THE GAME
Rovers continued their run of excellent results at The Memorial Stadium with a 2-0 win against Accrington Stanley thanks to goals from Riley Harbottle and Jack Sparkes.
Joe Quigley in for Ellis Harrison was the only change made to the starting XI by Steve Evans who saw his side take an early lead. There were only five minutes on the clock when Kofi Balmer’s long throw into the box saw Riley Harbottle head past goalkeeper Ollie Wright to register his first goal in a Rovers shirt.
Paddy Madden wasted a golden opportunity to equalise for the visitors shortly afterwards but could only prod the ball towards Brad Young in the Rovers goal. The striker threatened again shortly after the half hour mark when he met a cross from Connor O’Brien and headed towards the top corner only to see Harbottle head clear.
Whilst the visitors looked sharp on the break, those were the only real chances they created in a fairly sterile opening 45 minutes and Rovers comfortably held on to their early lead.
Eight minutes into the second half Rovers doubled their advantage when Jack Sparkes fired home a free kick from the edge of the area. He and Tommy Leigh had stood over the ball and with everyone expecting Leigh to try his luck, Sparkes spotted an opportunity after the way in which Wright lined up his defensive wall and his low shot found the bottom corner of the net.
The visitors offered very little after that and Rovers might have added to their tally after Evans introduced substitutes Forde and Rijks in the 66th minute.
Rijks in particular, might have registered not only his first Rovers goal, but might have scored a hat trick, hitting one effort wide of the target, another over the bar and watching a third blocked by an Accrington defender.
Joel Senior also went close to scoring his first goal for the club, but after a lung bursting run into the box he fired just wide of the upright.
Accrington only really threatened in the final five minutes when Young saved a shot from Seamus Conneely and shots from Dave Abimbola and Josh Woods were blocked by a packed home defence.
The result moved Rovers up to 16th in the league table and although still not mathematically safe from the drop, they are playing with a confidence and determination that suggests they will be after the next couple of games.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘It was. Difficult conditions, I think we all accept it. A couple of things that really affect a football match in terms of outside, if you like, are really strong windy conditions and a frozen surface. It was a perfect pitch today, but the wind was gale force going down and across the pitch, which made it difficult for both sets of players. I think we acclimatised more in the second half. First half, obviously, we had a great start, scored after four or five minutes. Brilliant header from Riley, brilliant movement in and around him as well.
‘In the second half, we came out to a rousing reception from the supporters. The Gasheads, wow, unbelievable in full voice. It was a big attendance as well, one of the best of the season, because they knew how important it was, and it turned out to be with the other results. In the second half, we took control. I don’t think they had a serious shot at the goal. We obviously got the second goal with Sparksey, a well worked free kick straight off the training ground, so that was great to see.
‘Everyone talks about the Thatchers End, but all around the stadium, they were incredible today. I think the Gasheads knew today was important. I think they’ve seen us go to Gillingham and get a win last week, and off the back of a home win. We need every man; let’s get 10,000 in here on Good Friday. Let’s get 10,000, let’s win and let us take centre stage in applauding the fans for their support.’ Rovers Head Coach Steve Evans
‘We said it was a massive game before, so to get the three points was massive for us, and obviously the fans as well. We always put it in the box at every opportunity. So, Riley did a good header. It was difficult from then on; we didn’t really get a foothold on the game from that goal. But we come in at one nil and then in the second half, I thought we had a very good second half.
‘We had words at half time; it wasn’t good enough. So, it was about coming out and putting in a good performance that would win us a game. Tommy was going to have it, and then the keeper had set his wall up so far to the right, and the gap was just massive, so it obviously suited me to just go round it.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever have a keeper set it up like that, probably again, because I’m not sure what happened there, to be honest. It was nice to finally score a free kick. I think that was my first free kick, actually, in professional football. It was nice to actually get one.’ Rovers defender Jack Sparkes
‘First half was acceptable, second half wasn’t for me. It was a team that needed to have a look at themselves, really.
‘We’ve got to do better, simple as that. First half I thought we were the better team possession wise, and everything else, but probably had one shot on target.
‘That game was there to be won today, and we didn’t take it.’ Accrington Boss John Doolan
