Report by Jon Green

Rovers suffered defeat at Barnstaple Town on Saturday afternoon with both teams struggling to adapt to the wet conditions…

With the rain coming down, the opening ten minutes of the game saw both sides trying to come to terms with the slippery pitch. Several players slipped when in promising positions leading to a scrappy start to the game. But Rovers slowly started to get the better of possession and the first big chance their way when Kitan Jaiyeoba held off a challenge on the edge of the box to feed Kye Simpson. He turned his man to get a low shot in from close range but somehow Michael Searle, the Barum keeper, kept it out.

A decent period of possession followed for the visitors but they were unable to fashion another decent chance. Barnstaple then started to take some control themselves but also didn’t really threaten Alfie Kelsey. That is until the 36th minute when a ball over the top found Gabriel Rogers on the left who moved into the box and clinically beat Kelsey. The lead was almost doubled towards the end of the half when a header from a corner came back off the crossbar.

Rovers needed a good start to the second half and nearly got one when Kye Simpson found himself in space in the 49th minute but his powerful shot was blocked. In the following melee there was a good shout for handball in the box by a Barnstaple defender but any claims were dismissed.

Both teams made changes and Rovers continued to press but without making any clear cut chances. At the other end of the pitch, Barnstaple went close with a header from a cross by Rogers but it took until the 83rd minute to get their second. A hotly disputed corner allowed Adam Hill to power in a header.

All in all, the game had been hampered by the weather and wasn’t a great spectacle. With chances few and far between for both teams, there wasn’t much to choose between them but Barnstaple took their chances where Rovers hadn’t.

Next Up:
Cheddar AFC (A), Tuesday 25th September, 7.45pm
Somerset Premier Cup