Depleted Rovers have no Corse for complaint! (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Depleted Rovers have no Corse for complaint!

Staunton & Corse 3,

Bourton Rovers 2

THE handicap of having more than half a team absent proved an insurmountable hurdle as Rovers slipped to only their third league defeat of the season.

The second half had barely started by the time the home side had rattled up a three-goal lead before Bourton rallied through Gary Joynes and Mark Larner.

The hosts, in their first season in the Northern Senior League, started the day in the bottom half of division two and, although they were far from the most impressive opposition Rovers have faced, they did present problems, particularly down the left where full back Tim Hudson endured a torrid afternoon.

Shorn of the entire first choice back four, veteran Tony Spedding was forced to select himself in a sweeper role alongside senior debutant.

Unmarked striker

It wasn't to be a happy introduction for manager Spedding whose error after ten minutes led to Staunton's first goal. From the mix-up the ball broke to the left and a whipped cross was headed in by an unmarked striker.

On a sticky pitch that made it difficult for defenders to turn quickly, Rovers always threatened with the pace of front runners Mark Payne and Larner, and it was the latter who could have pulled the scores level.

Played clear he danced around the goalkeeper but failed to put enough purchase on the ball and a recovering defender was able to race back to clear.

Matthew Winter, playing in a more withdrawn role to accommodate the changes, was then inches away from connecting with David D'avanzo's flashing corner.

Staunton doubled their lead on the half-hour when Herbert came for a corner but failed to get enough distance on his punch and the clearance was hooked back into the goal.

Kevin McPhilimey limped off just before the interval and the game looked all over minutes into the second half when Staunton scored an excellent third from a free-kick.

However, the hosts then proceeded to make life difficult for themselves by making two defensive lapses.

The first let in Winter and, although the keeper made an outstanding save to deflect his effort on to the crossbar, substitute Joynes was on hand to force in the rebound.

Minutes later it was 3-2 when again the centre-half made a hash of a simple clearance and Larner showed good awareness to sidefoot in a lobbed effort from the edge of the penalty area.

Winter could have brought the scores level when he beat the goalkeeper but was driven wide and failed to get enough power as he tried to direct the ball towards an empty net and a defender once again rushed back to clear.

With 15 minutes remaining, Rovers should have got something out of the game but, with the pitch sapping the legs and creativity at a premium, they rarely looked like grabbing an equaliser.

In fact it was the home side who went closest to extending their lead, when first Winter and then Habbitts were called upon to make timely challenges.

Bourton will be looking to bounce back from this setback when they face Stroud visitors Kingswood on Saturday.

Rovers Res 4, Siddington 0

BOURTON turned in one of their finest performances of the season as they kept up their challenge for runner-ups spot in Cheltenham League Division Three.

Two goals by midfield playmaker Paul Close and one apiece from Paul Herbert and Sandile Dwangala, the latter's a 35-yard strike, kept up their recent run of good form.