ROVERS 2-3 WOODFORD TOWN: ROVERS OUT OF LEAGUE CUP

[/b]Great Wakering Rovers hopes of a run in the league challenge cup were dashed with the rovers being beaten by Woodford Town Tuesday evening.

Rovers made a number of changes Tuesday night to give a few players time to rest up before their all important FA Vase quarter final on Saturday.

The game got off to the worst possible start for rovers after three minutes, when a defensive error led to Woodford Town’s Christov pounced on a stray pass and rounded past Blockley before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Woodford Town almost doubled their lead after ten minutes. A great one-two in the midfield found their attacker on the edge of the box who struck a superb curling effort which was met by a great finger tip save by rovers keeper Dan Blockley.

There was nothing much to report from either side until ten minutes before the break, rovers got back into the game seven minutes before the break.

James Blanchfield received the ball on the left hand side of the pitch who crossed the ball on the edge of the area where Beau MacDonald won a header, controlling the ball down superbly before lashing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net, which was helped along via a deflection.

The soon fired the rovers back into the game, and just before halftime, rovers were ahead.

Beau MacDonald received a great through ball on the left hand side and passed the ball across the ground into the area, and Max Gnandi was on hand to tap in a rebound after Woodford Town failed to clear their lines.

HALFTIME: ROVERS 2-1 WOODFORD TOWN

The second half didn’t go as planned after a comeback from there rovers, Marcus made a few changes to the team to bring energy to the side thirty minutes from time by bringing Stone and Imbert-Thomas into the fray.

On 70 minutes, Woodford had a good chance of getting back into the game when the ball was crossed into the box which was met by a fierce effort on goal but straight into the safe hands of Blockley. However, Woodford eventually drew level.

Two minutes later, it was deja vu. Woodford picked up the ball in midfield, brought the ball to the edge on the goal and crossed the ball to substitute Protic who was there on hand, burying the ball into the bottom right.

Rovers had a great chance a few minutes later when a great one-two between the midfield was played into the Woodford box and Jack Stone set up Max Gnandi who seemed destined to slot the ball home saw his shot pulled wide.

This moment proved costly as Woodford’s Protic scored himself a brace and Woodford’s third three minutes from time. The goal was very to the one rovers conceded against Tilbury. Woodford won a free kick in midfield, which was crossed to the right hand side of the area and a Woodford player managed to win the header across the face of goal which was slotted home.

Rovers tried their best to find the equaliser with numerous attempts of feeding the ball into the box but the stubborn defence was too much to break down in the dying minutes.

The defeat means we’re out of the Essex Senior Challenge cup but the Rovers will now turn their attention to their all important FA Vase quarter final match when Falmouth Town visit Burroughs Park on Saturday.