Murray late double in vain as Rovers win 3-2

North, who have now won just once in seven, welcomed back Tom de la Mare, but were still some distance short of being full strength, while in contrast Rovers arrived in much better shape.

Pitch conditions were good, much better than the weather which favoured the visitors for the first 45 after an initial minute’s silence to mark the passing of 1960s North great and USA international, Barry Mahy.

Both sides wore black armbands and it was Rovers who threatened early, twice Carlos Canha opening up the home defence with some slick through passing.

Mario Cacace blazed well over as North finally got on the front foot, but with Sam Hall’s skills lighting up a bleak night, Rovers looked the more likely winners from early on.

It quickly became all too scrappy but Canha was clever to retain possession and delay his pass before freeing Howitt at high speed.

The midfielder had only Josh Addison to beat but slid his shot wide, a bad miss.

At the western end Luke Mollet’s snap shot was straight at Adam Bullock but a couple of yards either side and it was probably in.

Canha then drove just over from a narrow angle, moments after blazing high enough to endanger passers by at Oatlands,

Addison saved North when Hall was freed by Whitmore one on one on goal, but the goal arrived a minute later on 40min. as neat play down the left involving Louis Graham and Canha set up Whitmore for a near-post finish.

Two minutes later it was 2-0, Addison caught in possession as he dawdled near the edge of the six-yard box and as the charged down ball fell loose, Hall eased his shot into an empty net.

North needed to respond quickly on the restart but it was Rovers who initially remained the more threatening, Addison keeping the home side in the game with a save from Whitmore.

But with Sam Murray in the side North always have a chance and on the hour mark, the striker blazed past Bullock to give the chocolate and blues renewed hope.

Three minutes later Murray did it again, diving forwards on de la Mare’s cross to plant a lovely header beyond Bullock.

Parity lasted two minutes, Rovers beating the high press and Howitt cleverly lifting his lob over Addison and into an empty goal.

Young Keene Domaille nearly levelled again for North and sub Alvarez hit the bar with his first touch. North seemed sure to score again more than once and Domaille also struck the bar, but nervously and very precariously Kevin Gillease’s men held on to win 3-2.