Rovers arrived at this away fixture against the team second in the dvision shorn of eight first team players so had no substitutes or an assistant for this crucial first division encounter!
Nevertheless as usual Rovers started slowly but without conceding any clearcut opportunities and then in the 15th minute the ball broke to CHRIS YOXALL on the halfway line from a Martin Steel clearance. He raced all the way to the eighteen yard box showing a clean pair of heels to his pursuers before finishing with aplomb into the corner of the Swan net.
The Swan attacked again but Rovers looked dangerous on the counter-attack with both wide players causing the Swan's defence problems. Indeed, on 25 minutes a cross from the left wing was misjudged by a Swan defender who only glanced it in to CHRIS YOXALL'S path. He took his time before making the score 2-0.
The Swan went on to the front foot again and two fine saves by stand-in keeper Gary Fitzgerald (aka Fat Fitz) kept the score at 2-0 at half-time.
The second half saw a Swan onslaught as to be expected from a team vying for the first division title and their efforts were duly rewarded five minutes into the half as yet another Swan long throw was deflected into his own net by hapless defender Dave Cotton.
Rovers looked rattled and The Swan attacked again and again and sure enough an equaliser arrived five minutes later courtesy of some slow closing down in the Rovers midfield combined with some good Swan team play.
With nearly half an hour to play and The Swan with their feather tails in the air the writing was on the wall for a comprehensive victory for the titile contenders at home to the relegation favourites. However, Rovers dug in with some resilient play from the strikers through to midfield and also both fullbacks putting in a good shift, not to mention the two best players on the park...Jamie Patterson and Fitz (sorry Yox, you were good too!).
As time started to run out The Swan made a trio of substitutions but Rovers couldn't make any changes but even so nearly snatched the lead as their winger got clear but his lob was easily caught by the Swan keeper.
The game continued on a similar pattern of sustained Swan pressure with penetrating Rovers counter-attacks but after Rovers had a chance cleared off the Swan line and also missed another couple of half chances, the last ten minutes were sustained pressure by The Swan in the Rovers goalmouth.
The home team kept pressing for a winner and missed out on some well placed freekicks and numerous corners. Indeed, in the last minute of the match they manged to cram in four corners but to no avail as the final corner was cleared and the game ended with honours even.
After this well deserved point Rovers are now out of the botton three and if they can keep up this showing over the next four games surely safety will be assured!?
