After last weekend's disappointing draw against Elephant & Castle, Rovers were looking to get back to winning ways, when they hosted another relegated team in the form of RF Saints.
With boss Paul Jeavons otherwise engaged, the managerial reigns were passed onto Andrew Clarke for the afternoon. He was forced into making one change from last week's side as Matt Wallis was missing due to illness. Ben Cole came into centre midfield to make his Rovers league debut.
Rovers began the match very much on the back foot as Saints went looking to take a firm grip on the game from the start. They easily dominated the first 25 minutes of play, as the Blues struggled to get organised and get a foothold in the match. Despite their dominance the visitors were not able to break Rovers down at the back and, against the run of play, it was the home side who got their noses in front when Lee Glacked finished off a rare Rovers attack, to continue his record of scoring in every match so far this season.
The goal seemed to settle the home side and 10 minutes later they doubled their lead, when Timothy Hodge found himself unmarked in the Saints area. He made no mistake from 12 yards out to send Rovers into the half time break 2-0 up for the third time this season.
Andrew Clarke forgot the half time kick up the backside he had planned to give his side at the break, trying to make Rovers concentrate instead on the last 15 minutes of the half when they had finally got their act together. He sent them out looking to kill off the game in the second period by continuing to play their football and reminded them that they needed to be focused for the full 90 minutes and not to concede late goals as they had done in their previous 2 games.
As dominant as Saints were in the opening part of the game, so Rovers were after the break. The Blues continued where they had ended the first half, playing the better football and were able to restrict the visitors to a few long range efforts in the second half, which rarely troubled Scott Glacken in the Rovers goal.
The Blues were rewarded for their second half dominance, as man of the match, Lee Glacken, completed a fine hatrick for Rovers, scoring on the hour and with 15 minutes remaining, to cap a fine all round second half display from the home side.
Clarke was delighted with the final result and performance and the Blues can be especially pleased with their first clean sheet of the season, against a Saints side who will not be short on goals this season.
The win sees Rovers remain unbeaten this season and go joint top of Division 2, along with Elephant and Castle FC.
Rovers are in league action against next weekend when they travel to Great Barton to face Sporting 87 FC, where they will look to continue their fine start to the season.
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