Rovers 2, Rangers 0

THE race – with its dubious reward – for the Priaulx League wooden spoon lives on after Rovers’ first win of the season. The home team’s deserved success on the original Port Soif pitch on Saturday afternoon lifted them level with their defeated opponents and it is looking ever more likely that their fourth and final league meeting of the season at St Andrew’s will be a winner-takes-all affair.

Mac Gallienne, the Rangers coach, must have guessed it was not going to be his day when circumstances again dictated he would have to don his boots and list himself among the subs.

Then, having jogged across the waterlogged main pitch, he arrived to his distant technical area to find the away team dugout in several pieces lying on the ground.

Rovers, you might have thought, would have offered the visitors their own wooden shelter to house the Rangers subs and coaching team, but such Corinthian attitudes have long since disappeared in local football and Gallienne was forced to stand fully exposed to the elements until he could stand it no more.

With his team two down after just 21 minutes, he waited a while longer before introducing himself into the red-and-blacks’ midfield.

As a Gallienne fan I would like to have written his wily 40-plus skills made a difference but, sadly not, except that is on the odd opponent’s shins.

Rovers looked all the better for having Jarrod Avery in between the sticks and within 13 minutes were ahead.

Jamie Ferbrache won the home side good ground and then a free kick deep on the right. Right back Sam Le Tissier drove the ball in hard and low and veteran defender Stuart Coburn sliced his attempted clearance into the net.

Ryan de Jersey nearly added a second own goal shortly afterwards but on 21 minutes Rovers did double their lead.

Gary Stevenson was clumsily fouled on the edge of the area and got up to ram home a low free-kick in the corner to the right of keeper Rob Cowley.

Gallienne had seen enough and immediately threw on forward Matt Bailey for defender Shaun Murphy.

The change made little to no difference and Rovers continued to win every second ball.

Shane Billien created room for himself to blast over the bar on the half-hour mark and he might have scored in the second period, too.

But Rovers were rarely seriously tested in the second half and they held out comfortably for the points.

Coach Martyn Dorey said the win was testament to the ‘really good spirit among the lads’.

‘That puts us level on points with them and we’ve got to play them once more.

‘It was a good all-round team performance.

‘I was really pleased with Jarrod. He came in to help us and he was absolutely excellent.’

Teams:

Rovers: Avery, Le Tissier, J. Ellis, Quertier, Bachmann, Stevenson, Philp, de Jesus, Ferbrache, Leaman, Smale. Subs: Foote, Richards, L. Ellis and Jehan.

Rangers: Cowley, Carre, Coburn, de Jersey, Murphy, Tough, Robilliard, Gontier, Bird, S. Billien, Lowe. Subs: Bailey, Gallienne, D. Billien.

Referee: M. Walsh.