Match Report  |  Rugby Borough vs Gresley Rovers

After the game at Khalsa on Tuesday which was one of the best games Rovers had played so far this season, this game at Rugby Borough was in stark contrast to that. In all honestly this was a poor showing against a very decent outfit who on this performance will figure in the top few of their league and will have a good run in the Vase.

Rugby Borough had started the season well undefeated in their first five league matches scoring twenty-two goals and only conceding four in the UCL South Division so the visitors knew they were in for a tough game and so it proved.

Manager Carl Abbott welcomed back Alby Lansdowne, Kane Lee and Will Robinson and gave debuts to recent signing Michael Townsend along with Tristan Burke, Jude Collins and Arlie Greet all on dual registrations from Barwell. However, he was still without Louis Anthony (concussion). Alex Morris (holiday), Jordi Gough (injured) and Osaze Okuonghae (holiday), Jamie Sleigh (unavailable) and Fin Barker (fractured foot).

Even with the absentees Rovers should, at the very least, have given their hosts a run for their money but they looked well short of doing that.

Rovers were caught short almost from the start as Borough took the lead with barely 4 minutes on the clock as they allowed Antonio Cristofaro far too much room so he could fire his side into the lead.

Townsend’s debut game only lasted twenty minutes as he had to be replaced by Robinson due to injury but still the home side pressed forward looking dangerous as the attacked and they went close again three minutes later forcing Rovers’ keeper Charlie Wood into a low save to deny Cristofaro another goal.

The first half chance for Rovers came on 26 minutes with Ben Gough firing wide but almost from the goal kick Borough had doubled their lead. A deep cross from the right picked out Shaun Rudvidzo on the left. He collected the ball well strode forward and curled an unstoppable shot past Wood.

Two minutes later Rovers were the authors of their own fate as Wood came to collect a ball which took a strange bounce, he slipped, and Cyrus Bruce had the easiest of tasks tapping the ball into the wide-open net.

Just before the first half ended Rovers had a slight glimmer of hope. A fine run down the left ended with a cross into the edge of the area where debutant Burke controlled the ball turned and then hit a super shot which left home keeper Hohn Meadows helpless.

Unfortunately, that glimmer of hope was firmly extinguished three minutes into the second half. A quick break saw Cristofaro race into the area where he somehow beat Wood firing the ball between keeper and near post.

The home side were still threatening looking to make Rovers’ day even more miserable than it was already. Gerard McGahey easily broke through the defence leaving him with only Wood to be but the keeper redeemed himself by making a fine block as he came out of his goal. Wood did well again moments later diving bravely at the feet of substitute Jordan Wilson as he was about to unleash a shot from close in.

Rovers made changes with Arlie Greet, Jack Andrews and Nathan Banton replacing Collins, Burke and Jake Meakin as they tried to stem the tide.

The visitors went close late on with Banton hitting a free kick narrowly wide but with time almost up Borough went very close to adding a fifth goal with McGahey seeing Wood well off his line but his chip just clearing the bar.

Rovers were well beaten but now need to put this game behind them and begin to put some points on the board and climb the league table.