Category: First team

The Hills are alive with the sound of popping corks as Rovers turned on the fizz to produce a sparkling display of possession, passing and goal scoring. To give birthday boy Simon Hill a game to remember.

The veteran defender enjoyed another comfortable afternoon on the Silver Street turf. With what was a master class in defending, showing all the imperious skills of a man who for the last 20 years has played football at the top of his game.

Rovers started well and introduced the home fans to new signing Kevin Hill who was helping us out for the day. He slotted into left back and took the ‘granddaddy’ title off name sake Simon for the day.

Rovers’ wing wizard Luke Alden opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a trademark dazzling run; turning defenders inside out before unleashing a thunderbolt they flew through the keeper to give Rovers a deserved lead. For the rest of the half Rovers huffed and puffed a bit in front of goal with chances going a begging.

Winterborne were not just about defending. Their main threat came from the set piece and piled on the pressure with a number of corners and the odd free kick. But Simon Hill, Kevin Hill, James Clampin and Jake Wannell all kept the Reds away from the goal leaving keeper Paul Gibbins as virtual spectator.

Into the second half and Rovers first corner saw Kevin Hill rise highest at the far post to head home. The home fans were in raptures to be told that Hilly had scored. Simon’s mum and sister were in shock with what would have been a great birthday present only to be deflated that it was the other Hill that had scored.

A minute later Craig Veal far out on the right saw the keeper off his line, hit one from 35 yards and watched the ball nestle into the net. 3 nil Rovers and they were flying. Either brave goal keeping or last ditch defending kept the Rovers front line at bay. Veal got his second after good work from Alden and Western.

Dean Stamp was brought on with 10 minutes to go and he set up the third for Veal with a delightful chip over the keeper that seemed destined for the back of the net only for the inform striker to nip and make sure.

But the afternoon belonged to the birthday boy and the back line who slugged it out in the first half and who helped control the game in the second. Another Rolls Royce performance and another clean sheet.

35 years ago today: Notts Forest win the league and Liverpool the European Cup, Fleetwood Mac with Rumours were top of the album charts and Space Invaders were the FIFA14/GTA 5 of that year.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©. S Hill, Clampin, K Hill; Steele, Rogers, Hopkinson, Alden; Western, Veal. Subs: Jee for Clampin 46, Wadham for Alden 75, Stamp for Western 80

Rovers were good value for their win banishing the cup blues with a controlled performance against Street.

Paul Gibbins made two smart stops to keep the score level as Streeet started with a flourish. Once Rovers had weathered the storm our midfield controlled the game. Rogers and Hopkinson pulling the strings, Steele bombing up and down the flanks belying his years. Alden a constant threat on the left. Hill at the back was back to his majestic best with another assured perfomance.

Wannell scored Rovers first with a cool placed finsihed after Alden has beaten two players his cross  was flicked on to the on rushing Wannell for him to give Rovers the lead. Street were then reduced to 10 men after a two footed tackle was deemed reckless.

Into the second half and Rovers played some lovely one touch football. Veal, Western all tested the keeper,. But it was another Alden run that set up Veal to smash home.

Futher chances went a begging but Rovers ran out comfortable winners.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell(c), Clampin, Hill, Jee; Steele, Hopkinson, Rogers, Alden; Western, Veal; Subs Raybould for Jee 87 Wadham not used

Having conceded plenty in the last three games Rovers stopped the rot with a silky, sexy performance against lowly Hengrove. Lessons were learnt from last Saturday when you have side on the hock don’t let them off it.

Rovers started as a team on a mission Grove’s goalkeeper was in for a busy afternoon and made the first of a dozen saves during the game as early as the 5^th minute. In the 15^th minute he could not stop David Steele volley from the edge of the area to give Rovers a deserved lead. In the 24^th minute Grove were reduced to 10 men when their striker was given his marching orders for kicking out at Jake Wannell. Wannell was booked for showing intent when refusing to make a meal of the incident – bizarre. Rovers turned the screw when Craig Veal doubled our lead after good work from Luke Alden. Simon Hill was unlucky to get his first of the season when he goal bound header was cleared off the line with the keeper well beaten. Dan Western smashed a shot against the post as Rovers pushed forward. But in the 40^th minute Alden danced around three defenders then the keeper to slot home. As time ran out in the half Veal got his second with a smart finish. Into the second half and could Rovers keep this up? At times Rovers resorted to long balls but Grove’s keeper seemed to match everything thrown at him. Western shot hit a post and he put one narrowly wide. At last the efforts were rewarded with veal completing his hat trick as he stroked the ball past the keeper. In the 90^th minute Western let fly from 30 yards and the ball flew home straight and true. This result recorded Rovers biggest win of the season.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©, Hill, Clampin, Jee; Wadham, Steele, Hopkinson, Alden; Western, Veal. Subs: Raybold for Wadham 58, Rogers for Veal 89

Rovers entertained Slimbridge for the first time in a league match. For 45 minutes Rovers put the Hallen ghost to bed only for the old footballing cliché of being a game of two halves returned.

Simon Hill came back from suspension, Russell Jee started at left back and David Steele moved into midfield. For an hour Rovers purred with a silky performance of pace, panache, power and precision.

Rovers turned the screw with some flowing wing play, midfield balls hit their willing runners such a contrast to Wednesday night. But it was a well worked free kick one that has been practised in training that allowed Dan Western to let fly a thunderbolt to give Rovers the lead in the 25^th minute.

But as so often this season we seem to switch off after taking the lead but for a brave save at the Swans striker’s feet by Paul Gibbins kept Rovers ahead. Five minutes later the Swans left back danced past everyone and his shot shaved the post.  But for that 6 minute spell it was all Rovers Western got his second from the edge of the area and all seemed well at half time.

Into the second half and somehow Craig Veal and David Steele between them missed a good chance after a Luke Alden run. Another Alden cross evaded everyone. But as Rovers missed their chance to kill the game off Swans got one back with a 30 yard volley into the top corner. The game now became quite frantic with a spate of bookings. But Swans restored parity with the left back given too much time and space and although his shot was saved by Gibbins he pounced onto the rebound to bundle the ball home.

Rovers stung into action had two great chances to win it a Jee cross found Veal but his effort was clawed away at the keepers near post. As the minutes ticked away another Jee cross found Western but his lob fell invitingly into the Swans keepers arms.

Rovers: Gibbins; Wannell ©, Hill, Clampin, Jee: Wadham, Rogers, Steele, Alden; Western, Veal; Subs Hopkinson for Veal (80) Baily not used