After 4 weeks without a game, Rovers returned to League 2 action this weekend, where they faced Barons 1985 FC at the Heath.
It was the 2 sides 3rd meeting of the season with Rovers being victorious on the previous 2 occasions, the last of which was in mid December in the League 2 Cup, where Rovers came out on top in extra time, after a very tight affair.
With Elephant & Castle on cup duty, the fixture was a chance for Rovers to close the gap on the league 2 leaders.
The Whites were pretty much at full strength for the match, with only Andrew Clarke and tim Hodge sidelined because of Injury. Clarke took his place on the bench as Rovers reshuffled their usual formation to that of 4-5-1 to counter act Barons strong midfield line up.
Rovers got a taste of what was to come with the very first move of the game as Barons took the lead in the very first minute, after a lovely passage of play saw a powerful header beat Scott Glacken in the Rovers goal before the home side had even had a touch of the ball.
Despite the early setback, Rovers drew level minutes later when Martin Coverdale was brought down in the Barons' area leaving Lee Glacken to slot the ball home from the penatly spot.
The scores may have been level but in terms of possession the visitors dominated the first half and played by far the better football of the 2 sides, as Rovers failed to shake off their Christmas hangover.
Barons made their domination count midway through the first half, albeit slightly controversely, when the usually safe hands of Scott Glacken, deserted the Rovers' keeper as he spilled a 25 yard free kick right into the path of the 2 onrushing Barons attackers who were quickest to react to the opportunity. The 2 players got in each other's way as the static Rovers' defence just stood and watched. The ball found its way into the net when one of the visitor's attackers accidently played the ball against the other from 6 yards out but Rovers' crys of offside were waved away, giving Barons a 2-1 lead at the break.
After being well and truely outplayed in the 1st period, Paul Jeavons made 1 change at the break, bringing on the half fit Clarke to play up front with Lee Glacken and reverting Rovers back to their usual 4-4-2 formation.
The changes unfortunately made no difference to the pattern of the game as Barons continued to boss events after the re-start and made Rovers look very ordinary indeed. The home side could not live with their passing, movement and committment as the visitors continued to be first to everything and spent most of the 2nd period attacking the Rovers' goal.
They were rewarded twice more in the 2nd half after scoring from the penalty spot and from close range after another fine move which had Rovers chasing shadows again, giving the visitors a fine 4-1 win.
The result leaves the Whites looking very exposed in 2nd spot in League 2 but they can at least take some comfort from the fact that they will not have to face Barons again in the league, who are by far the best team Rovers have faced this season in all competitions.
Rovers now need to get their league campaign back on track when they face bogey side Wickhambrook FC at the Heath next Saturday.
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