Newman at the double

Jake Newman ended his mini goal-drought in fine style, netting a brace of headers, as Rovers completed their biggest win of the season so far.
The game was in doubt as kick off approached, a fault with one of the floodlights left the far corner of the pitch less illuminated that the rest of the field, however the referee deemed it playable and the game was started with only a five-minute delay to proceedings.

The game was incredibly slow to get going and the first real action of any note came in the twelfth minute, when a long Aylesbury throw was flicked on by Collard. The looping header landed on the top of the net. In the twenty third minute visiting full back Chris Cordara-Soanes became the only entry in the referee’s note book for the evening after going in for a challenge through the back of Sam Johnson. It wasn’t until after the half hour mark that Rovers began to click in to gear. Jake Newman was put through on goal, but his deft finish was blocked by the on-rushing keeper. Shortly afterwards, a floated cross from Newman, after good work from Luke Heneghan, was met by Robbie Goodman, but the defenders’ header was tipped over the bar. Martin Conway was only seriously called into action in the thirty sixth minute, to deny Lea Coulter one on one, which he did comfortably. Sam Johnson hit the post with a looping cross shot shortly before half time, Jamaine Ivy lashing the rebound wildly over the bar. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Luke Heneghan forced visiting keeper Sillitoe into action with a save from a long curling effort. The two sides went off goalless at the break.

Five minutes into the second half and Aylesbury should’ve been in front, as Coulter was put through. He took the ball neatly around Conway was slid toward the empty net, only to see his effort denied by a brilliant goal line block by Michael Lyon. Moments later, it was Rovers to break the deadlock. Sam Johnson found the space that he was searching for in the first half and put in a delightful cross for Newman. The forward arched his neck and send a looping header into the top corner for one nil. Kempston, clearly buoyed by the goal, surged forward and four minutes later were rewarded when Johnson pressed and won the ball back from a hesitant defender, making for the by line, he put in another glorious cross to find Newman unmarked six yards out. The forward barely had to move to nod the ball into the net for his and the club’s second of the night. Newman did have chances for his hat-trick but the closest he came was dragging just wide from an angle with fifteen minutes to go. The star of the night though was Sam Johnson and the winger was rewarded in the eighty third minute when he was put through by sub Ash Fuller. Johnson showed pace to get in behind the back line and composure to slot the ball past the on rushing Sillitoe for three nil. Rovers were not done there and could’ve scored a candidate for goal of the season two minutes later as a fine passing move involving Newman, Fuller and George Boland found Lyon through on goal, only for the full back to have his effort saved. Kempston did cap off the rout with one final goal, Jake Newman turned on the edge of the area and his shot was half blocked and fell to sub Nathan Tshikuna. The tricky winger took a touch to set himself before curling the ball into the far corner for four nil.
Kempston were cheered from the field by the home crowd for a fine second half display. Rovers’ next game is on Saturday, when they entertain Kings Lynn Town in the Southern League Cup.