A Friendly To Learn From?

Rovers had to be on their toes throughout this encounter against a well organised Hadley FC. Playing in windy conditions on a 3G+ pitch, it was a match that manager Dan Trenkel was keen to see his side chalk up their first win of the pre-season.
What the match would also offer is a different approach due to the speed of the pitch and the necessity to control the ball at all times.

Both teams played the short passing game, keeping possession and slowly making headway into each others halves. It was an intriguing yet frustrating game to watch as a supporter, with a few loose balls being played in the final third despite good interchanges to get there in the first place.

Something that Trenkel will also press upon his players is the need to get their shots away when they have the opportunity. On a few occasions in the game there were chances to test the keeper but the decision to pass was taken and the opportunity missed.

However, the opening goal came just before the hour mark, with Eljay Worrell pre-empting and intercepting a pass across the midfield, to drill the ball across the area where new signing Jacob Cleaver was there to probably score his easiest goal of his career.

Shortly after the goal, Ansell made a flurry of changes, which saw 4 players step into the fray and their introduction brought with it some more urgency to the proceedings yet Hadley would continue to play their way and keep good possession. Hadley did look the more likelier to score as the game went on and seemed to be getting more accustomed to the pitch as they game went on.

Sparrow curled a header against the post following a free kick by Ellis Sands, yet Adam Seal was called upon late on in the game to deny a goal from a tight angle.

Will Trenkel be happy with the manner of the result and the way the players adapted? We shall see......