Football - Bourton Rovers (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Football - Bourton Rovers

Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 1 Bourton Rovers 2 Brockworth 2

The two sides went into this game with similar records, both occupying healthy positions in Divison 1 of the Northern Senior league. Their first meeting this season had seen Rovers come out on top in the final minutes thanks to a Tim Hudson header, this time around that final sparkle was sadly missing from the home side and a point a piece was the order of the day.

The pitch an hour before kick off looked, considering the dismal weather of the last fortnight, in remarkably good condition. A torrential downpour just before and after kick-off changed all that and the leg-sapping surface made flowing football somewhat difficult.

The visitors, to their credit, took the game to the Rovers from the off, so it was somewhat of a surprise when the home side took the lead, The goal, when it came, was an excellent one. Harveys flick sent Stroud free on the right and his pin-point cross was turned home by the predatory Daniel Luney.

There was little other first half action other than a torrid miss by Hudson when put clean through on goal completely missed his finish and saw the ball squirm away to safety.

Two goals in a ten minute spell in the second half turned the tables. First after the Rovers squandered possession in the middle of the park, a well timed left foot volley restored parity and then Odom, having just come on as substitute, turned a goal bound header into his own net whilst attempting to clear.

This precluded Bourtons best spell of the game and fittingly it was Odom who turned catalyst for the equaliser. His run and cross from the right flank found the head of a diving Matthew Winter, whose clinical finish set up a dramatic finale.

It wasnt to be this time, though Hudson and Luney, and full back Stroud cutting in from the flank almost grabbed the winner.