Rovers crashed to their 3rd league defeat on the trot when they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Wickhambrook FC, in a bad tempered match, at The Heath on Saturday.
The Whites made 3 changes to the squad which lost to Barons a week earlier with Paul Jeavons making a rare apperance in midfield alongside new boy Tom Border. Rovers were disappointed to hear midweek, that midfielder Ben Cole will be out of action for about 6 weeks but were boosted on Saturday by the return of Jamie Davis to the heart of the team. Davis made his 1st start since picking up the long term injury he aquired in Rovers' 1st game of the season.
Again The Whites were slow out of the blocks as the visitors looked the fresher and more composed of the 2 sides, making Rovers play much of the opening 10 minutes in their own half.
Despite being pegged back in the early stages, it was Rovers who got their nose's in front, when Andrew Clarke burst through the Wickhambrook defence, to fire the home side into the lead.
The goal sparked Rovers into life and they then took a hold of preceedings, finally playing some football and keepng some good possession of the ball, as they went looking to double their lead.
Just as Rovers had scored against the run of play, it was then the visitors turn to do the same, when a fine team move resulted in a tap in for one of the Wickhambrook attackers.
After the goal the game entered a period of stalemate as both sides began to cancel each other out as both defences were easily able to deal with whatever was thrown at them.
A niggly, bad tempered half ended with the socres level, which was a fair reflection of the 1st period.
With Paul Jeavons' words of wisdom ringing in their ears, Rovers took to the field for the 2nd half, looking toend their recent poor run of results and get their title challenge back on track.
Unfortunately the 2nd half began just like the 1st had, with the visitors taking the game by the scruff of then neck, as Rovers spent much of the restart, camped deep inside their own half. Despite their pressure though, the visitors failed to create any real chances of any note, although they continued to look the more threatening of the 2 sides as the minutes ticked by.
Wickhambrook finally made their possession count, just after the hour mark when a powerful fun from the visitors' skipper, saw him carve his way all too easily through the Rovers' defence to fire his side into a 2-1 lead.
Rovers failed to get up any momentum at all in the remainder of the half, as they vainly went in search of an equaliser and began too look very tiredand leggy, as they were given the run around by their visitors.
The game petered out in the remainder of the half as niether side were able to find the back of the net again. giving Wickhambrook a deserved win, which sees them draw level with Rovers on points.
Despite their poor run of results, Rovers remain 2nd in League 2, although they have now been caught up by the chasing pack.
Rovers know they must win next Saturday if they are going to mount a serious challenge for the League 2 title, when they face Tollgate Inn FC in yet another tricky tie at the Heath.
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