ROVERS LOSE OUT TO PROMOTION CHASING WOODFORD TOWN

Rovers suffered defeat to promotion rivals on Wednesday night after a spirited fight back from ten men Woodford Town.

The first half was a rather dull encounter, with the best chance of the half falling to Woodford Town’s Ernest Okoh just after the fifteen-minute mark. They launched a counter attack thanks to a sixty-yard, pinpoint ball from Alex Bolovan, Okoh raced towards the goal however his half-volley was well saved by Rovers keeper Blockley.

With thirty-two minutes on the clock, Evangelos Empochontsif was shown a second yellow and the Rovers went into the break all square.

HALFTIME: WOODFORD TOWN 0-0 ROVERS

Woodford Town made defensive substitution at halftime to accommodate for the red card, with Kahlil Kirwan-Meade replacing Dimitri Christou at the break and the Rovers made the extra man count within just four minutes of the second half. The ball was played out to Kingdom Dawson who had pushed forward onto the right wing and delivered a good cross to Anthony Martin who headed the Rovers into the lead from close range.

Rather than make the extra man count, Woodford Town showed incredible fight and guile, and mounted a sensational comeback. With sixty-five minutes gone, Kahlil Kirwan-Meade dragged Woodford level by rounding Blockley and tapping the ball into the empty net and just two minutes later, Nathan Sollosi stunned everybody inside Ashton’s as he scored to give Woodford the lead. With just fifteen minutes to go, Woodford then sealed the game for themselves.

At least thirty-yards out from goal after a Woodford player was fouled just outside the box and Alex Bolovan lifted his free kick up and over the wall, and past Blockley in goal for the visitors to make it 3-1 and secure all three points, and a place in the Essex Senior league play-offs for his side.

Rovers did have another chance towards the end of the game when Jack Stone was played through on goal and tried to lob the keeper but his shot went straight at him.

Woodford Town did have one last chance of increasing their lead right at the end when a shot was deflected and seemed to land into the bottom left right corner but Blockley stretched out to tip the ball away.

FULL TIME: WOODFORD TOWN 3-1 ROVERS