Tuesday 3 January 2012

Careless Mistakes Costly For Luckless Rovers


Rovers hapless holiday period was compounded with a 2-0 defeat away to relegation rivals Barnet in North London.

The Pirates wasted numerous chances at the end of the first period before capitulating at the end of the second; Izale McLeod's 15th of the season and Clovis Kamdjo bagging the points that bring the Bees level on points with Rovers.

Sunday's loan signings, goalkeeper Michael Poke and central defender Aaron Downes both took up immediate places in the starting 11 while Eliot Richards replaced Joe Anyinsah, playing in a central midfield role alongside Andy Dorman in Paul Buckle's 4-1-4-1 formation.

The manager's situation continues to look extremely precarious, with just two points taken from the last possible 24. The only two victories since October have come against non-league opposition in the FA Cup, but with Premier League Aston Villa coming up on Saturday, the cup run appears odds on to end.

Once the Gas fell behind on 69 minutes, the calls for the Buckle's head began ringing out from the travelling fans yet again, the mood amongst supporters leaving Buckle's position increasingly untenable.

The home side created the bulk of the first halves chances, though their profligate shooting prevented any breakthrough - Mark Marshall's swinging left foot sending the ball over the roof of Underhill's South Stand.

Poke, playing his first competitive game since August 2010, looked confident throughout the game, adeptly dealing with numerous crosses into his penalty area while also smothering the ball at the onrushing feet of McLeod.

Even though they had been under the cosh for much of the game, it was Rovers who ended the first period on top; captain-for-the-day Gary Sawyer testing Dean Brill's reactions with a forceful drive, which was only kept out by the former Luton keeper's fingertips.

Downes was then inches wide from a Mustapha Carayol corner; the winger's centre flew towards the far post, but the grey-haired centre back was unable to divert the ball past Brill.

When the players re-emerged from the tunnel for the second half, Matt Harrold was not among them, Scott McGleish, who spent over three years at Barnet earlier in his career, the replacement. The under-fire Buckle, however, retained the tactics from the first half.

Richards twice burst from midfield, but failed to net a fifth goal of the season with either attempt.

Minutes later the young Welshman was floored after Danny Senda attempted to kick clear a head high ball, catching Richards in the process. Unfortunately, referee Lee Collins waved away calls for a penalty before stopping play just seconds afterwards for Richards to receive treatment.

The Gas, now attacking down the infamous Underhill slope, then had the opportunity they had been waiting for, Chris Zebroski's pace allowing him to run free of a clutch of orange shirts. Left one-on-one with Brill, the 25 year old was unable to hit the back of the net, Brill falling to his left and clutching the striker's shot.

Soon enough the home side broke the deadlock, League 2 top scorer McLeod the inevitable source. Poke played a high ball upfield which was sent back by a Barnet touch towards Downes and Cian Bolger. Neither player took control of the situation, allowing the ball to bounce between them, where McLeod's fleet feet left them for dead.

The ball was still bouncing and the on-loan stopper darted off his line to lessen the angle, only to see McLeod dink the final shot over his head for the opener, meaning the forward is now three clear at the top of the fourth tier scoring charts.

The arrival of Joe Anyinsah, in place of Craig Stanley, made no impact on the game and, with ten minutes still to run, Barnet put the game beyond Rovers.

The Bees won a corner, which was taken short to Ricky Holmes. With the visiting defence caught off guard, the frontman advanced down the byline and laid the ball off for Kamdjo to thump over the line and add to Gashead's world of misery.

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