Report by Jon Green

Goals from Tom Bradley, Jack Dancey and Krystian Woods ensured Rovers came away with a point from Devon although they would have been hoping for more.

For the second game in a row, the wind played a part making things difficult for both teams. But Rovers got off to a good start when Dan McBeam crossed in low from the right. It was met at the near post by Max Williams who flicked the ball towards the goal but Jack Peter’s in the Ivybridge net was able to take it in.

Ivybridge responded in the 5th minute with a shot that went just wide. The momentum started to swing to the hosts who had the wind behind. But Rovers were looking oddly lethargic too.

The Ivies pressed on and won a corner in the 17th minute that was nodded in by Joe Cook to open the scoring.

Disaster struck for Rovers three minutes later when James Smallcombe attempted a clearance but slipped allowing Josh Johnson to pick up the ball and score into an empty net.

The visitors found themselves in a position they hadn’t been for sometime and cool heads would be needed to respond.

Rovers still toiled but slowly began to drag themselves into the game. In the 30th minute, Stan Wyatt picked up the ball and made some space for himself on the edge of the box. He struck a good shot but it was parried away by the keeper to a waiting Tom Bradley who turned the ball in from a tight angle.

Tails up, Rovers now began to look a little more like the team they are but were still finding it difficult to make passes in the conditions.

As the half came to a close, Rovers won a free kick on the left. The ball was crossed in low by Martin Lenihan. It somehow made its way through a crowd of players to Jack Dancey who struck first time to level the score.

Now back on level terms, the Rovers faithful would have been expecting the team to go on and take all three points. Things looked hopeful in the opening seconds of the second half when Max Williamswas put through. He chipped the keeper but an Ivybridge defender just made it back to clear the ball off the line.

But Rovers seemed to recede again and allow Ivybridge to get at them. The hosts retook the lead in the 58th minute when a shot by Ryan Smith seemed to take a deflection wrong footing Smallcombe.

Substitutions followed and the fresh legs reignited some spark again. Dan McBeam was sent through in the 65th minute but his shot was well saved.

Rovers got their leveller in the 76th minute when Tom Bradley was tripped from behind in the box. Krystian Woods stepped up to score the penalty and grab his third goal in three games.

Both teams looked to push to grab a winner but neither could really test the opponents keeper and the game ended in a draw.

The result means Rovers lose a little ground in the title race, but with five games still to go, there could be more twists to come!

Next Up:
Buckland Athletic, Tuesday 31st March, 7.30pm