Don’t let me buy a Snickers twin pack at the Abbey! All will become clear as you read.
Staring line up included loanee Seddon at left back, Williams on the right sandwiching Taylor and Okedina. Midfield of Digby and Worman with Brophy and Tracey wide but not by the touchline, Knibbs behind Smith up front.
U’s dominated the first 20 minutes, and took the lead on 5 minutes when the ball was played over their right full back for Knibbs to run on to and cross for Smith about 8 yards out at the back post to head back across the keeper and into the net.
A series of U’s corners resulted in a great save from a Smith near post header. Shots were blocked but we couldn’t get a second. Rovers were being “robust” in their challenges, and got bookings to Connolly and Loft for fouls on Smith and Brophy.
At this time I ate one of my Snickers bars. From a U’s corner Rovers were able to break away and Coburn was put through to advance on Mannion and shoot. Mannion saved the shot but the ball bounced up nicely for Coburn to head into the unguarded net. 1-1 on 21 minutes.
While the players were preparing to restart I decided to eat the second Snickers bar. This was a mistake! A Rovers defender made some space with a couple of body swerves to bring the ball out, played it through to a colleague who was offside when the ball was played, he then passed out wide on our left to another player in an offside position who passed from the corner of our penalty area across goal to the unmarked Sinclair to side-foot home. 1-2 after 28 minutes.
U’s continued to push, but were prone to the counter attack, and our defence seemed out of sorts. Mannion had a “moment” when he dallied on a back pass and almost lost the ball but recovered enough to put the ball into touch. Okedina had to stop another break soon after.
A U’s corner was cleared for Tracey to shoot, unfortunately well wide of their goal.
In added time another through ball caused confusion in our defence with Rover’s Collins, Seddon and Mannion all going for the same bouncing ball and Seddon coming off worst with what turned out to be a fractured cheekbone, so less than half a match before our left back injury hoodoo struck! Liam Bennett came on for the final moments of the half.
Half time: 1-2.
The second half seemed to go quickly with U’s having a lot of the ball, having a few shots blocked but making few good chances. The best came when Bennett did well bringing the ball forward into their half, passed to Brophy who cut the ball back for Smith to shoot from around the edge of the penalty area, but the ball hit the top of the bar. Another goalmouth scramble resulted in a big U’s shout for a penalty after a handball, but nothing was given. Rovers had a couples of half chances but didn’t take them, and seemed content to see out the match by defending.
Lankester and Ironside replaced Tracey and Knibbs after 70 minutes, but it didn’t really change the game.
Full time: 1-2. Me eating a Snickers bar during the game caused us to concede goals and lose.
The referee seemed to have an odd view of the drop ball rule. In the first half Worman got a head injury when we had possession so play was rightly stopped. At the restart the ball was dropped for Taylor, but the Rovers player ran in to challenge having been only a yard or so away and Taylor had to clear quickly and into touch. At a Rovers drop ball U’s players were made to stand behind a line of magic spray.
He also had an odd view of physical challenges, letting a lot of barging go unpunished, yet ironside merely had to be in the vicinity of a defender to concede a foul!
The linesman on the Main Stand side seemed not to know about offside, so didn’t raise his flag!
Another defeat. There seems to be lots of clamour on social media for another forward. Funny how the strikers we have did so well last season, and the start of this season! I don’t think we are making enough good chances for them to score, which is down to the midfield. Oh to have another Wessi!
It doesn’t help that we have so many players out injured, and it shows our luck when a new left back lasts less than 45 minutes before a nasty injury.
The big positive from the game was the performance of Liam Bennett. His loan spell has given him lots of playing time, and his confidence is high. He started left back, but midway through he and Williams swapped sides for some reason.
Another home game next Saturday against Morecambe, and if this is not quite a “Must Win” then it is definitely a “Must not lose” game. Equal on points, but recent form is worrying. Ours is LLL, theirs is WWW!