: Jamie Kearsey / Chris Hastings

Attendance: 80