Northern Premier League Midlands
Hayden Road Sports Ground, Rushden
Saturday, 6th January 2024, 3.00pm
Rovers Win As Rushden See Red
This was always going to be a tough encounter for both sides desperate for three points to try and lever themselves away from the dreaded drop zone and it was Rovers who came claimed them. It was Rovers first double of the season after beating their hosts late in August 2-0.
Rovers’ manager Marc Strzyzewski freshened his side up bringing in three loan players. In came Mansfield Town keeper Louie Turner, young players Cameron Gilbert and Charlie Knowles from Burton Albion and a new striker Tolani Omotola.
On a challenging surface it was the home side that started the quickest, but it was Rovers who scored first. After just 7 minutes a cross from the left took the slightest of deflections off a defender and fell to John King who made no mistake blasting the ball home for his first goal for the club.
Rushden went close to levelling on 21 minutes when a bot of a scramble led to the ball being saved by Turner on the line. Just after the half hour the home side went even close to breaching Rovers defence, but a shot cannoned off the far post from a cross from the left. Again, Rushden threatened this time with Cairo Taylor flashing a shot across the goalmouth.
More pressure, leading up to half time, from Rushden led to Gilbert having to clear an effort off the line. Despite the home side having more of the ball in the first half a combination of poor finishing and resolute defending meant Rovers had the narrowest of leads at the break
The second half began similarly to the first, but they were finding it hard to find any real attempts on Rovers’ goal. Several changes were made during the next few minutes with Rushden replacing Taylor and O’Neill with Pharell Anderson and Ethan Thompson respectively.
On 68 minutes Rovers doubled their advantage. A good move ended with King scoring his and Rovers’ second goal of the game.
With 16 minutes remaining Rovers made their first two changes replacing Dylan Hunniford and Kieran O’Connell with Martin Smyth and Charlie Knowles for his debut and the final change for the home side John Dean replacing Ngwa.
Smyth curled a free kick into the home keeper Ben Heath who had to make two attempts to gather the ball.
The final change for Rovers came on 85 minutes when Omotola was handed his debut replacing Jamie Sleigh and it wasn’t long afterwards that Rushden were reduced to ten men when Jacob Scott, who had been shown a yellow card earlier, fouled Smyth and received his second caution. The resultant free kick from Smyth went straight into the arms of Heath.
Jack Tyson went close to extending Rovers’ lead but put his shot just wide of the far post. With time almost up, Rushden’s afternoon went from bad to worse as they conceded another goal and were reduced to nine men in the final minutes of the game. Firstly, Jarvis Wilson, booked in the first half, made a poor tackle on the left producing a free kick and for himself a second booking resulting in a red card from referee James Cliff.
From the resultant free kick, taken by Smyth, Jack Tyson was waiting at the far post to duly power home his header ensuring a precious three points and a happy long journey home for the travelling Rovers fans.
