Pre-Season Friendly
The Oval, Bedworth
Saturday, 26th July 2008, 3.00pm
Another Friendly Defeat For Rovers
On a sweltering afternoon that was more suited for lazing around on a beach or a poolside, Rovers took on their former league rivals Bedworth United in a pre-season friendly at The Oval.
The last time the to had played any sort of game was in 2004 on a very similar blistering afternoon at the Moat with United's Paul Spacey opening the scoring and he did the same in this match.
Robbie Banks was back from holiday suffering from a slight chest infection but manager Gary Norton gave him the first half. and also on show for the first time was former Stapenhill front man Jordi Gough.
United started brightly and were running the Rovers' defence ragged as they looked far fitter and faster than their visitors.
Playing some good passing football, they soon opened up the Rovers' defence but could not put in the finish their movement required.
However, the referee was soon having a say in the proceedings giving plenty of very dubious free kicks to the home side.
The first on 6 minutes from Paul Lamb tested Rovers' keeper David Clarke when he picked out Paddy Connolley whose first time shot was held by Clarke.
Ten minutes later a cross from Paul Spacey was almost poked home by Tristan Kabongo at the far post but his effort went wide.
Rovers were finding things difficult in trying to carve out any chances but on 30 minutes Robbie Banks made a good run into the box with keeper Andrew Kemp saving his low shot.
Two minutes later United were in front. Another very dubious decision by the referee gave the home side a free kick on the edge of the area. While the Rovers' wall was being sorted Spacey fired a low shot past the surprised Clarke and into the far corner much to the annoyance of the players and bench. Amazingly the referee allowed the goal although no one from the Rovers' support had heard the whistle!
The second half started with United still pressing forward and they doubled the score after just 12 minutes of the re-start.
Rovers had several chances to clear the ball on their bye-line but failed to deal with the danger and Connolley had the simplest of tasks to fire into the net.
Rovers' manager Gary Norton made several changes bringing on most of the eight substitutes taking a look at young defender Nathan Morris.
These changes seemed to perk up the lack lustre visitors and for the final fifteen minutes of the game they took the game to their hosts.
With Barry Woolley now playing up front Norton asked Gough to take up a wide position down the left flank and it soon played dividends.
The youngster made a great run down the wing and sent in an inviting cross into the box where Woolley duly obliged powering a header into the net.
Rovers were now looking likely to snatch an equaliser as Gough continued to provide superb crosses into the danger area and Gavin Saunders doing the same from corners.
Unfortunately Rovers just could not find the final touch but finished the game on top.
Manager's View
"I'm not happy about that at all! Apart from maybe the last fifteen minutes or so we didn't get going all over the pitch from whistle one.
"It was very frustrating - it didn't look like we wanted the ball. I know it was a hot day and the conditions weren't really footballing weather but we allowed Bedworth to play some very good football.
"We stood off them and they were very composed in possession and they look a very good outfit.
"From our point of view we looked a little disjointed, very little idea what to do when we got the ball. We just didn't look comfortable in possession and we didn't get the basics right today.
"Our passing was poor and the basics like tracking our men, organising, talking and there were too many established players that, shall I just say, had an off day and that went right throughout the side.
"I think there were very few positives to come from the footballing side perhaps other than the last fifteen minutes with Jordi Gough on the left hand side. He put some fantastic balls into the box and obviously set our goal up and looked very good. I want to have another look at him on the left as soon as I can.
"Jordi Gough was a new face in the squad. He played for Rocester against us and we are keeping an eye on the situation, as he's not signed for anyone yet. He trained with us on Thursday and his favoured position is up front and we wanted to have a look at him there but he's also very competent on the left so we thought we'd take the opportunity to have a look at that - he impressed.
"Nathan Morris is someone who we've wanted to have a look at for a few weeks now but he's had some hamstring problems. He's a centre half and he came on at halftime and what he did he did well.
"We had wanted to play Dan Martin today but he's signed for Mickleover. We spoke to Mickleover's manager earlier this week and let him know our intentions and he seemed comfortable with that. I spoke to Dan yesterday and Mickleover have asked him to think about it for a week while their manager is on holiday.
"I hope to speak to him again next week because I very much want to have a look at him with regard to him coming in but we'll have to see what happens on that one.
"Robbie Banks was back today but unfortunately got a bit of a chest infection. We tried to get as much out of him as we could but obviously he was suffering with that so we pulled him at half time. It was quite disappointing as I was quite keen to have a look at Robbie but we'll get him right and have another look at him.
"We've one or two things to think about. The worrying thing is that we are three weeks away, still a bit of time. We are still light in one or two positions and on that performance we've still got a lot of work to do.
"The other night we looked fairly comfortable on the ball, we moved the ball quite well and I did say at the time when one or two people said we'd played quite well that we had played a team two leagues below.
"Bedworth looked fitter and also stronger than us today. They were more organised and that indicates that we've a lot of work to do. We are not hiding from that fact and are starting immediately."
