Walnuts stump Moles

Rovers took the lead early in the second half at Aylesbury, but found themselves behind soon after before a superb levelling goal, but a late miss by leading scorer Jake Newman will take the shine off what was a terrifically spirited display.
It was a less than glorious afternoon in Buckinghamshire as Rovers visited the Moles, the Scots would use the word ‘dreak’ to describe the weather today as we sit on the cusp of winter. The pitch, given the weather and time of year held out well, but was not conducive to playing the ball quickly on the floor.

As early as the second minute the hosts troubled the Rovers goal, as Fitzgerald hit the upright and then Almond danced his way around several players but dragged his effort well wide at the near post. Aylesbury should’ve taken the lead on ten minutes, Almond put Deacon through on goal, the forward slid his shot under Martin Conway toward goal only for Seb Simpson to heroically clear off the line. There was a short delay to play as Kyal McNulty required treatment for an injury he sustained in clearing the ball, there were no other players around him at the time, which suggested a muscular problem. The full back returned to the action carrying the knock. Rovers first troubled the home goal on the half hour as Newman turned and hit a tame shot from the edge of the area. The first half ended goal less.

Five minutes into the second half, Rovers exploded into life. A right wing cross from Josh Sturniolo, making his first ever start for Rovers, found the head of Jamaine Ivy. The forward gratefully nodded the ball into the net for his first goal of the season, indeed his first goal for the club since April Fools Day in the victory over Uxbridge at the end of last season. The joy and relief was clear to see. The hosts weren’t behind for long, four minutes later Rovers failed to clear a corner properly and the loose ball fell to Jenkins a handful of yards from goal and he bundled home. No sooner than the celebrations died down, the hosts were cheering again as Haule found space on the right, his deflected cross found the head of Almond to nod home, turning the game around and putting the hosts two one in front. Rovers made a double change, bringing on Sam Johnson and the returning Josh Crawley. Just over ten minutes after the change, Crawley gained possession wide left and played the ball long into the space between the back line and the keeper, perfectly on to the feet of Johnson. The winger took the ball in his stride and rounded the home keeper to slot home in what seemed like a single movement for a brilliant equaliser. Six minutes from the end, Rovers had a glorious chance to win the game as Johnson flicked the ball through to Newman, who bore down on goal, unfortunately for Rovers, the forward’s finish went wide. Rovers had one further chance to win the game, Robbie Goodman shooting from very long range only just wide.

The game finished level at 2-2, lifting Rovers one place into eleventh in the table. On Tuesday night, Rovers play host to Ashford Town at 7:45.