Sliding Up the Table

After two recent home postponements, Rovers had high confidence that their game on Saturday afternoon at Hertford would be on thanks to the all-weather pitch. This was one of only two games that were played in the division, the other in Cirencester as the beat second placed Biggleswade 4-1 in Gloucestershire.

There were starts for Aderoju up front, as well as Olukanmi out wide; Jake Kerins was moved to centre back partnering Lee Cooksey as Kyle Lincoln was absent for this fixture. There was also a place on the bench for Academy prospect Israel Ajana.

Rovers were having less possession than the hosts, but it was Ben Stevens who threatened to open the scoring first. On 7 minutes, the winger's cross from the left looped onto the crossbar, the resulting rebound couldn't be converted by Olukanmi.

Half way through the half and it was Wielblad who had an effort at goal, his low drive was well saved by the Hertford goalkeeper. Down the other end almost instantly, Jake Kerins made an excellent goal-saving tackle to stop an almost certain goal.

On 28 minutes Rovers were in front, having given away two fouls from two previous corners, they made this one count. Dummett had the duty of standing on the goalkeeper, as Simpson's in-swinging corner found Dahie 6 yards out to head home.

Into the second half and the hosts were dominating a lot of possession once again, however Rovers looked dangerous on the counter. Olukanmi made way for Bakogeorge just ten minutes into the half; with a number of Hertford's attacks coming down the left and the amount of games coming up, Ash Fuller looked to try and freshen it up as well as using some fresh legs for the counters.

Just past the hour mark and the pressure paid off as the hosts equalised. A perfect cross from the right found the head of Stylianlders whose run wasn't tracked or marked, despite the best efforts of Rose it found its way in.

It took just eight minutes for Rovers to re-take the lead, a number of passes were strung together, ending with Stevens and Bakogeorge on the touchline, Stevens' low cut back found Wielblad who struck a powerful effort at goal. His shot took a deflection off of Aderoju as it trickled over the line.

The final twenty minutes were fairly uneventful, Rovers defending well and substitute Hatch working hard up front to take the pressure off.

The result moves the Walnuts to 10th, five points off playoffs. Next up is a trip to Didcot Town on Tuesday night before we host AFC Dunstable at Hillgrounds on Saturday.

Photo credit - 366daysofphotography.