Rovers 0
Bedford 2
THE Rovers side of recent weeks could not be further removed from the one that produced a shock 4-0 win at Bedford on the opening day of the season.
But it beggars belief how the Greens didn't conjure up a similar scoreline in Saturday's return fixture.
For the second time in a week a severe crisis of confidence in front of goal has cost them dearly.
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While they at least managed to find the net in last Tuesday's 2-1 derby defeat at Halesowen, they squandered enough chances to have built up a considerable cushion by the break.
Instead they were punished in rather unfortunate circumstances.
Unfortunately it was familiar scenario on Saturday.
Goal drought in mind, lively on-loan Redditch United forward Damien Markman was thrust straight into the action, becoming the seventh striker Rod Brown has turned to this season.
And although his electric pace handed Rovers an immediate and much required new lease of life, he was unable to provide the missing ingredient.
Markman and strike partner Jermaine Clarke failed to take the best of the many first half chances mustered by the Greens.
Clarke found the ball tangled in his feet on receiving Dave Bridgwater's through ball, and calamitously dragged wide, while Markman's 16th minute effort best signified Rovers' dwindling confidence in front of goal.
He accelerated beyond the Bedford defensive line to collect Bridgwater's inch-perfect lobbed pass.
But with seemingly all the time in the world, he froze with a certain inevitability, and scuffed his shot across goal.
Perhaps even more inevitable was the sucker punch that followed three minutes later.
Hesitance between Gary Knight and Carl Heeley resulted in a free kick being awarded to the visitors on the edge of Rovers' box.
Jonathon Woolf stepped up and powered a drive past the wall into the bottom corner with minimal fuss, beyond poorly positioned goalkeeper Stuart Brock.
Clarke and Bridgwater both had chances for an equaliser, before Rovers' second-half shutdown set in for the third match in succession.
Having huffed and puffed for 45 minutes they seemed to have burned themselves out and were left with little creativity or determination to chase the game.
A seventh game without a win was confirmed 10 minutes from time when Woolf broke from midfield and slotted through to Andrew Phillips, who was left with a simple finish past Brock.
And so the men in green and white departed to a chorus of boos from their supporters.
It could have been so much better, however, were it not for lack of instinct and composure in front of goal.
That is the difference between the Rovers that have taken to the field in the last seven games and the uber-confident side that knocked the stuffing out of Bedford in just 22 first half minutes on August 18.
It has been evident since the season's outset that Brown has had question marks over his strike force.
Nathan Lamey was the most notable casualty from the squad, while Keith Russell and Scott Rickards both arrived and departed without meriting a consistent run of games.
But Brown must bank on his current crop to start burying their chances.
If they don't it could be a long, hard winter at the Victoria Ground.
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