United Counties Premier League North
The Moat Ground
Saturday, 5th October 2024, 3.00pm
Another Home Defeat For Rovers
Anyone looking at this result would think the visitors won easily but they’d be wrong as it was much closer than it looks. But for some poor defending and good goalkeeping Rovers could easily have claimed a point. They didn’t deserve any more than that though.
Rovers set off on the front foot and were soon putting the visitors under pressure forcing two corners in the first six minutes. From one of them Rovers almost took the lead when Fin Barker hit a stinging low shot which visiting keeper Ross Woolley somehow prevented from going in at his near post.
Kieran Walker put his header wide as Newark & Sherwood began to come into the game. They went even closer on 24 minutes when the impressive Kieran Cummings clattered the far post but Louie Turner was able to hold onto the shot from the rebound.
A good run through the middle by Will Robinson unfortunately ended with his final shot flying over the bar. At the other end Turner had to make a save preventing Cummings scoring the opening goal.
Just as the first half was about to end, Rovers were dealt a cruel blow. A clear hand ball in the build up was seen by nearly everyone in the ground but it was either not seen by the officials or ignored. Rovers seemed to hesitate, and the ball came to Kole Lambert who hit a shot which went into the net via the underside of the bar.
Rovers started the second half as they had the first on the front foot forcing an early corner which came to nothing. They then made their first changes with Alby Lansdowne and Jamie Sleigh replacing Fin Barker and Jake Meakin respectively.
The home side were still pressing with Ryan King forcing another save from Woolley down at the base of the near post. More corners and Jenson Cooper shooting straight at the keeper was the result of more pressure but they were undone on 72 minutes. Losing the ball in midfield saw the visitors race forward and with Rovers’ defence beaten a shot from Cummings again hit the woodwork but this time the rebound was pounced upon and fired home by substitute Luke White.
Rovers were denied a chance of getting back into the game when Woolley made a fantastic save acrobatically tipping over the bar Cooper’s vicious effort from just inside the area.
Alex Britton replaced King as Rovers went looking for that elusive goal and they went close twice in as many minutes with Kane Lee’s goal bound shot being deflected for a corner and Nathan Banton’s well struck free kick being pushed away by Woolley. A corner from Lansdowne was narrowly headed over the bar by Harrison Solomon.
Rovers were denied another chance of reducing the deficit in the 93rd minute when they should have been awarded a penalty, but after consulting with his assistant the referee placed the ball as close to the edge on the outside of the area as possible when it was clearly inside. The home players and supporters were furious as they saw the offence clearly.
The game was wrapped up in the seventh minute of added on time when a calamitous short clearance from Turner landed at the feet of substitute Benni Wilson, who not believing his luck and with no defenders near him, took a few strides forwards before blasting the ball past Turner giving the scoreline a very flattering look for the visitors.
