Classy Rovers Prove Too Much for League New Boys.

Our second league home game of the week saw the first ever visit to Burroughs Park of league new boys FC Romania.
The visitors have been making impressive strides in the league earning lots of plaudits along the way for their crisp passing style and physical presence and Rovers boss Dan Trenkel admitted he had been impressed by the visitors recent results. He was under no illusions that Rovers were in for a tough test on this blustery afternoon and just like the impending storm predicted to hit the south of England this weekend it could've been 'batten down the hatches' time.
However what we were treated to was possibly the most complete performance from a Rovers team seen for many a season.
The first twenty minutes were very even with both sides creating chances and playing some very nice football. On nine minutes Aaron Baldwin did have the ball in the net however the whistle had already gone for offside.
Romania had a good chance on ten minutes when Claudio Vilcu shot just wide after a very good run.
Dave Collins saw his free kick on fourteen minutes go straight at keeper Danut Motoc won after a foul on Billy Radley (clearly fired up at the thought of winning another Freddo)by Lazar Kumanov. In fact he was lucky to escape a booking.
On twenty minutes the visitors were forced to make a double substitution due to injurys sustained to Gabriel Marin and Florin Pelecaci who were replaced by Ion Vintila and Traian Boteaatu.
Imediately after the change Romania front man Sorin Bugiv made a tricky run selling Lewis Sparrow and Nick Skelton a superb dummy however his control was lacking and the ball bounced kindly to Dale Brightly. A real 'heart in mouth' scenario for the Rovers fans.
On twenty four minutes Dan Trenkel saw his header from an Ash Hawkins corner flash wide however Trenkel was at the heart of the build up to Rovers taking the lead on twenty seven minutes. His persistance lead to Motoc making an error and the ball fell kindly to the player boss's feet and he rolled the ball into the path of Aaron Baldwin who cooly slotted the ball home for 1-0 to Rovers.
There wasnt too much goalmouth action to speak of for the remainder of the half with both sides knocking the ball around well in midfield although Romania's Ilie Vasile did find himself in referee Jeff Stanleys notebook after a late challenge on Stuart Hepburn on forty minutes.
The first half end with Rovers worthy of their slender 1-0 advantage.

As the second half kicked of the weather began to change with the wind swirling in all directions and a fine rain starting to fall.
This didnt seem to affect the sides who continued to play a really good standard of football in fact this game would not have looked out of place in the Isthmian league.
Seven minutes into the half Rovers doubled their lead when Dave Collins picked up the ball in the centre of the park and his vision and pass picked out Aaron Baldwin superbly. Baldwin got around the back of the defence and found himself one on one with keeper Motoc. Aaron gave the keeper 'the eyes' and calmly finished well in the bottom right hand corner.
This galvanised Rovers who from this point on never looked in danger of conceeding and Romania were forced into take long shots at Dale Brightly's goal.
Dave Collins found himself in the book on fifty three minutes after too much chat to the referee and on sixty one minutes Nick Skelton unluckily shot wide.
Romania made another change when Boteaatu was replaced by Bogdan Idu.
Rovers made a change on seventy minutes with Gary Paterson came on for Aaron Baldwin. Great to see Pato back in action after his injury lay off and he imediately began making a nuisance of himself in his usual physical bustling style.
At the other end Romania had a golden opportunity when Idu found himself with a sight of goal only for his shot to be perfectly blocked by the incoming Skelton. Blocks like that are just as valuable as a goal at the other end. Absolutely superb.
Eighty minutes saw the homeside make a final change with Sammy Knott coming on for Ash Hawkins.
The last real chance of the game came via a free kick given away by Motoc handling a long Brightly kick outside of the box. With the ball clearly heading goalwards and no defender near him surely a red card was the only option however referee Stanley only saw fit to brandish a yellow. The free kick was in a great position and we were hoping for a Pato thunderbolt instead we got Dave Collins attempted curler easily stopped by Motoc.
The game was bought to a close in heavy rain rounding of a good,solid, great performance from Rovers however take nothing away from FC Romania who won a lot of admirers today and will be thereabouts come the end of the season.
Today we looked like an Isthmian League team and we need to build on that and try and produce it every week. If we do promotion is a very realistic prospect.
It finished 2-0 to Rovers and the day got better when we learned those around us all dropped points cementing our place at the top.
Next up its Colchester United in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday 29th October and we are hoping for a bumper crowd. If any Southend United, Concord Rangers, and Canvey fans are at a loose end please come along and give us a cheer youre all welcome down here.

Rovers- Brightly, Sparrow (c), Kent, Collins, Hepburn, Skelton, Radley, Smith, Trenkel, Hawkins (Knott), Baldwin (Paterson).
Subs Not Used- Pugsley, Skeels, Read.

Rovers MOTM- That man again.......Billy Radley.