Northern Premier League Midlands
Church Road, Sutton Coldfield
Monday, 2nd January 2023, 3.00pm
Rovers Beaten
Before the kick off there was an impeccably observed minute’s silence.
It was a frustrating afternoon for the visitors as yet again they did not receive the rub of the green with hand balls being ignored and clearances off the line as they dominated the second half of the game.
Rovers began the match brightly, but it was the Mikes who went close with a speculative looping header from Oliver West hitting the bar. They went close again a couple of minutes later this time Andre Brown headed over the bar from a good position.
The home side were getting on top and threatened again with Brown heading over the bar again before Bakir Halil for Rovers also going close with a shot from distance just clearing the bar.
It seemed inevitable that the Mikes would open the scoring and it came on 36 minutes with Curvin Sanderson-Ellis’s shot taking a deflection wrong footing Rovers keeper Lewis Fenney as it clipped the inside of the upright.
Rovers went close to levelling almost immediately, but Kieran Wells could only put his effort fractionally past the post.
The first half ended with Rovers going close again with a low shot from Alex Morris being held by home keeper Lewis Gwilliams.
Rovers looked determined to get back into the game in the second half and Kane Lee looked to have levelled with his shot heading to the top corner until Gwilliam made a fine save to deny him.
The visitors forced a corner which was swung in from the left and the ball was met by Wells who was unlucky to see his header cleared off the line. James Spruce then went close but Gwilliam did well to hold on to the low shot.
Wells was replaced on 61 minutes by Chris Camwell as Rovers continued to pin their hosts back with Lee having a shot saved.
Another change for the visitors saw Levi Reid replace Michael Williams as they looked for an equaliser and they went close again on 75 minutes. A good move through the middle ended with Camwell hitting a shot which was heading goalward only for a defender to dive across to block the shot. Rovers players and supporters alike were convinced that the defender had used his arm to block but amazingly the referee said it had hit his chest and allowed play to continue.
Camwell was having a big effect on proceedings and possibly should have got his side on terms when he met a cross from the right in a great position on the edge of the goal area but skyed his shot over the bar.
The final change for Rovers saw the welcome return of Izak Reid, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a lengthy injury sustained at the end of last season, replacing Halil.
With Rovers pushing to get a deserved share of the points it left space at the back and substitute Kyle Byrne made full use of it. Only coming on 6 minutes earlier he raced forward before unleashing an unstoppable shot giving Fenney no chance.
Almost at the end of game Mason Frizelle made a fine tackle to deny possibly another goal after a break away but sustained what looked like a very serious ankle injury in doing so leading to him having to be stretchered off the pitch.
