United Counties Premier League North
The Moat Ground
Tuesday, 3rd September 2024, 7.45pm
First League Win For Rovers
Rovers’ manager Carl Abbott is still having to juggle his squad due to injuries and other commitments. On the injured list is Louis Anthony still serving his concussion protocol, Fin Barker has been given more time to recover for his recent fractured foot, Will Robinson serving his one match suspension, Nathan Banton away on a personal commitment, and Ben Gough deciding to leave the club for regular football, and Jack Andrews who broke down in tonight’s warm-up before the game.
However, Jordi Gough returned from injury, Jude Collins was available and there was a new signing Harrison Solomon a young former u21 Derby County defender who has recently returned from a scholarship in the USA and a familiar face on the bench, Ste Hart
The first half was a cagey affair with neither side managing a clear-cut chance. Collins had a half chance on 10 minutes. A cross from Danny Munday on the right needed to be saved by visiting keeper Alfie Smith-Eccles and Collins only managed to put the rebound over the bar from close in.
Collins had a shot which was easily dealt with by the keeper. The first half ended with no goals for either side.
The second half was completely different as Rovers began to push the visitors back finding gaps in the dithering defence. Hart had replaced the struggling Kane Lee at the start of the half. That pressure from the home side didn’t start until Town had two decent chances early in the second half. Former Moatman, the well-travelled Brad Wells found the ball at his feet just inside the area and with Rovers’ keeper off his line he tried to chip an effort over Jack Sandel but saw the ball land on the roof of the net.
Town’s next effort, two minutes later, proved pivotal to the game. A ball from the left was headed back across the box and Joe Astley headed the ball goalwards believing he’d opened the scoring for his side, but a fantastic diving save to his right by Sandel denied him.
Hucknall made their first change on 53 minutes with Omreiki Myles replacing Luis Parkes but it didn’t prevent Rovers from taking the lead within seconds of him coming on to the pitch. A quick break saw Rovers race forward ending with Munday slamming the ball home.
That goal seemed to fire Rovers, and they began to take charge of the game. Solomon was making good runs down the left testing the defence and from one of his raids down the wing he sent a ball over to the far post and Jamie Sleigh hit a powerful first time shot to double his side’s advantage.
More changes for Town came as they tried to stifle the attacks with Ayleal Dill and Mykah Skervin replacing Wells and Abdurrahmanl Saad but still the pressure mounted. More changes from the visitors with Mazhi Simonds and Sam Sims being replaced by Cashmere Rowe and Taylor Jaine.
Rovers made their second change a minute or so later with Alex Britton on for Jake Meakin. Still in charge of proceedings the home side almost added another goal on 86 minutes, A fast break saw Sleigh put through one-on-one with Smith-Eccles, but the keeper denied him of another goal with his outstretched leg. However, Rovers were not to be denied again as from the rebound a cross from the left picked out Dylan Hunniford over on the right in space and the hard-working young player struck a perfect shot across the keeper and into the bottom far corner,
The home side brought on Phil Kowalski and Jonathan Dawkins to see the game out but a goal against the run of play gave the visitors a slight glimmer of hope when a shot against the bar came out and was headed home by Skerwin but it was too little too late as Rovers regained their three goal advantage with substitute Kowalski hitting a thunderbolt of a shot into the roof of the net from close in to complete a very welcome three points and a thoroughly deserved win.
