United Counties Premier League North
The Vertigo Stadium, Skegness
Saturday, 26th October 2024, 3.00pm
Depleted Rovers Beaten On The Road
This game should have seen both teams sharing the points as there was nothing to choose between them, but a mistake and a freak goal separated the two.
Rovers were down to the bare bones missing seven squad members and to make matters worse they had two more serious injuries during the game. On the bench were just three substitutes all young players from the youth team with one making his debut.
They say when you are struggling in the league the luck is going against you and it certainly is for Rovers at the moment. Yes, you can make your own luck but if you’ve followed Rovers home and away you will have to admit that we’ve had some bad luck, but surely it will turn, well I hope so and soon.
After fifteen minutes of fairly even football the first clear chance came when Rio Molyneaux forced visiting keeper Louie Turner into a good save tipping a stinging dipping shot over the bar. On 26 minutes Rovers were behind as a result of what appeared to be some misunderstanding. Jamie Sleigh over on the left made a pass back towards his own goal. Whether he thought his defender was behind him and would clear the ball or that the keeper was coming out to help clear what was a nothing ball but neither happened and the ball rolled into undefended space and Molyneaux fastened onto the loose ball, strode forward before hitting a low shot past Turner. A minute later the same player tried again but this time Turner made a good save.
Rovers began to have their moments with Alex Britton making a good run down the right and sending over a cross which Fin Barker headed narrowly wide. Following a corner, Ryan King fired wide of the mark.
On 35 minutes the first of Rovers’ substitutions was made. Will Robinson was running down the left to make sure the ball was going out but was unfortunately tripped by a Skegness player, nothing vindictive, but enough to cause the defender to suffer a hamstring injury which looked quite serious. Robinson was replaced by a young defender Phil Kowolski.
Two minutes later Skegness received their first yellow card as George Hobbins fouled Barker who had been the subject of some close attention and some “industrial” treatment which continued for the rest of the game.
At the start of the second half Kane Lee was replaced by another young player Ethan Goodfellow. Lee too had been the subject of some poor tackles and finally succumbed to his latest one towards the end of the first half.
Another yellow for the home side as a result of yet more poor tackles on Barker as he caused problems for the home side. Skegness made two changes with Marshall Young and Billy Bradley replacing Charlie Ward and Kyle Radford.
Rovers went close on 70 minutes with Goodfellow hitting a goal bound shot but it was deflected and home keeper Caleb Pipes- Goulebra catching the rebound before any Rovers player could capitalise.
Skegness doubled their lead on 75 minutes, and it was an absolute freak. Louis Anthony hit a powerful attempted clearance from the edge of Rovers’ area and the ball hit Max Baker who barely knew anything about it as the ball rocketed past the helpless Turner and into the net.
On 81 minutes Rovers made their final change giving young player Stevie Savage, who is having a fantastic season for the youth team, his debut replacing the struggling King.
In the dying minutes Skegness had the luxury of bringing on three more substitute to see the game out.
