Northern Premier League Midlands
Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield
Saturday, 4th February 2023, 3.00pm
Royal Defeat For Rovers
It’s been said on several occasions that Rovers have been unfortunate to come away from a match with anything to show for their endeavour, but this was really one of those games.
Rovers had comfortably beaten today's hosts at the beginning of October and were hoping to add to their success.
Rovers played well but just couldn’t find the finishing touch in front of goal. The home side, however, took their chance to take all three points when a share of the spoils would have been the fairest outcome.
The first half was an even affair with neither side carving out any real clear-cut chances but perhaps, Rovers had the best of the rare occasions with Kane Lee firing a shot from the edge of the area which home keeper Jonathan Brown did well to push away diving to his left.
The second half saw the Royals making their first substitution with Trea Bertie replacing Isaac Jagroop.
The first save for Rovers’s keeper, Lewis Fenney came on 50 minutes but he had to be on his toes 10 minutes later when he came off his line quickly to deny substitute Bertie diving at his feet to block the ball.
Town were having a good spell and Bertie was denied again this time by the fine last ditch tackle from Alex Morris.
Just after the hour mark Rovers went close with Lee putting a header fractionally the wrong side of the upright.
Minutes later Rovers went close again. Lee made a good run down the right before sending over an inviting ball for Danny Munday, who had two minutes earlier replaced Izak Reid, but his header was saved by Brown.
James Spruce had a low shot held but a slip in midfield allowed a quick break which ended with Ceesay Dampha being allowed the time to fire a shot across Fenney and into the far corner of the net.
Rovers, to their credit, continued to press for a goal with Morris heading a Halil corner straight at Brown, but, the pressing forward almost cost Rovers another goal but Fenney made a fine save to prevent it diving to his left at the near post.
The visitors went agonisingly close to claiming a deserved share of the points in the final minutes with Halil’s powerful goal bound shot being blocked in the area.
