Ten man Rovers pay the penalty

Kempston were torn apart in the first five minutes as the hosts raced into a two goal lead, before Rovers were reduced to ten men. A brief second half comeback was quickly stifled by the home side as they ran out comfortable winners.

The game at Pack Meadow exploded into life in the second minute, a cheap free kick was conceded by Rovers, which was flighted into the box and powerfully headed home off the bar by Molesworth. The celebrations had barely died down when, in the fifth minute, Rankin was allowed freedom in the Rovers backline and swept home the second goal of the game. The home side looked dangerous every time the came forward and could’ve added to their lead but Rankin saw his well placed shot well saved by Carl Knox. Things went from bad to worse midway through the half, when Alfie Powell was dismissed for pulling back Panzo-Antonio as the referee deemed him the last man. Ten man Rovers only half chance of the first half came from the boots of Ben Baker, but his effort was over the bar. The impressive Sandhu nearly added a third goal late in the half, beating three men on the dribble before requiring Knox to beat the ball away. Kempston went into the dressing rooms two goals down and a man light.

Rovers shook things up at the break and made a double change to bring Dahie and Massaro into the midfield. The changes seemed to have the desired effect, Rovers were awarded a penalty for an infringement on Jake Newman, the decision appeared soft. That did not matter to Izale McLeod, the skipper for the day, dispatching the spot kick low to the left to halve the deficit. Rovers’ resurgence lasted all of five minutes before Sandhu was allowed to surge into the box before being clumsily brought down for a penalty to the hosts. Molesworth converted the kick to restore the two goal lead. Midway through the half, both of Coleshill’s front two wasted glorious chances to put the game to bed. Both Panzo-Antonio and Wahbourne putting over the bar from only a handful of yards, both played in by Sandhu. Robbie Goodman tested Hathaway with a volley from the edge of the box after a corner was not fully cleared by the hosts, but the effort was comfortably dealt with by the home keeper. The game’s final action came two minutes from time, the impressive Sandhu working a chance on the right hand side, cutting the ball back for sub Keen to slam home from close range.

Rover remain in eighteenth place in the league table. Heavy defeats to the two sides below them in the table has kept the situation largely the same. There is a break in league fixtures until November the second for Kempston when the play host to near neighbors Bedford Town. Before that, the team head to Potton United on Tuesday for a first round tie in the county cup.

The Andy Kirby Kit Predictor Game – Yellow and Red [8/9 for the season]