POINTS SECURED AGAINST THE BOYS IN BLUE

Rovers took a giant step towards ensuring survival on Saturday when goals from Max Oldham and Ben Holden moved them eight points clear of Chipstead, with the Chips only have three games left.

A bright start saw Rovers force numerous corner in the opening exchanges, but these came to nothing. Lindell Stewart did superbly on eight minutes to get beyond Izvnna Ikebuasi for the first of many times, only to be slammed into the hoardings and see his cross deflected behind for a corner. From the corner Aaron Jenkins saw his header off target.

Jenkins then forced a free kick on the edge of the area, having been felled by Marcus Travers, and from Oldhams delivery, Police keeper Liam Beach did well under pressure from Antonio Simeone.

The Police saw their first chance come 15 minutes in, but Noah Amissah saw his low drive go wide of the right hand post. The Blues were having their best spell of the game – a decent cross by Ayoub Enajar was well dealt with by Oscar Williams, and shortly after Amissah went down in the area, but the timing of Wiliams challenge was superb.

Mason Galloway curled a free kick wide for the visitors midway through the half and Gideon Acheampong did well to clear a header that seemed destined for Amissah.

Enajar then saw a shot comfortably gathered by Sam Roberts.

Rovers struck the opening goal on 31 minutes, Jenkins did well to win possession on the left and find Tyrese Osbourne and his inch perfect pass found Oldham who calmly slotted under the keeper for 1-0.

Jenkins saw a shot saved by the keeper on 35 minutes, with Stewart putting the rebound wide.

It was 2-0 on 36 minutes, a ball into the area by Holden took a slight deflection off a defender and looped over Beach for 2-0 and a good lead for Rovers at the break.

Rovers made a change at the break with youngster Noah Africa coming on for the injured Osbourne, and the Police replaced Amissah with Jamal Sharpe.

Again it was a bright Rovers start and Africa was just unable to get a shot away with his first involvedment in the game.

Stewart was giving Ikebuasi a torrid time, and was on the end of a series of poor challenges from the overworked Police full back. Ikebuasi showed the other side to his game ten minutes into the half with his low shot bringing a tidy save out of Roberts.

Tackles were flying in, and Isy Nzelo was on the wrong end of a poor, unpunished challenge by Enajar (in fairness probably the one big error the otherwise excellent referee made).

Williams volleyed a corner high over the bar on 68 minutes, Ikebuasi found his way into the book on 72 minutes for a foul on Jenkins and it was his last action as Cameron Edwin replaced him almost immediately.

The Police almost found a way back into the game on 80 minutes when a hopeful ball into the area found Roberts a bit in no mans land but Simeone was able to get round and clear.

Rovers made a couple of late changes introducing Sam Marks and Conan Torpey for man of the match Stewart and Ash Sheppard.

Igor De Oliveira Souza saw his header tipped over by Roberts on 85 minutes, and the young keeper did superbly to foil Mason Galloway inside the area.

Jenkins bought a good save out of Beach after great work by Marks, and Rovers secured a 2-0 win.

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