Pre-Season Friendly
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 19th July 2008, 3.00pm
Spoil Sports
This was a game best forgotten on a very blustery and showery afternoon at the Moat Ground.
Mickleover Sports, who hope to one day be playing in the UniBond League, where well worth their win as Rovers seemed lacklustre and still in holiday mode.
Danny Tollerfield in the Sports goal must have had one of his easiest games for many a while as Rovers hardly made any attempt on target.
Assistant manager Steve Hinks was less than impressed especially after seeing his side win fairly comfortably at Rocester in midweek.
Rovers started by forcing the visitors back with Brian Woodhall sending a square pass into the box but unfortunately no Rovers player was on hand to capitalise.
The home side were to rue the missing of that chance because on 19 minutes Sports took the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances.
Kieran O'Connell made the run down the left and his cross was half blocked by Miles Chamberlain but the ball spun into the air and fell at the feet of former Moatman Jon Jenkinson who managed to squeeze the ball past David Clarke at his near post.
In a half devoid of many chances from either side, Tom Liversage tried his luck with a long-range shot that sailed over the bar.
However, Sports increased their lead just on the half hour with again Lady Luck having a say in the matter.
O'Connell fired in a cross that struck the post and with the Rovers defence having two or three chances to clear the danger O'Connell pounced and slotted the ball home.
Rovers did look a little more purposeful in the second half but still not clicking into gear.
With three minutes gone a header from Barry Woolley landed for David Blenkinsopp who fired wide.
Oliver Hancock was next to miss the target also firing a shot wide and then having a shot blocked.
Continual changes of personnel didn't help as the match got rather scrappy and disjointed as it moved into the last few minutes.
Rovers almost cut the deficit on 90 minutes when a cross from Dan Douglas was headed narrowly wide by substitute Liam Bood.
Manager's View
"The whole performance was unacceptable. All eleven players had an off day.
"It was disorientated, no shape it was like we didn't know each other. We played well against Rocester on Tuesday and would keep it going again but it didn't work that way. We were a bit better in the second half.
"The lads are feeling down and so they should be after a performance like that. You can't point the finger at any one individual it was all over the park.
"We've just got to put that behind us and move on - Terry Venables wouldn't have sorted that out!
"Football's a funny game, we'll get back on Tuesday. They've had their off day now. We've had a good heart to heart and there were some good positives have come out of it and we'll just kick on and put that behind us and just move on.
"We've made a few decisions on players as well so we've had a look at players."
