Cheltenham Civil Service

Bourton Rovers
Football Club

First XI Match Reports

Saturday, 14th October 2006 ~ Northern Senior League

Bourton Rovers 1-0 Cheltenham Civil Service

After 2 defeats on the trot Rovers got back to winning ways with a hard earned win against their local rivals from Cheltenham.

Bourton had to change their team again with Stuart Hughes and Mark Payne coming in for the suspended Duncan Habbitts and flu ridden Timothy Hudson.

Civil Service started the better of the two teams but couldn't break through the Rovers defence, restricting the visitors to long range efforts which mainly flew high and wide or straight into Andrew Herbert's hands. The home team rarely threatened in the first half with only a couple of half chances falling their way, which Ben Acock and Payne failed to test the keeper with. The visitors should of taken the lead just before the break when a mistake by Ryan Newhook let in Civil's right winger who crossed for his unmarked team mate who should of headed home from 4 yards but Herbert tipped the header round the post.

The second half was much the same with Civil passing the ball round but not getting behind the Rovers back four and again restricting the away team to long range shots, of one which hit the bar and Bourton breaking away on the counter attack which saw Mark Gainford shooting straight at the keeper and Payne forcing a superb save out of the Cheltenham No.1.

Both teams seemed to be happy playing out for a 0-0 draw, but with 2 minutes left Bourton at last broke Civil's off side trap when Graham Newhook passed the ball through the crowded midfield to put Matt Winter clean through who coolly lobbed the keeper from 20 yards to put Rovers one up, Winter could of made it two with the last kick of the game when Kevin Hunt crossed but Winter's effort was saved by the goalie but it didn't matter as the ref blew the final whistle and it was three points in the bag for Bourton which they didn't really deserve.

This Saturday Rovers travel to Tetbury Town

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