Monday, December 15, 2003

TWO goals in as many minutes just before the break last Monday put Rovers in command and on course for a third round trip to Tiverton Town next week.

Cinderford, to their credit, put up a spirited resistance but often looked the team they are - the Western Division's bottom club.

In truth Rovers should have won by a much bigger margin and were guilty of frittering away numerous chances which could and should have have easily doubled their margin of victory.

The speed and skills of Marcus Jackson and Mark Atkinson was always a constant torment to the home defence. In turn they received excellent support and service from the industrious Mark Allen, who was ably assisted in midfield by Mark Benbow.

They virtually ran the show and Cinderford had no answer to their vision.

Meanwhile the ever dependable Steve Pope marshalled the ranks at the rear as well as ever to limit the Forest of Dean side to only an occasional glimpse at Ian Gandy's goal.

Their only blemish was to lose concentration within a minute of Atkinson adding the third in the 55th minute to those earlier strikes of Jackson and Chris Dawson.

The Rovers defence ball-watched from Hammond's free-kick on the left and allowed the unmarked Kear a simple tap-in from inside the six yard box.

Normal service was quickly resumed after a few well chosen words from manager George Rooney had boomed from the touchline and Rovers were never in any danger after that.

Their only other concern on the night was an early ankle injury which forced off defender Ryan Mahon after only eight minutes.

ROVERS

Gandy 6, Benton 6, Hillman 6, Pope 7, Mahon (sub Dawson 8 mins 5), Beckett 6, Jackson 7, Benbow 6, Tomkins 7, ALLEN 8*, Atkinson 7. Subs not used: Wyatt, Banner, Sutton.