Rovers Bounce Back To Secure A Point

Team News:
Dan Trenkel was still missing, Nick Skelton, George Artemi, John Bradley, Eljay Worrell and Billy Johnson through injury, along with Ellis Sands and Lewis Sparrow due to being unavailable.

Rovers bounced back from the disappointment of their FA Cup defeat on Saturday to grab a well deserved point at promotion favourites AFC Hornchurch.
After a lacklustre performance against Brantham Athletic, which saw Rovers bow out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle for the 3rd season running, it was clear that words were said following the game judging by the game at Upminster.

Apart from an early chance for Hornchurch, the opening gambits were pretty even in the early exchanges. It wasn't until the 21st minutes when Junior Luke flashed a header wide. Jay Nash had the first of his two good chances in the 25th minutes, his shot saved by Sam Mott at close range following a good interchange of passes by Tom Ranger, Max Kent and Jacob Cleaver.

In the 34th minute Jacob Cleaver found the ball played into his path and his running shot was straight at the keeper, Mott catching the ball to his midrift. Immediately from the goal kick, David Knight, running into the area from the left, tried to lob Adam Seal, only for the ball to fly high over the bar.

As Hornchurch pushed forward leading up to half time, George Purcell cut in from the left and blasted a shot the wrong side of the post. Purcell then played in Knight only to see Adam Seal parry the shot and grab hold at the second attempt.

Half Time: AFC Hornchurch 0 - 0 Rovers

From the restart, Jacob Cleaver was caught and the resulting free kick by Max Kent was chested down by Jay Nash who fired over the bar.
In the 53rd minute, Hornchurch broke on the counter, with Knight heading over the bar following great work by Purcell down the right hand side. The Urchins then struck the bar, Purcell seeing his volley strike the woodwork after Abs Thomson did well getting his cross in from the right hand side.

The 56th minute saw Stuart Hepburn and Jay Nash miss a pin point Max Kent free kick, the defender driving a well struck curling free kick across the face of the goal. As we approached the hour mark, it was Hornchurch that were beginning to asert a little bit of pressure as they gained some control in midfield, yet Sam Mott was at full stretch to keep out a Tony Jacobs well struck drive, the ball arrowing towards the bottom corner. With 15 minutes remaining, Trenkel brought on Joe Skeels for John-Joe Slater, the yound midfielder being recalled from Burnham Ramblers due to Rovers diminished squad.

Rovers, and the best chance of the game, fell to Jay Nash, the Rovers forward in on goal but Sam Mott guessed correctly as Nash tried to side foot the ball past the keeper. As Nash held his head in his hands he knew that it was the chance that could have given Rovers the points but moreso, have given him the confidence that he appears to be lacking in front of goal at the moment.

In the final knockings of the match, James Pugsley put his body literally on the line as Purcell smashed a shot goalbound from just inside the area. It was a move which epitomised the Rovers performance on the day.

Full Time: AFC Hornchurch 0 - 0 Rovers