Rovers travelled to Northumberland Avenue to play Black Eagles FC, as they went looking to create a new club record of 7 straight league victories and to further cement their position at the top of League 2.
The Blues were forced into making several changes for the match with, Jamie Feltner, Jamie Davis and Tiernan Boland all missing through injury and several other players missing due to other reasons. For the first time this season Rovers had no options on the bench other than that of manager Paul Winstone, who named himself as injury cover.
The Blues started the game quite brightly and certainly had the better of the opening period, creating several openings, which unfortunately they were unable to convert.
As time ticked by the home side came into the game more and more and made their efforts count on 20 minutes when Rovers were caught a little flat footed in their area and Eagles took the lead with a close range header.
Rovers were not behind for long though as 5 minutes later a great purposeful run from Rover's skipper Justin McKenzie, and a great 1-2 with micky Cross, saw the big man put through with only the keeper to beat and he was clumsely sandwiched by the 2 Eagle's centre halves inside the area and gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Micky Cross converted the resulting spot kick with a fierce drive to make it an incredible 15 consecutive games in which Micky has hot the back of the net.
The game then entered a bit of a scrappy period as both side went looking to snatch the lead before the break and that initative was grabbed with both hands by the home side when Rovers were again undone by a close range header with 5 minutes of the 1st half remaining.
5 minutes After the restart, Rovers found themselves further behind when the home side poured forward in numbers and were able to lob Wayne Pottle in the Rover's goal without too much trouble from the Blues defense.
Despite starting the 2nd period so poorly, Rovers did manage to pull a goal back 5 minutes later when Ally Clark picked up the ball out wide on the left and did fantastically well in beating 2 defenders to then put a pin point cross right onto the head of Micky Cross, who couldn't miss from 6 yards out.
In a see-saw 2nd half, the home side then restored their 2 goal advantage when they were able to score straight from a corner, much to the Blues disappointment, whose defending at set pieces is normally one of their strong points.
Again, despite being very much 2nd best, Rovers were able to pull yet another goal back 5 minutes later when Micky Cross completed his 1st hat trick of the season, when he scrambled the ball home from close range to make it 4-3 to the home side.
Despite being only 1 goal down, Rovers flattered to decieve and were finally killed off by their hosts 10 minutes from time as the Blues went looking for an equaliser and were caught on the break and outnumbered at the back, when the home side found a man over at the back post who made no mistake from 12 yards out.
Rovers manager Paul Winstone was very disappointed with the result, the performance and with the lack of numbers for this fixture and just had too many players have an off day at the same time to continue their recent good form. They will now have to show their character and bounce straight back when they play Barons FC at the Heath next Saturday and get their title aspirations back on track.
