News

Despite losing their first match under the interim management team led by Gary Norton yesterday against title contenders Eastwood CFC, results elsewhere yesterday worked in Rovers' favour. Kimberley Miners Welfares 1-0 defeat, ironically to Ashby, and Sleaford Towns 0-0 draw at Newark and Sherwood mean Rovers control their own destiny.

A win at the NFU Sports Ground in Monday's game would guarantee Rovers' safety, but anything less would leave them sweating on results elsewhere, with Sleaford hosting Boston Town, who have already secured fourth place and a playoff spot, while Kimberley MW travel to face 11th-placed Hucknall Town. Rovers currently sit ahead of Sleaford thanks to a significantly better goal difference, with both clubs two points clear of Kimberley Miners Welfare, who occupy the final relegation spot.

Interim boss Norton welcomes back two players who missed Saturday's 3-2 defeat at home to Eastwood. Impressive teenage defender Phil Kowalski and winger Jack Thatcher are both back available having missed Saturday’s game for personal reasons. Despite requiring several stitches in a head wound, Saturday's man of the match Jenson Cooper, scorer of both Rovers goals, should be available. Norton hopes the rest of the squad will be fit despite the quick turnaround between Saturday and Monday's matches.

Commenting on the upcoming match, Norton said: "Everything we have been working on these last few weeks comes down to this last game. The lads were pretty much down and out having suffered eight defeats on the trot but have given everything asked of them over the last five games since we took over. They've scrapped hard to get the results and points needed to give themselves a chance to get out of the huge hole we found ourselves in."

He added: "It certainly won't be a game Ashby will be taking lightly, as we saw on Saturday when they did us a huge favour by beating Kimberley Miners Welfare. That result, away from home against a resurgent Kimberley, demonstrates clearly that Ashby are in no way thinking about their summer holidays just yet. I'm sure they will be looking to put one over on us to try and send down a local rival, so we will have to be at our very best to get the result we need."

Rovers supporters will be out in force for the short trip down the A511, and Norton is expecting them to play a huge part in getting his team over the line. He said: "We had a brilliant turnout at the Moat on Saturday (510) and the atmosphere was amazing, especially near the end when we were pushing hard for the equaliser. I was gutted we couldn't get the point we felt we deserved for our supporters but hope that as many of them as possible make the trip to give us one last boost on Monday."

He added: "Despite three terrible seasons on the bounce, our supporters have been absolutely unbelievable throughout and continued to back us in numbers. If we can get the result, we desperately need at Ashby and avoid relegation, we will be doing all we can to give them better moving forward. On the flip side, if the worst happens and we go down, that will still be the primary focus - although it would be a devastating blow for the whole club to have to get over."