Rovers Vase Triumph Courtesy of Goalscoring Centre Backs!

Autumn well and truly arrived at Burroughs Park as did our first tie in this seasons FA Vase with Ipswich Wanderers making the journey down the A12.
Player Boss Dan Trenkel has made no secret that Rovers will be taking this competition very seriously as they look to put a good run together and with the results we have put together recently whats to say we cant?
Its a dream for players and fans together to see their side march out at Wembley and this competition gives the teams at our level a realistic chance of doing just that.
The game started and Rovers imediately attacked and on two minutes Rovers won three corners in a row one of which saw a Jay Smith effort deflected onto the post.The third corner then saw Ash Hawkins put his effort over for a goal kick.
Billy Radley had a header on four minutes straight at keeper Kevin Bugg however Lewis Sparrow proved deadlier with his head on seven minutes, after a Jay Smith header was tipped round the post by Bugg for a corner, a perfectly delivered Dave Collins corner found Spazza charging in to nod home and make it 1-0 to Rovers.
Rovers were dominant and playing some good passing football and Stuart Hepburn went close on eight minutes when his header was saved by Bugg.
On thirteen minutes Rovers doubled their advantage after Wanderers gave away a silly free kick 25 yards out. Dave Collins whipped the free kick in for Nick Skelton to power in a header from close range to make it 2-0 Rovers.
Skelts was involved again on fifteen minutes this time at the other end when his error gave the ball away dangerously and quick thinking by Craig Jennings saw Dale Brightly off his line only to see his effort,fortunately for Rovers,hit the bar and bounce to safety.
Wanderers then started to get to grips with the game and began giving it a go with some nice passages of play with their best chance falling to Remi Garrett who found himself one on one with Brightly after a nice interchange of passes only to put his effort into the side netting. He should have scored.
Rovers were a little rattled as the away team continued to press and Billy Radley found himself in the book for diving in. Ipswich's resulting free kick went out for a corner which also came to nothing as the referee blew for a foul on Brightly.
On thirty eight minutes Rovers potentially put the game to rest after Max Kents superb delivery and Billy Radleys shot was deflected wide. Dave Collins had two attempts from the resulting corners and on the second one found the head of the incoming Stuart Hepburn whose header hit the back of the net to make it 3-0 Rovers and all three goals scored by our centre backs.
Wanderers were given hope on forty two minutes with Stu Hepburn involved again. The defender seemed to get his studs caught in the ground leaving Ipswich forward Craig Jennings a sight of goal. The forward took his chance superbly leaving Dale Brightly no chance to give the visitors a glimmer of hope at 3-1.
As the first half ended it remained 3-1 Rovers.
The second half kicked off with one change for the visitors as Nile Francis came on for Ross Beech.
The first chances of the half came Rovers way with debuatant Sammy Knott putting an effort over on forty seven minutes however a minute later he found the back of the net after a great ball from Aaron Baldwin found him and his quick feet gave him time to slot the ball home to make it 4-1 to Rovers. Knotts goal was much akin to that of Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle thats how good it was and the forward was clearly delighted with the finish. Well done Sammy.
The home side continued to create chances with Nick Skelton going closest on forty nine minutes. Wanderers Ryan Titlow also found himself in the book for a foul on Max Kent.
Rovers made their first changes with James Pugsley coming on for Nick Skelton. The big centre back imediately putting ice on his knee. Not another injury surely? Theyre mounting up now.
The game became a little scrappy form here on in however a moment of determination from Ash Hawkins on sixty three minutes saw him with a great opportunity which he took brilliantly and put this tie to rest to make it 5-1 to Rovers.
Wanderers made another change at this point with Craig Jennings replaced by Gianfranco Mallardo.
The away side then had a good little spell of posession which resulted in Lewis Sparrow giving away a penalty on sixty nine. Dale Brightly was also booked for his protest at the decision. We thought Spazza couldve been off for that however he escaped un punished.Dan Treadray calmly put away the penalty to make it 5-2. Surely too little too late?
The visitors continued to give Rovers some twitchy moments and Stu Hepburn found himself booked for persistent fouling on seventy nine minutes.
Rovers made another change on eighty two minutes with Dave Collins coming off and Dan Hall come on for his first team debut after his promotion from the youth team. Good luck Dan.
The game petered out and the last meaningful efforts fell to Ash Hawkins whose effort was straight at the keeper and Aaron Baldwin who shouldve done better.
With minimal stoppage time referee Simon Finnigan, who had a superb game, blew for full time leaving Rovers running out 5-2 winners and in the hat for the next round.
The next home game is back in the ESL with Greenhouse London visiting on Wednesday 23rd October.

Rovers- Brightly, Sparrow (C), Kent, Collins (Hall), Hepburn, Skelton (Pugsley),Radley,Smith, Knott, Hawkins, Baldwin.
Subs Not Used- Read, Paterson, Ansell.