Rovers arrived at this fixture looking to put right their start to the season and ran out comfortable victors in the end against spirited opposition. Grant Fryer was included in the match squad after signing back to Rovers during the week and was immediately put into the starting line up.

The game started fairly evenly, with neither side really showing any attacking threat until after the quarter hour, Shane Bush saw a couple of chances saved and a header over the bar, Nathan Tshikuna also had a shot curl over from the edge of the box. The hosts then had a glorious chance to take the lead a corner was met by the head of Dan White, who thundered against the crossbar. Home hands were raised in appeal that the ball had crossed the line in the ensuing scramble but Rovers stood firm and cleared without conceding. Maisiri put a great chance over for the hosts and was made to pay moments later, when Shane Bush, having been fed by Tshikuna, took two bites at the cherry to bundle the ball into the net for his first goal of the season, in what was his one hundredth appearance for Rovers. Maisiri had a tame effort well saved before the break and Chris Jones smartly saved a free kick from Ben Shepherd to make sure that there was only one goal in the game at the break.

Ty Clark could have had the hosts level in the early minutes of the second half, his toe poked finish was denied by Martin Conway. Moments later, Rovers doubled their lead. Nathan Tshikuna hitting a half volley from the edge of the box into the net. Jones in the Desborough goal got a hand to the shot but couldn’t prevent it from nestling in the back of the net. Full of confidence, Kempston began to turn the screw. Ben Acquaye saw a shot sting the palms of Jones after a quick turn and shot from the edge of the area. Josh Crawley flashed a shot across the face of goal and then was denied moments later superbly by Jones in a one on one situation. With fifteen minutes to play, Crawley did get his goal. A lofted ball from the corner of the area floated beyond the desperate Jones and into the top corner of the net. The Kempston forward took to social media after the game to make sure everyone knew it was a shot and not a cross. Martin Conway was rarely troubled in the second period and only had two tame late efforts to deal with as he kept his first clean sheet of the season.

The win puts Rovers into the hat for the next round of the FA Cup and will boost confidence going into Bank Holiday Monday at Kidlington. As a result of scores elsewhere, Kempston’s scheduled date with AFC Dunstable in the League Cup has been postponed. After Monday’s trip to Kidlington, Kempston will host Berkhamsted on the first of September. The next round of the FA Cup will be drawn early next week and will take place over the weekend of September 8th.