Roesiders back to winning ways

ROE ROVERS Reserves hosted City Colts at Scroggy Road on Saturday finding themselves at the wrong end of the table after a recent run of three defeats plagued by injuries and poor performances.

The Rovers manager welcomed a full reserve squad to pick from for the first time this season,and it was to prove vital that they had their strongest side against a very good footballing colts side.

The Limavady men have been leaking soft goals for a long time now and so in came three major players who would prove to be the backbone of the team, goalkeeper Gregory O'Brien, central defender Martin Deehan and striker and captain Dan Maude, all who were sorely missed and proved the difference in what turned out to be a massive 2-0 win for the home team. Colts started the game brightly and controlled the first twenty mins with some good passing football leading to a few unlucky efforts on goal.

Rovers finally got to grips with the game showing great passion and strength in the tackles. Mark Rafferty was to have the first chance of note, running at the colts defence from the wing, the colts keeper did well to close him quickly and smother his shot.

The home side went into the break with a 1-0 lead after captain Dan Maude swivelled on a breaking ball that fell kindly for him in the six yard box lashing it into the top corner from an acute angle.

The first half had been a tight affair and Rovers needed to dig deep to keep the lead and played much better in the second half.

The Rovers defence marshalled brilliantly by the return of Martin Deehan and backed up with the safe hands of goalkeeper Gregory O'Brien was proving too much for the visitors as they dealt with everything thrown at them.

Rovers knew they needed the second goal against a dangerous colts side and were to get it in the 62nd minute through the hard grafting Rafferty.

Matty Hamilton provided the through ball which Rafferty controlled in his stride before firing low and hard past the onrushing keeper.

This ended the scoring with both sides having chances most notably from hamilton hitting the bar from 26 yards for Rovers and O'Brien saving well from a good colts free kick.

Rovers responded well from their managers harsh words before kick off and showed great hunger for this result as clearly they and their management team believe they are in a false position in the table.