After a long winter break the Rovers were back in action today playing away at King George V Parks in Renfrew vs Braehead AFC in the GDSML League Cup 2nd Round. Rovers started the game slowly playing a new 4-2-3-1 system, and its fair to say it took 20 minutes to get to grips with the game. Breahead played a 4-5-1. On 9 minutes Breadhead broke down the left wing with RB Lyons trying to press the ball to high up the pitch, this left space at the back and Breahead worked the ball well in the space and capitalised when Connolly went to ground missing his slide tackle in the box, the Beahead striker was left with a tap in 1-0. On 15 minutes Rovers pulled it back to 1-1 with a good ball from Clancy to Frank 'why always me' Coia, he skipped past the oncoming defender and hit a shot at goal, the ball took a deflection off the defender and lobbed the keeper. Rovers made it 2-1 a minute later with captain fantastic breaking down the left flank beating two players with ease and crossing into the box for Veitch. Veitchie's pressure payed off and the defender got a touch knocking it past their keeper for an OG. Rovers 3rd goal came on 28 minutes with Connelly playing a quick ball out of defence to Santi on the Left, Santi cut inside and splits the defence with a great ball between the two CB's, Veitchie ran onto the pass and slotted the ball in the bottom corner, 3-1 rovers. A miss communication in the box from a free kick on 31 minutes cost Rovers a goal with the ball being flighted into the box, Conway tried to head the ball clear but did not make good enough contact with the ball, the ball skipped through and stand in keeper Christie had to make a great save to keep the ball out of the Rovers net, unfortunately the ball fell to the Braehead striker for another tap in, 3-2. Rovers new system was working well with Conetta and MacGregor doing a great job protecting the back 4 with some crunching tackles and good arial presence, they settled into the game and covered a lot of ground to help the attacking players push for more goals. On 42 minutes Coia charged up the left flank after winning the ball in midfield unfortunately he played a shocking square ball behind Santi who was supporting the move, Coia made up for his error hunting the ball down and making a tackle. Once he won the ball back he played a great ball in behind the Braehead defence, Clancy ran through and stroked the ball home to make it 4-2. Rovers continued the pressure in the second half, Lyons put a long throw into the box which was met by Gallagher at the edge of the 6 yard box with a flick on to Veitch who was poaching at the front post, with some great impravisation he overhead kicks the ball into the goal to make it 5-2. After some great work up front leading the line Veitch came off for Mauchan on 63 minutes, Mauchan made an immediate impact as Coia played the ball to Clancy up the right flank, Clancy squared the ball to Mauchan who nonchalantly passed the ball into the net from 15 yards out 6-2 to the Rovers. Lyons came off for Laim Donaghy on 68 minutes and the defence was re-jigged with the Donaghy brothers at full back and Conway and Gallagher at CD then on 70 minutes Watson replaced Clancy at RM. Watson had a couple of good chances with 1 v 1's with the Breahead keeper but the keeper came off on top. Breahead were not giving up and kept pressurising the Rovers defence, on 78 minutes K. Donaghy pressed the ball high up the pitch, the winger beat the FB and played in the Breahead striker who beat Christie at his near post to make it 6-3, shortly after some scrappy play around the rovers box Breahead managed to work some space in the box for a shot which beat Christie to make it 6-4, some poor team defending as Rovers has a number of chances to clear the danger! The game finished 6-4, overall Rovers started the game slowly as they came to grips with the new system, however they settled into the game well, the Christmas break had not affected the team and with a bit of luck in the 1st half the was really missing in the last mach against Bellahouston, Rovers capitalised on the opportunities that came their way.
