After 3 games without a win, Rovers looked to get their promotion push back on track with the visit of lowly Pakenham Fox to The Heath.
Unfortunately though it turned out to be anything but a comfortable afternoon for the home side as they self distructed and fell to a surprise defeat.
The game started well enough for the Blues and they deservedly took the lead when Tiernan Boland burst through to score early on. That's where the good news ended though, as soon after Dave Clarke felt he had been fouled in the opposition box and as he staked his claim with the referee, the visitors went straight up the other end and drew level. Clarke continued to argue his point with referee T Baker but Mr Baker was having none of it and after several verbal exchanges, showed Clarke a red card for his actions. The Blues had to try and re-group with only 10 men now on the field and were fortunate to see out the half without conceding further as the half time whistle went with the score at 1-1.
Rovers tried to pick themselves up at half time and decided to go 3 at the back in an effort to push forward for the lead. The plan did not work however, and within 5 minutes of the restart, the Blues found themselves 3-1 down. Rovers did give themsleves a life line not long after though, when Jamie Davis scored to make it 3-2. All hopes of a rivival were soon dashed though when Wayne Pottle rushed out to close down a Fox attacker and knicked the ball away from him but Mr Baker felt that Pottle had done so unfairly and awarded the visitors a very harsh penalty. The Blues argued with Mr Baker about the poor decision but there was no changing his mind. Rovers found themselves again arguing with Mr Baker after Pottle brilliantly saved the spot kick only for him to make Fox retake the kick as he was not ready for it. The Fox changed their penalty taker for the retake and Pottle was very unlucky not to save the 2nd attempt, after going the right way and just not getting his hands to the ball in time.
With the Blues heads dropping and the decisions continuing to go in favour of the visitors, it was no surprise to see both Geoff Green and Rob Green's names go into the book as they continued to challange Mr Baker's decision making. Pakenham extended their lead further shortly after although the Blues did hit back once again through Boland pouncing on a terrible goalkeeping error. Rovers were being pulled about all over the place with only 3 at the back and Pakenham made it 6-3 and then 7-3 as they made ease of their 1 man advantage. Rovers again came back at them as 2nd half substitute, Mick Cross, scored to make it 7-4. With time running out the visitors once again found the back of the Rover's net, only for Tiernan Boland to complete his hatrick with a spectacular long range effort straight from the resulting kick off.
It was a devestating afternoon for Rovers and they need to take a long hard look at themselves as their lack of discipline cost them dear against a team they should have easily seen off.
The pressure continues to grow on them as they now find themselves without a win in the past 4 games, something they must put right against Sporting 87 FC, this coming weekend.
