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Rovers left to pay penalty
WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN: Evesham goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan comfortably takes a cross to break up another fruitless Rovers attack, while Jamie Petty challenges for a header inside the home side's half as Rovers try to find a way back.
WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN: Evesham goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan comfortably takes a cross to break up another fruitless Rovers attack, while Jamie Petty challenges for a header inside the home side's half as Rovers try to find a way back.

LAST week Scott Rickards' dismissal for dissent, this week a misjudged tackle from Guy Sanders to hand Evesham a match winning penalty.

Good fortune just isn't falling the way of Rovers' new boys at the moment.

Sanders became the second Greens player to produce a debut faux pas in as many weeks, upending James Knott inside the box after just 11 minutes to hand this season's FA Cup success story a shot at an FA Trophy first qualifying round upset, before being guilty of a glaring miss two minutes from time, heading over Kevin Banner's corner.

And Mark Owen's penalty - the third Rovers have conceded in two games - was enough for a United side who were happy to sit back and play on the break after being gifted the early lead.

To Rovers' credit they came to life after a poor first 20 minutes, and probably deserved at least a draw.

But in the early stages their Swindon Supermarine hangover looked to have stayed with them, with their inability to retain possession or produce a killer ball to unleash their attacking firepower.

Owen gave Evesham the lead, gliding his penalty into Karl Lewis' bottom left hand corner, and a one goal advantage was always going to give the hosts license to make things awkward for Rovers.

Things weren't getting any better for Rickards either who, in his second start, squandered a series of chances to force a draw for his side.

The first came when he was released by Gary Hay, shrugging off the last Evesham defender but took too long over his shot and goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan was out quickly to narrow the angle and force a corner.

Later he was fed by Jamie Petty who rode two tackles and wriggled into the box, but Rickards could only blast at the feet of Vaughan.

But despite the striker's evident lack of confidence in front of goal, he went some way to atoning for his debut red card.

As Rovers slowly began to take control in midfield, with this season's shining light Sam Alsop sparkling again with flashes of skill and intelligent build up play, Rickards and strike partner Hay both saw plenty of ball and began to stretch Evesham.

Hay came closest for Rovers, with Rickards dropping into his own half to gather the ball and releasing his strike partner on the left.

Hay cut back onto his right foot and feigned a pass to Banner on the edge of the area, before shooting with his instep but the shot was beaten away by Vaughan.

However, there was something strangely unorthodox about Rovers' push for an equaliser with Rod Brown withdrawing Alsop eight minutes from time to the bewilderment of the Rovers fans, and replacing him with centre back Lucan Spittle.

Spittle took his place among the front line with Rickards and fellow substitute Nathan Lamey, but attempts to use him as a target to feed off were all to easy for the Evesham rearguard to comprehend.

That alone encapsulated Rovers' second half performance - comfortable in possession but lacking in end product.

They are capable of playing some excellent football, but they must find their creative best very quickly if they want to consider themselves play-off challengers come the end of the season.

EVESHAM: Vaughan, Watson, Hodnett, Hands, Luckett (Lennon, 65 mins), Lutz, Fitter, Warner (Scheppel, 45 mins), Owen (Wood, 90 mins), Knott, Hayden. Unused subs: Sheehan, Davis.

ROVERS: Lewis 6, Cotterill 5, Petty 6, Heeley 7, Sanders 5, Bridgwater 5, Lloyd 7 (Walters 5, 73 mins), ALSOP 8 (Spittle 5, 82 mins), Hay 6 (Lamey 5, 67 mins), Rickards 7, Banner 5. Unused subs: Taylor, Snape.

Referee: Mr D.Gratton (Pendeford). Attendance: 214.

9:08am Wednesday 24th October 2007

   

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