| Manager: | Andrew Herbert |
| League: | Gloucestershire Northern Senior League - Division 1 |
| Email: | firstXI@bourtonrovers.co.uk |
Bourton Rovers 1 - 0 Cheltenham Civil Service
Rovers got their first win for 7 weeks in a hard thought match against local rivals Civil Service.
The home side gave a debut to keeper Victor Burrell and recalled Kevin Hunt to start up front and it was Hunt who nearly gave Rovers the lead in the 1st minute when his shot was tipped round the post by the visiting keeper.
With Bourton the better of the 2 sides they deservedly took the lead on 25 minutes when Hunt was upended in the box and the referee had no choice but to award a penalty, Matt Winter stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. Winter thought he had his second goal shortly after when he smashed home from a Mark Payne free kick but Theo Stevens was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul elsewhere. Civil Service barely threatened but when they did they couldn't get through the superb home defence of Garry Clark, Mark Payne and Craig Gilson.
The second half Civil posed more of a threat, but the Bourton defence still held firm and new boy Burrell in goal pulled of some fine saves. Bourton still had chances with battering ram Mark Gainford going close on a couple of occasions and sub George Mosson shooting narrowly wide, and they should of been awarded another penalty when live wire Keelan Gilbert got tripped not once but twice in the box in the space of 10 seconds but for some reason the referee waved play on to every bodies disbelief.
The game ended in dubious circumstances when civil thought they had levelled in the last minute. Civil whipped over a corner and a Cheltenham defender headed home, but the smile was soon wiped of their faces when they looked over at the linesman who had his flag rightly raised to indicate the ball had gone out of play before it had reached the Civil's player head. The final whistle went shortly after and Bourton could celebrate only their 2nd win of the season.
Next week Bourton travel to Longlevens.