After a 2 week lay off, Rovers travelled to Cavendish Meadow to take on Thurston Reserves FC, in a League 2 clash, hoping to continue their recent run of good form.
With a few players out due to injury and sickness Rovers were forced into making one or two changes to the squad that won last time out. Manager Paul Jeavons made a rare appearance in the Rovers back line and the Whites handed new boy, Phil Cowlan a debut start up front.
As in previous weeks, Rovers came blasting out of the blocks and found themselves a goal up after only 2 minutes. Andrew Clarke jumped higher than anyone in the Thurston area following a Rovers corner, to head the Whites into an early lead.
The early goal seemed to do nothing to settle Rovers down though, as despite looking the more dangerous side during the early exchanges, their play was very disjointed and untidy. As the half continued the home side grew in confidence and hit Rovers twice on the break in a 10 minute spell midway through the half, to turn the game around and lead 2-1.
The Whites continued to make life hard for themselves and struggled to get their normal fluent passing game going, as they looked for a way back into the match.
They started to look a little more like their old selves as the half drew to a close, and despite still not being at their best, they did manage to go into the break 3-2 up thanks to 2 late goals from Rovers skipper Ben Cole, who recorded his 7th goal of the season, and Phil Cowlan, who netted his first for the club.
Rovers got together at the break knowing that they had not played particularly well in the 1st 45 minutes and tried to talk about what they could do differently in the 2nd period to ensure that they went on to claim all 3 points.
The visitors took to the field after the break looking to play with a little more patience, confidence and flair in an attempt to kill off the game and keep their promotion hopes alive.
Although starting the half slowly, Rovers did finally get their act together in the 2nd half and took the game by the scruff of the neck. A great solo run and finish from Chris Roberts, just before the hour mark, gave the whites a 2 goal cushion for the 1st time in the match, and a Dan Bosley header minutes later, made it 5-2 to Rovers and looked to make the game safe.
The goals seemed to do enough to squash any hopes the home side may have had in taking something from the game and meant Rovers could see out the remainder of the game with a degree of comfort.
Phil Cowlan went on to cap an impressive debut for the club by scoring again 15 minutes from time and a long range effort from Ben Cole minutes later, completed a hard earned 7-2 victory.
The win, Rovers 4th on the trot in which they have scored an impressive 28 times, sees them remain 4th in what is becoming a very tight promotion race. Rovers impressive run will be severly tested next Saturday when they take on 2nd in the table, Wickhambrook FC, at British Sugar.
