Northern Premier League Midlands
Elderstubs, Browns Road, Daventry
Saturday, 19th November 2022, 2.00pm
Frustrating
It was a frustrating afternoon for both players and travelling supporters as Rovers squandered at least a share of the points with some slack defending allowing the home side to take all three points.
Rovers dominated large parts of the first half and should have ended the half with the lead however, it was not to be.
The visitors were still without the heart of their defence with Alby Lansdowne and Alex Morris side-lined along with wing man Kieron Berry also on the injured list.
Rovers’ manager Carl Abbott brought in three new faces goalkeeper Leon Philips, Chris Camwell and Lewis Belgrave. Philips and Camwell were handed their debuts with Belgrave on the bench.
Town took an early lead when Rovers lost the ball and a swift attack ended with the ball being put through the static Rovers backline to Jack Bowen who made no mistake beating the exposed Philips.
Six minutes later Rovers were level when Mason Frizelle managed to put the ball in the net through a crowd of players in the box after a corner.
Town hit back and it needed a good save from Philips to deny the home side from retaking the lead just ten minutes later.
On 21 minutes Rovers were awarded a free kick on the right and has the ball was put into the area debutant Camwell hit a superb volley which, the home keeper got a hand to, couldn’t keep the ball out. Much to the players and travelling supporters dismay the upraised flag of the assistant referee dashed the hopes of the visitors taking the lead and Camwell his debut goal although the decision was very marginal to say the least!
Minutes later, Kane Lee had his first chance of the game. Keeping his back to a defender, he finally turned his man and seeing the home keeper, Lewis Patching, off his line tried an audacious lob from outside the area but the ball flew just over the bar.
Once again Rovers got caught out at the back, this time down the right flank. The impressive George Ball made a good run ending with a low cross which cut out the keeper and defence leaving Bowen to simply side foot into the net at the far post.
Lee must have crossed over several black cats’ paths as once more he was denied a goal this time by the uprights. He’d made a good run down the left before firing a low shot across the keeper only see the ball hit the base of the far post, rolling along the goal line before hitting the base of the near post and into Patching’s hands.
Abbott made two changes at the break bringing on Bekir Halil for Ellis Evans and Belgrave for Jordi Gough.
Rovers were putting Daventry under a lot of pressure forcing several corners with one resulting in James Sruce putting a header into the arms of patching.
Just after the hour mark Rovers made their final change with Danny Munday replacing Camwell and the Moat favourite was soon involved when his scuffed shot found Lee over on the left but after taking a couple of strides toward goal his low shot was blocked at the near post by the keeper.
The home side made three changes, but Rovers were still asking all the questions pushing Daventry back and with just five minutes remaining they were level, and it was that man Munday who managed it converting a ball from the left.
Lee was again unlucky making a great run down the right but saw his shot denied once more by the post.
With Rovers pressing so hard they were caught again on 90 minutes. A run down the right was again allowed to be crossed low into the box and substitute Alvin Magagada slid the ball home.
Munday had one more attempt, but his flicked header went straight at the keeper and although there was plenty of time added on due to some blatant time wasting causing the keeper to receive a yellow card for his trouble, time ran out and Rovers finished empty handed.
