Report by Jools Thomas

The home team will feel slightly disappointed that they were unable to gain all three points but on the balance of play and on chances, then a draw was indeed a fair result.

FC were quick out of the blocks with Ben Stevens seeing his powerful right field shot scrape the top of the bar before going behind for a goal kick. This was followed by a Kieron Schmidt miskick, which fortunately found the head of Jordan Jenkins who glanced his header wide. FC could have taken the lead on 9 minutes. Shayne Almond had a particularly good game and his delicious pass found Schmidt who beat the keeper but not the onrushing defender who swept the ball from the goal line.

Josh Sturniolo linked well with Ben Shepherd resulting in the midfielder just missing out as keeper Ash Jenkins raced from his goal to cut out the danger. A low shot on the half hour by Jake Newman gave Jenkins a little trouble as the away side started to create a few chances. At the other end, Ty Deacon stabbed a ball goalwards but Rovers’ keeper Martin Conway managed to gather easily enough. The final move of the half was a jinking run by Almond with the keeper finally managing to gather under pressure.

The second half was when the game really came to life. Jenkins won a one on one race with Conway as early as the 46th minute before the away team took the lead. Jamaine Ivy met a cross with a flicked header, which found its way past the despairing Jenkins and into an unguarded net.

A lofted Shayne Almond shot hinted that FC could drag themselves back into the game and this pressure was rewarded as FC grabbed their equaliser on 54 minutes. A corner into the danger area saw Kyal McNulty failing to clear thereby giving Jorden Jenkins just enough time and space to prod the ball into the net from just a few yards. Even better was to come as the home team gave the SRD Stadium something to really cheer about with a goal of great perseverance. Ben Stevens found a great deal of space on the right hand side and his surging run and cross found the industrious Almond who had to head home from within the six yard box.

Aston Goss was back to his imperious best and on 67 minutes unleashed a low shot that Conway gathered at the near post. Jeanmal Prosper also played a vital role in the second half and he broke into the box before seeing his shot deflect away for a corner.

This was really FC’s final chance of the game as Rovers clawed themselves back into the game to claim a point. The away team broke the offside trap and in one smooth motion, Sam Johnson controlled the ball and hit a smart shot past Jenkins for his side’s equaliser. Jake Newman had a chance to win the game for his side with six minutes remaining as he raced clear with just Ash Jenkins to beat. Ash narrowed the angle and this forced the striker to sweep his shot wide in the final attacking move of the game.