Rovers found themselves on the A12 lay-by for a Saturday afternoon clash with Colchester United. Ahead of the game, a friend had asked whether we were worth a nudge in his accumulator. I said we’d bagged a comprehensive win last weekend and were facing a team languishing at the bottom of the table. So, no.
The early action suggested Danny Schofield has already put his mark on the squad. The players kept formation with ruthless discipline, while creative playmakers like Luke Molyneux and Kyle Hurst were given licence to impact the game.
Rovers were unlucky to go behind in first-half stoppage time after the referee stopped play for a head injury. Colchester proceeded to lump the ball forward rather than return it and won a free kick which was duly converted in some style.
The players came out looking deflated in the second half and it wasn’t long before a bit of Hurst dilly-dallying gave the ball away, allowing 18-year-old striker Samson Tovide to eventually latch on and strike the ball comprehensively into the net.
With almost 90 minutes on the board, Tom Anderson gave away a cynical foul, bringing down Luke Hannant, who eventually picked the ball up and impressively curled one in from outside the edge of the box.
Overall, 250 words is probably more than is needed for this match report. In under 10 words, it can be effectively summarised as: three well-taken goals from three ill-gotten opportunities.
by Jack Peat
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