ROVERS DEMOLISH SO-CALLED QUALITY OPPOSITION

1st division opposition Westcountry Forest can't have known what hit them as Rovers came out with all guns blazing on a wet but otherwise pristine playing surface.

Valiantly led by player-manager, Neil Donaldson and ably assisted by the recently returned from suspension, Tim Horsley, Tunaville took the game to Forest from the opening whistle. An early combination of high balls from central defensive duo, Aslett and Walker coupled with penetrative crosses from both flanks supplied by McKinney and Lucas saw the Forest defence in disarray and within 5 minutes Dodd latched onto an early ball from Mullins, slipped past the Westcountry keeper and gave Rovers the lead.

A surprised home crowd then looked on in aghast as immediately from the restart, Donaldson deftly robbed his opposite number of the ball and seizing the opportunity, spotted the forest keeper off his line and lobbed him from nearly 60 yards to put Rovers two up.

Forest were visible stunned and adopted a lacklustre attitude for the rest of the first half as they tried to regain their composure.

Sure enough, it was Forest who started the second half the more lively and it was only a series of superb saves in quick succession by rovers keeper, Dave slaughter that kept them from making an early comeback. However as the half progressed it was Rovers turn to consolidate and as the minutes progressed the likelihood of a real upset began to loom.

With ten minutes left, Forest took the unusual step of substituting their goalkeeper with 7'3" eastern block striker Scratchit Cosavegotanitch. Subsequently adopting a route one policy wholeheartedly focused on the big mans heading ability, it was inevitable that they would leave themselves open at the back and in the dying minutes Rovers midfield maestro Horsley put the tie beyond doubt with a deft 20yard volley from just outside the area.

At the final whistle a jubilant Rovers team swapped shirts with premiership contenders Forest, delighted with the performance they'd given.

'It's quite unbelievable' commented player-manager Neil Donaldson. 'I'd goaded the boys beforehand about not taking this game seriously as they thought they stood no chance and it seems to have done the trick. I'm immensely proud of what we have achieved here today and I've never been more pleased to utter the phrase "the Speckled Hens are on me tonight"'