Jake Newman, signed on Tuesday, scored a sixth minute winner to settle matters on the opening day of the season.
Kempston finally began their 2019-20 league campaign in glorious sunshine at Hillgrounds with three ‘old boys’ returning to the club for second spells to face Didcot Town, who just missed out on the play off places last season.
From the very get go, Rovers attacking intent was clear. Shooting from kick off, the ball flying just over the bar, with the Didcot keeper Jacucha surprised. The visitors George Reid had an effort comfortably saved by Carl Knox early on as they probed for an opening of their own. On six minutes came the game’s decisive moment, a long, raking pass from Robbie Goodman found Jake Newman in behind Didcot, the forward raced on to the ball and slipped it calmly past Jacucha who had hesitated to come off his line. It was Newman’s forty second strike in sixty four appearances for Kempston and first in his second spell with the club. Either side of the quarter hour, Didcot should have levelled matters, first Alfie Powell was back to clear after Reid saw his initial shot parried by Knox, then Reid found Humphries, who managed to get a shot beyond Knox, but fortunately for Rovers’ number one it rolled along the goal line instead of over it. Midway through the half, Rovers should’ve doubled their lead, Ben Shepherd threaded a ball through to Newman, who was one on one with Jacucha. The keeper managed to do enough to block Newman, but the ball fell to Izale McLeod who danced around the prone stopper but couldn’t find the target from a very tight angle. Rovers created a further couple of half chances, but the score stayed at one nil at the break.
After the re-start, Didcot looked the brighter in the early stages and Kempston appeared to be struggling to keep them at arms length. Ten minutes into the second period George Reid went to ground in the area and looked to the match officials, his protests for a penalty, along with several team mates’ were waved away as Cameron Hyde had made a brilliantly timed challenge. Kempston were managing to resist Didcot’s attacking threat, reducing them to shooting from distance, Hayden finding the fence behind the goal with fifteen minutes to play. Didcot subs Mattimore and Pin both had half chances that went without danger to the goal, the former finding Knox continuing his good pre-season form and the latter blazing over. inside the last ten minutes and Rovers had a guilt edged chance to put the game to bed, Newman put McLeod through and the former MK Dons man drew defenders and goal keeper to him before laying the ball back to Newman, who couldn’t get a clean shot away and saw his effort blocked. Six minutes in to stoppage time, McNeill found himself free in the Rovers area with the chance to level the game at the death, but his volley was mistimed and no where near the goal.
The final whistle saw Rovers continue their record of not losing at home on the opening day since 2014. There are two away games next for Kempston as they first make a midweek trip to Daventry Town before heading for Gorleston next weekend in the FA Cup. Rovers’ Reserve side today won away 5-2 at Wellingborough Whitworth.