U's Just Too Strong for Battling Rovers!

Tuesday 29th October saw the much anticipated clash with League 1 Colchester United in the Essex Senior Cup. A bumper crowd of over 200 watched this tie with the visitors bringing a squad with a mixture of youth and experience. With several of the visitors having quite a bit of first team experience it was always going to be a tough test for the ESL League leaders and ultimately the class showed through in the end.
Dan Trenkel made several changes to the starting line up giving starts to Carl Read, Sammy Knott, and a first outing for a while for Gary Paterson after his groin injury. Max Kent, Ash Hawkins, Trenkel himself and the in form Billy Radley were all on the bench and regular centre back Stuart Hepburn was not in the squad.
The opening twenty minutes saw the visitors into their stride very quickly moving the ball around all over the park with a good mixture of short passes and long cross field balls rarely not finding their intended targets however Rovers stood firm with Carl Read clearing a Ladapo attempt and another shot that did find its way through on 20 minutes was saved well by Dale Brightly.
Rovers did have a good spell and were having a little success down the left with the impressive Jay Smith seemingly at the heart of the moves.
However it did seem it was only a matter of time before the visitors would score and that goal did come on 32 minutes with Tosin Olufemi finishing smartly from a good break starting in their own half.
Unfortunately it didnt take long for the visitors to double their lead and on 37 minutes with Macauley Bonne capitalising on a James Pugsley mistake to shoot beyond Brightly for a 2-0 lead.
And thats how the half ended with the League 1 side in total control.

Rovers made a change at half time with Billy Radley coming on for Dave Collins.
The visitors carried on where they left off Bonne going close to making in 3.
At the other end Billy Radley went close scooping the ball just over after one of his trademark bustling runs.
Rovers then bought on Dan Hall for Jay Smith who had a terrific game.
Colchester created a whole host of chances and had they had their shooting boots on couldve scored 3 or 4 during a 25 minute spell.
The visitors put the game beyond doubt on 75 minutes with Freddie Lapado putting the ball in from close range after a good passing move opened up the defence leaving Brightly with no chance.
Rovers made another change with Dan Trenkel coming on for Gary Paterson.
Rovers were still giving it a go with Joe Skeels and Sammy Knott both denied by Colchester keeper Mark Cousins who himself has over 165 first team appearances to his name.
The visitors put the icing on the cake on 87 minutes with a superb breakaway goal having cleared a Rovers attack. They burst forward with real pace and opened up Rovers with a great run and cross by Connor Hubble was met by the head of Macauley Bonne to make it 4-0 to Colchester.
Rovers ended the game on a high with a succession of corners with Nick Skelton going closest with his header going over after which referee Hopkins blew the final whistle and its the League 1 side who progress into the next round.
Rovers wouldve learned a lot from this game which will stand them in good stead as they return to ESL action on Saturday 2nd November against Eton Manor at Burroughs Park.
Good luck to Colchester in the next round and a big thank you to all those fans who visited us who helped 'swell the coffers' and we hope to see you all down here again soon.

Rovers- Brightly, Pugsley, Read, Collins (Radley), Sparrow (C), Skelton, Skeels, Smith (Hall), Paterson (Trenkel), Knott, Baldwin.

Subs not Used- Kent, Hawkins.

Rovers Man of the Match- Jay Smith.