NO doubt about it, Rovers must be sick of the sight of Gloucester City.
Three games, three defeats, 13 goals conceded is how their recent record against the British Gas Business Premier Division side now reads.
Only this time Rovers heeded the warnings - nobody more so than manager Rod Brown.
But after admitting last week his side would “have their work cut out” if they were to end their Gloucester hoodoo, he will have been baffled by how they had it so easy for 45 minutes but still ended up on the wrong end of a heavy defeat.
Because while last season the roaring Tigers chewed up Rovers and spat them out on the way to 4-1 and 5-0 victories, this time they had to weather a mini green and white storm before ending the home side’s participation in the FA Trophy for another year.
Not to mention the occasional slice of luck falling their way in shape of a soft first half penalty and an error from goalkeeper Jimmy Dormand late on.
Rovers weren’t completely blameless, however.
Defensively, they are still not entirely comfortable.
While there is clearly sufficient talent in the back three that Brown has settled upon - Dennis Pearce, Davion Hamilton and Rapinder Gill - lapses of concentration at vital moments are a cause for concern.
The manager’s second coming began with a trio of clean sheets, but a step up in class of opposition has seen eight goals leaked in the last two fixtures.
Consistency is still being sought. In fairness, there was not a lot Rovers could have done about the visitors’ 11th minute opener.
One man was the catalyst for the Greens’ capitulation when City won by the same scoreline last season - the talented Jack Pitcher.
Troublesome in a different manner this time around, Pitcher’s first chance to make a mark on the game resulted in him going to ground inside the Rovers penalty area.
He appeared to trip over the ball, but the referee controversially pointed to the spot, claiming a foul by skipper Pearce.
Alex Sykes’ left-footed penalty was too high and wide for James Dormand, and Gloucester had the advantage.
But not for long. To Rovers’ credit, they refused to be rattled by the incident.
Two chances for Luke Reynolds flashed by as they gradually clawed their way back into the game, with Kevin Sawyer at full stretch on both occasions in the Tigers’ goal.
Rovers continued to pile on the pressure and a Pearce effort was deflected just wide when Keenan Meakin-Richards helped on Dean Craven’s free-kick.
The reward for their attacking endeavour came on 34 minutes when the penalty count was levelled up.
Chris Hanna managed to outmaneuver Matt Rose with his back to goal and forced the Gloucester skipper into a rash challenge.
Keenan Meakin-Richards, a major success story since Brown’s return, stepped up and slotted home his first goal for the club.
The momentum, it seemed, was with Rovers. Dangerman Pitcher had been forced off with an injury, although the second half turned out to be a tale of two other fleet-footed, exciting talents.
Greens supporters searching for comfort following the loss of Mat Birley to Tamworth may have found it in his replacement Cameron Jones.
By far his side’s standout player, he showed pace, skill and audacity in a lively debut on the wing.
The key moment of magic, though, came from Gloucester substitute Will Morford, who restored their lead while paving the way for the Tigers to stroll on to victory.
His 66th minute strike was a sublime 25-yard chip which Dormand could do little about.
Gloucester’s two scorers combined to seal Rovers’ fate seven minutes from time, Morford starting the move out on the left before feeding Sykes, who rounded Pearce and cooly converted.
There was time for one more, courtesy of a handling error from Dormand.
Lee Smith’s effort from the edge of the box was spilled and Morford tapped in the easiest of rewards for an impressive individual display.
ROVERS: Dormand 5, Gill 5, Hamilton 7, Meakin-Richards 7, Pearce 6, Deakin 7, JONES 8, Alsop 7, Reynolds 5 (Clarke 5, 45 mins), Hanna 6 (Brady 5, 68 mins), Craven 6 (Duggan 5, 59 mins). Unused subs: Curtis, McHale.
GLOUCESTER: Sawyer, Sysom (Twyman, 86 mins), Marshall, Richards, Hamblin, Rose, Smith, Webb, Pticher (Morford, 31 mins), Sykes, Harris (Ballinger, 45 mins). Unused subs: Harris, Nash.
Referee: Mr C. Ruston (Stone). Attendance: 362. |