Rovers Put a Leash on Their Hodoo at the Dog!

Judging by todays weather Autumn appear to have arrived with bright sunshine, rain showers, and a blustery wind coupled with a pitch consisting of more bobbles than your Grandads favourite cardigan ( at The Old Spotted Dog) it was clear from early on that a passing game was going to be difficult for both sides.
Rovers went into the game on the back of three wins out of three in the league and knowing that Bari were a bit of a hodoo team for us having failed to beat them on four occasions last season. However this Rovers team has a new found mental strength and belief which was displayed by Player Manager Dan Trenkels disappointment at being knocked out of the FA Cup by higher league Brentwood FC with Rovers having been the better side in the contest.
The Villagers made several changes to the side this week with Dave Collins making his first start of the campaign in midfield, Aaron Baldwin replaced the ‘holidaying’ Billy Johnson up front, and George Artemi replacing Stuart Hepburn in the centre of defence after Hepburn was ruled out due to an injury picked up in training.
Bari kicked of the game and for the first fifteen minutes looked to be coping with the conditions better than Rovers with most of their joy coming down the right with plenty of good link up play between Ikem Anadi and Johnson Santos and they were giving Max Kent plenty to do.
After this Rovers began to get a foothold in the game and enjoyed a concerted spell of pressure with Dave Collins and Ash Hawkins linking well with Allan Karaao in the Bari goal producing a fine save from a Hawkins effort.
On seventeen minutes Dan Trenkel won a free kick around twenty five yards out ie Dave Collins territory.
Collins free kick was blocked and after a few bobbles and bounces Hawkins laid it back off to Collins who unleashed a shot, again from twenty five yards out, which dipped and bent away from Karaoo and into the top right hand corner of his net and Rovers went 1-0 up. A great strike from Collins making only his second appearance in the league this season. Pure quality.
On nineteen minutes Jay Smith went close to doubling the lead only for his shot to go straight at Karaoo which he dealt with less than comfortably. This was the only meaningful effort on both goals during the next ten minute spell.
The home side were forced into a change on twenty seven minutes when left back Justin Clark, who picked up a knock a few minutes earlier, limped off to be replaced by Dias.
On thirty four minutes Bari had a free after good link up play between Anadi and centre forward Sean Pusey drawing a foul from Artemi. The resulting free kick was wasted and Adam Seals goal remained un challenged.The resulting break put Aaron Baldwin in the clear however he was deemed offside while bearing down on the Bari goal.
The half continued very evenly however no real chances were created. Kirk Thomas of Bari received a talking to from the referee for a naughty tackle on Trenkel, and a superb Artemi tackle were the only other highlights before the first half was called to a halt and it remained Bari 0-1 Rovers.
The second half started ,with no changes to both sides, and Rovers were on the offensive straight away with Jay Smith, who had an excellent game, shooting wide on forty six and a corner on fifty minutes saw Ash Hawkins slash wide from a Dave Collins corner.
On fifty one minutes Rovers won a free kick which was again taken by Collins and ended up with Trenkel shooting wide.
On fifty two Bari broke with Pusey off and running only for the ever reliable Nick Skelton to put in a superb tackle to deny him anymore progress and indeed it was Skelton again who acrobatically cleared a shot from Johnson Santos that looked goal bound after a dreadful mix up moments later. We are really lucky to have kept hold of Nick who has been superb this season and reads the game terrifically.
On sixty five Jay Smith went close with a header after a perfectly placed cross from Dave Collins.
On sixty six Aaron Baldwin shot wide which was his last contribution to the afternoon as he was replaced by Joe Skeels. Aaron is still on his way back from a long term injury and still looks a little leggy however the signs are good for when he returns to full fitness.
London Bari made another change on sixty eight minutes when Tim Williams was replaced by Suidcuk and indeed it was he who went close two minutes later with a good shot from out wide which went a few feet over Adam Seals goal.
Rovers began to push for a second goal with Trenkel and Hawkins producing fine saves from Karaao and another Collins corner falling to the feet of Jay Smith only for him to be flagged offside.
Bari had their best chance of the game on seventy six minutes when the pacy Sean Pusey broke through and with only Seal to beat his shot went inches wide of the right hand post and was a stark reminder to Rovers that this game was far from over.
On seventy nine Rovers pressure finally paid off when they won a corner. Ash Hawkins delivered a superb ball in for George Artemi to head in un-challenged from close range to give Rovers a two goal lead and surely see us over the line.
It was all Rovers after that with Thomas nearly putting into his own net and Nick Skelton not getting enough on his header from a great ball in going straight at the keeper. Also a defensive mix up and with the keeper laid out Rovers had an open goal only for the ball to trickle wide. I couldn’t see who it was through the melee. Shocking miss.
Rovers now had this result in the bag and in stoppage time had three corners with Artemi, Collins, and Skeels all going close.
The referees whistle blew with Rovers making it four out of four, another clean sheet, and a hodoo laid to rest in competent fashion. They go joint top with Enfield 1893 with only goal difference separating the two on a day deemed National Non League Day. Rovers next game is back here at The Old Spotted Dog on Tuesday 10th September at 7.45pm in the League Cup vs Clapton.

Rovers Man of the Match- Jay Smith

Rovers Line Up-
Adam Seal, James Pugsley, Nick Skelton, George Artemi, Max Kent, Ashley Hawkins, Jay Smith, Billy Radley, Dave Collins, Aaron Baldwin, Dan Trenkel.
Subs- Joe Skeels (on for Baldwin 66)
Attendance- 25 ish.