News

Rovers were agonisingly close to securing their second consecutive win since parting company with James Jepson, whose disastrous tenure culminated in the club suffering eight straight defeats and left the club languishing in the leagues relegation places.

Following a 3-2 victory at Newark and Sherwood, the interim caretaker management team led by Gary Norton came within seconds of causing a major upset before second-placed Bourne Town scored a scrambled 97th-minute equaliser last Saturday.

Norton will be hoping his side's recent improvement in form continues this weekend against a Skegness Town side who will be wanting the three points on offer for themselves.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's game, Norton said: "Whilst Bourne's last-gasp equaliser was a bitter pill to swallow, especially after taking the lead late on, a draw was perhaps a fair result overall, and we certainly would have taken that before kick-off.

"However, rather than dwell on that, I want the lads to use that late disappointment and channel it into the energy needed for another good performance on Saturday, which will be essential if we're to get the win we desperately need."

He added: "As an interim management group, we couldn't have asked for a better response from the lads since taking over the group. The effort and attitude over the last two away games has been at the right level, and the players will no doubt have gained some much needed confidence from both their performances and the positive results.

"If they show the same attributes at the Moat Ground on Saturday, we'll certainly give ourselves a chance. Our last home match against Harrowby was without doubt our worst for a long time, so we hope our long-suffering supporters return in numbers, buoyed by our last two away results. We need our supporters more than ever in these last few games, particularly our two remaining home matches - tomorrow against Skegness and our final home game in a fortnight against Eastwood Town."

In team news, Rovers will be without forward Sam Lockley, who scored on his debut at Newark and Sherwood but was forced off in the second half after turning his ankle. A scan this week has ruled him out for the remaining games, adding to the club's injury woes this season. Winger Jude Ayetene, who came on as a substitute last week and won an 87th-minute penalty, is also absent due to personal reasons. On the positive side, Kane Lee returns to the squad for the first time in several months following recent training sessions, while Jacob Sturgess is also back after missing last weekend due to unexpected work commitments. Jack Andrews is also nearing fitness after missing the last couple of games with a quad injury but won’t be risked this weekend with the remaining games in mind.