Despite the victory, it was of a somewhat hungover performance after the Rovers had made it to the FA Vase final after winning on penalties on Saturday against Worcester City. However a win is a win.

There wasn’t much to report in the first half as neither side could get the game going due to a variety of mistakes. The two chances went to Ilford in the first half when Ilford’s Davis managed to cut into the edge of the box but blasted his effort over the bar. It was until the 37th minute when Ilford won a free kick on the edge of the box and once again Ilford’s Davis produced a good free kick over the wall but Rovers keeper Luis Shamshoum got across his goal to make an excellent two handed save to palm the ball away.

Luis Shamshoum was then called upon again when he rushed to out to smother the ball and took a boot to the face. Thankfully he was okay.

It seemed both sides were going in at halftime goalless but Rovers managed to snatch a goal just before the whistle went. Rovers skipper Ben Search played the ball behind the Ilford defence and Anthony Martin ran on to be one on one with the keeper and smashed the ball into the bottom left corner.

HALFTIME ROVERS 1-0 ILFORD

Rovers started the second half in much better fashion, they kept creating numerous chance but it was thanks to the Ilford goalkeeper for keeping them in the game. Five minutes into the second half Ilford had the first chance of the half when Shamshoum once again took one for the team when he rushed off his line to smother the ball and took a boot to his chest.

Two minutes later, Max Gnandi had a great chance of doubling the Rovers lead when he was sent one on one with the Ilford keeper, he smashed the ball but the Ilford keeper stuck out a leg to send the ball out for a corner. Twelve minutes later, Rovers had another excellent opportunity when a cross from Harry Talbot found an unmarked Anthony Martin at the back post who struck the ball on the volley straight at the keeper’s leg.

The match became end to end, thankfully the Rovers defence stood their ground and the next opportunity game after a bizarre incident. On 83 minutes, The Ilford keeper mistakenly picked up a back pass and the Rovers were awarded an indirect free kick just near the penalty spot. Harry Talbot stood over the ball and squared it to Ben Search who blasted the ball over the goal.

Rovers stood firm and saw out the last seven minutes of the match to take all three points and continue to push for a spot in the playoffs.

FULLTIME: ROVERS 1-0 ILFORD