Dr Martens' Cup round one, November 16, 1999

IF Rovers had 11 Mark Bowaters, they'd be riding high at the top of the league rather than languishing at the bottom of it.

While the majority of his team-mates hid for the first hour of last night's game at the Victoria Ground, the amiable centre half got on with his job quietly and efficiently - keeping the Greens in with a shout.

Rangers' early pressure paid off with a 15 minute goal for Richard Mitchell following Brett Wilcox's perfectly timed forward pass - one entertaining moment in a barren first half.

Nore Gabbidon continued his encouraging run of form with confident saves from Andrew Bradley and Mitchell while his opposite number Richard Williams had little to do except watch half-hearted Rovers efforts whizz over the bar or past the post.

The introduction of Tom Davies, who replaced new midfield signing Paul Thompson, Ian Cooper and Patrick Bannister sparked some life into the home side but they failed to seriously trouble Williams.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Ashley, Ulfig, Winstone, Bowater, Thompson (sub Davies 69), Moore, Humphreys, Parkes (sub Bannister 69), Daley (sub Cooper 53), Jinks.

Attendance: 259. Rovers man of the match: Mark Bowater.