'Three' and easy for Rovers

ROE ROVERS played their first match in a three weeks and secured an impressive but hard fought victory at Burndennett, on Saturday.

This would be a hard task at the best of times but was made much more difficult having to do without captain Paul Irwin, Timmy Douglas and Brian Butcher through injuries and work commitments.

The manager Gary Faulkner was also missing, leaving father Ralph at the helm who didn't disappoint by keeping his unbeaten run going.

Rovers started the game brightly and almost scored in the first minute after a good closing down from Gerald O'Kane allowed Danny Quinn to get a shot away which just went over the bar. Rovers continued to dominate and were looking sharp going forward.

About half way through the first half they took the lead through stand in skipper Brendan McGonigle with a superb strike, this came after some great passing moves from Quinn, O'Hara and M Logue.

The ball was worked down the right flank before Logue headed onto McGonigle who fired a fierce volley off underside off the bar leaving the keeper stranded. After taking the lead, Rovers sat off Burndennet allowing them back into the game, they finished the half stronger of the two and had a series of comers and free kicks in dangerous areas but Rovers were equal to anything that came their way.

The back five of Gregory O'Brien, Micky Logue, Barry O'Kane, Chris Harbinson and Paddy Logue, worked their socks off backed up with Gerry O'Kane, Alan Nichol, John Holmes, Joe O'Hara and McGonigle, it was going to be very hard to break Rovers down on this small pitch.

Burndennet missed a sitter five minutes before the break after a cross wasn't cleared, the ball fell to a Burndennet player before he fired over the empty net from 10 yards.

Rovers started the second half much better and it wasn't long before they doubled their lead. They were awarded a free kick just outside the area and with everyone expecting a cross from Tweedy Nicholl he fired the ball into the net at the rear post catching the keeper by surprise who allowed it under his body. This was quick thinking from Tweedy and he deserved his goal.

The game looked to be over at this point, Rovers looked comfortable, Rovers added a third when Barry O'Kane long throw left a tap in.

Burndennet did get on the score sheet just before the final whistle when the ball wasn't cleared properly and the striker fired through a bunch of players past Boogie to make the final score 3-1.

This has always been a tough place for Rovers to travel to, indeed it's the first victory for the Roesiders on this soil, although Burndennet seemed to be under par, Rovers had key players missing.

This Saturday sees Rovers travel to Draperstown for another league clash, with just one defeat in the last 11 games the Limavady side's camp is full of confidence at present, and looking to finish as high up the table as possible.