Takeley 0 - 3 Rovers

Great Wakering Rovers followed up Tuesday night’s derby draw with Southend Manor with a tricky trip to much fancied Takeley.
Player-boss Dan Trenkel chose to stick with the starting eleven that had grabbed a point at Southchurch Park as the Rovers looked to end a winless run of five games, although they must have taken heart from the two important points picked up from the previous two fixtures.
Takeley made the early running. Reece Dobson’s corner was volleyed goalwards by Greame Turner, but Louis Godwin-Green pushed his effort away. However, if the home side thought they would be having it all their own way they would soon be in for a shock.
After seven minutes, Jimmy Webb rounded Ronnie Yates in the Takeley goal before presenting Toran Senghore with a simple tap-in at the far post.
The home side responded by mounting huge pressure on the Rovers goal. Scott Smith’s deep cross was met first time by Dale Fuller, but Godwin-Green made an astonishing save right on the goal line.
Then Vinny Murphy headed Dobson’s free kick wide and then another dead ball fell agonisingly close to the onrushing Turner as Takeley continued to press.
Rovers were under the cosh and had to be content with rare opportunities on the break. Jay Nash crossed for John Mbamarah but his attempt was scrambled away. At the other end Takeley’s Luke Milbourne, shot just wide with Godwin-Green rooted to the spot. Then the Great Wakering custodian had to be on his toes to deny Dobson.
Takeley and their supporters must have believed a goal wasn’t too far away, and they were right, but certainly not what they wanted or for that matter expected. The impressive Jimmy Webb latched onto Godwin-Green’s mammoth kick and beat Yates with a fantastic finish.
Having held on for so long, the visitors could now see daylight, and it almost got even better just before the break.
Dan Trenkel met Dave Collins corner but a combination of Yates and his defenders scrambled the ball off the line.
At the start of the second period, Takeley looked to strike back immediately. Anton Collins found Turner, but once again, Godwin-Green managed to keep the home side at bay.
It was then Rovers turn to attack. Senghore headed over Webb’s corner, and then Mbamarah tested Yates from just outside the box.
Takeley defender Daryll Dobson then tested Godwin-Green as then game switched from end to end and began to look more like an NBA game than football.
The Rovers keeper was soon in action again. This time saving from Anton Collins as the home side looked along another avenue for a route to goal.
Great Wakering had defended resolutely, although they came much more into the game during the second half as the game became more open. As the match entered its final third, the visitors looked to finish the job off.
Mbamarah met Dave Collins free kick but found Yates equal to his effort, and then Webb set up Senghore who beat Yates but saw his effort brilliantly cleared by Dale Fuller.
Anton Collins looked to forge an opportunity for himself, rampaging along the left flank before cutting inside; however, the Takeley man’s strike was disappointingly wayward.
In the final minute Rovers sealed the points when Jay Nash drove a fantastic right foot strike past Yates and into the far corner of the net.
Takeley will look to a clutch of missed opportunities mainly during the first half. Nevertheless, this was a professional away performance by the Rovers who will look to push on towards the promotion place that they crave.

Takeley; Ronnie Yates, Scott Smith, Daryll Doolan, Vinny Murphy, James Quilter, Dale Fuller, Anton Collins, Spyros Mentis, Greame Turner, Luke Milbourne, Reece Dobson.
Subs; Joe Wise, Jim Ammott, Liam Dean, Scott Forbes, Danny Hammett.

Rovers; Louis Godwin-Green, Scott Keys, Max Kent, John Mbamarah, Lewis Sparrow, Nathan Fletcher, Jimmy Webb, Dan Trenkel, Toran Senghore, Jay Nash, Dave Collins.
Subs; Stuart Hepburn, Gary Ansell, Julian Simon-Parson, Dan Williams

Rovers Man of the Match; Jimmy Webb

Attendance; 61