Champagne remains on ice as Rovers stir

Battling against end-of-term fatigue, Rovers came good with two goals in the last half hour at the Track to win 2-0 and theoretically maintain a title challenge which you expect will be extinguished in two days’ time when St Martin’s take to the pitch again and face a Bels side that, on top of a stack of injuries, now face an impending suspension for key midfielder Dave Merris, unluckily dismissed here amid a mad fracas.

Despite the available spoils there was a clear and perhaps understandable end-of-season feel to the early proceedings.

The tempo was slow, the edge missing, the only real passion shown in the very vocal dissent shown by Ryan-Zico Black, soon calmly and skilfully silenced by referee Brent Blondel who would face a much more testing moment later.

Bels were able to name Marc McGrath on the bench in a team showing just one change to the side that had lost at St Peter’s in the FA Cup and they were first to threaten, Robbie Williams finding acres of space on Rovers’ left before slicing his finish well wide.

The good news for the home team is that they had no Kyle Smith to worry about on this occasion.

Rovers went with Carlos Canha up top alone, which meant that Bels would not have to worry about being embarrassed for lack of pace as in midweek.

Canha, lacking a killer surge, deals in subtle skills and movement, but in recent weeks his form has symbolised the team as a whole.

The classy Madeiran has also lost his goal touch, amid a wider drought for the long-time league leaders.

Rovers’ goal threat reduced further with the early loss of a Blair Howitt to injury and for any watching Saint the licking of lips in anticipation of cracking open the champagne was increasing with every passing minute of a drab first half.

Ben Le Tocq was afforded a long lecture from Blondel when Bels bayed for some form of card and it was the Rovers defender, moved to left back, who produced the game’s first serious attempt on target, 28 minutes in, only to find Tom Bruley wholly behind the ball.

Sam Hall was next to try his luck, but again Bruley dealt with the attempt easily enough.

It was a game crying out for a goal, but all we got from the first half hour was a chuckle at the sight of a player embark on a dribble and then comically fall over.

The failings of the game were maintained by a Hall free kick attempt that would not have found a second goal frame piled on top of the real thing.

The sound of Blondel’s half-time whistle was to widespread relief and it was not about to get better any time soon.

The second half was 10 minutes old when sub George Clayton maintained the low standards with a swipe and miss in front of goal.

Then an actual goal. Blondel spotted a push by Steve Saunders and Le Tocq sent Bruley the wrong way from the spot.

Bels had half an hour to turn things around but they would have to do it without Merris, the only casualty from a major flare up which involved several players.

James Grundy and Jarod Carrington were lucky to stay on themselves and after an hour of boredom the game had very much come alive.

Rovers made the sensible decision to take off Grundy before he turned his caution into a dismissal and Bels, likewise, soon removed Carrington.

The incident begged a dismissal for someone, but there was a suspicion that the former York City man, who has impressed in recent times, was an innocent victim in the proceedings.

On 81min. the enlivened proceedings saw Rovers kill off the home team with a splendid finish by Martin Savident which nestled high into the net. Deep into stoppage time sub Marcus Queripel headed a fine consolation in a game that had belatedly come alive.