We should have been out of sight ages ago - totally deserved to win, but just can't score when the opportunities present themselves. We need a goalscorer - Cunnington and Taylor have missed a hatful.
DC needs to give White a go - he's been prolific at this level with Salisbury. Neither Taylor or Cunnington have been prolific at any level.
I'm very pleased with are current form and don't want to sound negative but we do really need to start scoring goals it could cost us at the end of the season goal difference could see us miss out on a play off position or possibly better
Rovers 1-1 Dover Tom Murphy snatches a point for Dover in stoppage time at the Memorial Stadium as Rovers maintain their unbeaten home record. Adam Cunnington opened the scoring in the first half turning in Stuart Sinclair’s shot before Murphy lashed home a shot from a Dover corner to make the game 1-1. September’s Manager of the Month Darrell Clarke made three changes to the side that drew at Eastleigh on Tuesday night. Will Puddy starts in goal, replacing the suspended Steve Mildenhall. Dave Martin and Adam Cunnington come into the side replacing the suspended Ollie Clarke and with Ellis Harrison dropping to the substitutes bench. The home side started in a positive way and Adam Cunnington could have opened the scoring inside 10 minutes. Recalled to the starting 11 after missing out on Tuesday night Cunnington lept highest to latch onto the end of Lee Brown’s cross. The Cambridge loanee headed the ball goalwards only to be denied by the crossbar with Dover keeper Andrew Rafferty rooted to his line. Dover hit the woodwork themselves inside the opening 20 minutes as Stefan Payne struck the inside of the post from the edge of the area. The home side could have been reduced to 10 men moments later as a poor back pass from Neal Trotman allowed Ricky Miller through onto goal. Miller collided with Will Puddy in the Rovers penalty area but referee Wayne Barratt waved away Dover’s protests allowing Tom Parkes to clear the danger. Rovers took the lead just past the half hour mark as Adam Cunnington scored his third goal in the blue and white quarters. Lee Brown took his throw in quickly and found Dave Martin on the touchline, Martin’s cross into the box was cleared but only to Stuart Sinclair on the edge of the area. Sinclair lashed a shot towards goal that was going wide before Cunnington diverted it past Rafferty to open the scoring. Dover started the brighter of the two sides in the second half and Chris Nanetti tried his luck from distance however, Will Puddy was equal to it and pushed it behind for a corner, which Rovers easily cleared. Tom Parkes had a chance to double Rovers lead 10 minutes into the second half but headed a Dave Martin corner over the top of the Whites goal. Just before the hour mark Dave Martin burst through the middle of the pitch and past two Dover defenders before picking out Cunnington on the left hand side of the area. Cunnington looking for his second of the game decided to shoot but lashed his effort high and wide of Andrew Rafferty’s goal. Dave Martin continued his impressive second half moments later putting an inch perfect ball across the six yard box which Dover defender Tyrone Sterling could only turn behind for a corner. Martin took the corner short before putting the ball into the penalty area, Lee Mansell latched onto a loose ball in the box but his shot was blocked well by Richard Orlu. Substitute Ellis Harrison linked up well with Tom Lockyer down the Rovers right before playing in the young fullback who could only dribble his shot at Rafferty Rovers had a great chance to double their lead with 15 minutes remaining as Matty Taylor was put clean through onto goal but only managed to find the feet of an outrushing Andrew Rafferty. Dover had a chance to snatch a point at the death but substitute Nick Deverdics thumped his shot over Puddy’s crossbar to the relief of everyone in the stadium. Rovers were made to pay going into stoppage time as Whites substitute Tom Murphy made no mistake firing a shot into the top right of the Rovers goal. Both sides pushed for a winner before referee Wayne Barratt blew his whistle for full time. Up next for Rovers is Dartford at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night before an away trip to Aldershot on Saturday. Rovers: Puddy, Lockyer, Trotman, Parkes, Brown, Gosling (Monkhouse – 71), Mansell (C), Sinclair, Martin, Cunnington (Harrison – 69), Taylor. Unused Substitutes: Preston (GK), McChrystal, White. Dover: Rafferty, Stone, Orlu, Lock, Payne (Reid – 54), Sterling, Nanetti, Bonner (Murphy – 84), Miller, Taiwo (Deverdics – 69), Essam. Unused Substitutes: Kinnear, Raggett.
Taylor's great at running through the channels but he seems to lack confidence when he's in on goal. I wouldn't drop Taylor because he's really effective for the team but we do need someone in there who can convert more of these chances.
DARRELL - WE HAVE TO PUT IT RIGHT ON TUESDAY Rovers boss Darrell Clarke had reason to be frustrated following his sides 1-1 draw at home to Dover Athletic. Tom Murphy snatched an injury time goal for the Whites making sure the game ended all square. The manager said "It is a bit of a kick in the teeth, the lads are very disappointed in there. "It is my job to pick them up again and get them ready for Dartford on Tuesday night." Rovers had several chances to extend their lead before Murphy's late leveler however Darrell is confident his team will start scoring those chances. "I thought we defended well we just weren't clinical enough at the other end of the field. "I've got great belief in the boys and we will start scoring these chances." Dartford are up next for Rovers at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night and Darrell insists that his team have to put it right. "We should be sat here with three points but we have to put it right on Tuesday night. "It's a tough league, but no one will be wanting to play Bristol Rovers that's for sure. "The supporters were brilliant again and have every right to be disappointed but we just have to make sure that we get three points on Tuesday night."
I think in the first half we were very unconvincing at times and slightly fortunate to be ahead at the break, although you cannot play at your best all the time. I think Taylor's miss was a crucial moment, and Dover's goal was perhaps reward for their endeavour throughout the game because you could see how much getting something from this game meant to them. They will probably feel that they deserved a point but it came against the run of play in a second half we largely dominated. I can see why Sinclair was given MOTM, but I think that's harsh on Trotman and Parkes, who were both excellent at the back. I like Sinclair but I think the reason why he gets the award from the sponsors so often is because he stands out with the bushy beard and runs around a lot. He's good on the ball, mind. Their management team p****d me off btw. They had two penalty shouts which were never spot-kicks in a billion years and I lost my rag with them a little bit after the second one, because it seemed obvious to everyone in the ground that the referee was right in not awarding it.
I don't comment much on here but have to challenge the post about Taylor. 14 games 1 goal , chances numerous , did work hard initially but even his work rate has now dropped. Clark needs to drop the lad for his benefit and the teams. UTG
A Look At Dartford F.C. - Part 1 Full name: Dartford Football Club Nickname: The Darts Founded: 1888; 126 years ago Home Kit Colours: White and Black Stadium Address: Princes Park, Grassbanks, Darenth Rd, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1RT Capacity: 4,100 (642 seated) Co-chairmen: Bill Archer and Dave Skinner Manager: Tony Burman 2013â14: Conference Premier, 22nd (reprieved) Current League Position: 18th PLD 14 W 3 D 5 L 6 GF 15 GA 21 GD -6 PTS 14 Current Form: W L W D D - 8 PTS From 15 Official Website: http://www.dartfordfconline.com/site/ please log in to view this image
