UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Tuesday, 17th April 2007, 7.45pm
Brave fight not quite enough
In the words of manager Gary Norton he had to 'cobble' together a defensive back line due to injuries and absences and they proved more than adequate as they bravely withstood wave after wave of attacking football from Bradford.
The visitors needed a win to keep their play-off place secure and were in a determined mood to show no mercy to their beleaguered hosts.
On 11 minutes Chris Clarke put a header just wide and they went even closer six minutes later when Gary Shaw poked a Mark Ward free kick just past the far post.
Rovers' keeper Tom Allan then produced one of several good saves when he pushed away Ward's header away for a corner.
On 23 minutes the young keeper produced a superb reaction save to tip over the bar a close-in header again from Ward at the far post.
Rovers were hardly getting into the opposition half leaving Avenue's keeper Jon Worsnop a mere spectator and at the risk of getting bored but on 26 minutes Shaun Ridgway woke him up with a half chance but blazed his shot well over the bar. Back came the wave of pressure and Ward smashed a shot wide.
Allan again produced a top draw save on 39 minutes this time to deny Scott Jackson by again tipping the ball acrobatically over the bar.
Avenue ended the half well on top but some stubborn determined defending by Rovers' led to the visitors getting more an more frustrated as they just couldn't piece the defence and get the goal they were craving.
Rovers made the first chance of the second half when after good interplay between Chris Archer and Karl Brown led to Paul Edwards hitting a long-range shot straight at Avenue's keeper Worsnop.
On 56 minutes Avenue should have taken the lead but Jackson put his shot wide when well placed in the area.
Three minutes later Rovers' Karl Brown cleared Rueben Higgins-Thomas follow up effort off the line after Allan had first denied Kevin Sansay with a fine block as the relentless pressure tested the home side's resolve.
On 66 minutes Neil Grayston had a glorious chance to open the scoring but his final shot from just outside the area was so woefully wide that it almost went out for a throw in adding to the visitor's growing frustrations.
It was Higgins-Thomas's turn to be embarrassed when he broke into the box but managed to hook his shot wide of the far post when he should have done far better.
The break through for the visitors eventually came on 76 minutes. A dubious free kick awarded just on the edge of the area by referee Nick Hobbis was superbly curled into the top corner by Sansay leaving Allan rooted to the spot.
Avenue's relief was clear for all to see but they could not add to their total as a determined Rovers continued to resist them for the rest of the game.
Manager's View
"It was a good performance tonight. Offensively we were pegged on the back foot for a lot of the night. The last two games have been against two very good sides right on the front foot in terms of jockeying for a play-off position.
"It was a honest performance tonight from the guys. It's makeshift side again and I cannot fault any one of them - absolutely fantastic.
"We were unfortunate in the second game in succession with the manner we've conceded a goal. I've got a bit of contention with the goal as I thought we'd defended it. The guy pinned Martyn (Rowntree) back and the ball's got laid off and they've kept possession and then for some reason the referee decided to bring it back and they scored from the free kick. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don't and that occasion it went against us and they've managed to flip a very good free kick into the top corner.
"That's been the dividing line that separated the two sides tonight. I'm not going to stand here and say we should have won the game. It was very much like the Colwyn Bay performance - a rear guard action.
"If we'd have defended like that earlier in the season, I've just said to the guys that on several occasions at home when we've shipped four and against Eastwood five when we've had more experienced players on paper they looked as if they didn't know how to defend. But the last two games we've thrown together a defence and people continue to really, really impress me.
"Tom Allan made two or three top drawer saves in the first half- absolutely fantastic saves - don't underestimate those saves.
"People like Chris Mawbey, Martyn Rowntree and Russell Courtney who has been fantastic today as well. Tom Groves baring in mind he's not a full back has played the last two games and done a very, very good job at full back.
"For a cobbled together back four they've defended superbly for us. The front two without any quality service wise have worked their socks off again, absolutely worked their socks off and it's unlucky that we've lost one-nil. I would have loved to have snatched something at the end.
"Bradford are a very, very good side. They've strengthened at the right times. They are very experienced across the pitch and they've got some great footballers in there and from what I've seen tonight they are a very good tip for the playoffs to be fair.
"It was Tom Allan's night and he deserves it to be fair because since he's come in he's rarely put a foot wrong and if there's any positives to come out of the situation we are in this season is the emergence of people like Tommy Allan, Chris Mawbey and even Martyn Rowntree to an extent. Martyn has been with us most of the season and had a handful of reserve team games. He's waiting for an operation and hopefully if we can get it done in the summer based on what we've seen in the last three or four games and the other odd occasions when he's gone on the pitch for us he's hardly put a foot wrong. He's played higher than this level and if we can get him fit and injury free with a pre-season behind him he could be a good asset wherever he is next season.
"A real positive was to see Tom Betteridge back tonight. We've been talking about this for a few weeks now since he's been back in training and the reserves. We'd have like him to have gone on and had a dramatic end to the game for us. He's back on the pitch as a first team player and he's in our thoughts for maybe the last couple of games. He's done a lot of work and it's been a long journey back from October when I had the misfortune to go and visit him in hospital after our game when he did his leg playing for the reserves.
"He's a player and a guy who is dear to lots of peoples hearts at the club and to see him back in a first team shirt even though we've lost the game is a proud moment and one that he's worked very, very hard for. Hopefully, he can steer clear of injury and have a really good pre-season and get back to the player we saw when we brought him here for the run in last season.
"I'm still of the opinion that Tom was very instrumental in making sure we got to that play-off final last year. He came in at the right time and gave that injection of quality and scored a few vital goals for us. He gave us a good outlet on a problem area for us on the flank and did well for us last year. Obviously I've been very disappointed for him but he's taken a big step in the right direction."
