DMW November 27, 1999

UNORTHODOX maybe, brave undoubtedly. Greg Parkes' efforts' between the sticks on Saturday proved there's plenty of spirit between those broad shoulders.

Parkes, son of the Greens' larger than life goalkeeping coach Phil, was the second half star at a sparsely populated Valley Stadium.

After letting in a surprise goal 15 seconds after the break, when promotion chasing Boro's Nigel Brown galloped without restraint down the left wing and lobbed him from the edge of the area, Parkes rarely put a foot -- or hand -- wrong for the rest of the afternoon.

Striker Joseph Dowling thought he'd bagged his second goal of the afternoon on 51 minutes, only to see Parkes tip the ball over the bar.

The tricky Neil Beagan was then denied on two occasions and, even after he'd made a mistake with a painfully shy clearance, Parkes back pedalled frantically to keep out ex-Rovers man Chris Pearce's 60th minute effort.

Parkes, who conceded seven goals in a friendly between Wolves and Aston Villa Old Stars on Friday night, probably didn't think he'd be back in goal less than 24 hours later.

And neither did the visiting fans, who felt a penalty was punishment enough for Nore Gabbidon's trip on Dowling inside the box two minutes before the interval. However, referee Davies from Oxfordshire saw differently and ordered a stunned Gabbidon off.

Dowling made no mistake from the spot and Rovers had a mountain to climb at 2-0 -- the first goal came on 37 minutes when Leon Blake pounced from easy range to complement Beagan's skilful efforts on the left flank.

Rovers, who played well in the opening exchanges and created chances for Richard Ball and Steve Ulfig both saved by Richard Anstiss, were forced to play catch up in the second period.

Manager Steve Daley's decision to throw the hard-working Mark Bowater, and later, his central defensive partner Alex Winstone, sadly failed to reap rewards and the visitors had to wait until injury time for their best opening of the match.

Sub Matt Bytheway did the spadework with a bustling right wing run but his cross to the far post was blasted over by John Humphreys.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Ashley, Ulfig, Davies, Bowater, Winstone, Humphreys, Jinks (sub Parkes 43), Ball (sub Wilkins 71), Daley (sub Bytheway 79), Rochester.

Attendance: 191. Rovers man of the match: Mark Bowater.

A crowd of around 150 watched Rovers beat Malvern Town 2-0 in the first round of the Worcester Royal Infirmary Challenge Cup at the Victoria Ground last Tuesday night.

Richard Ball gave the Greens a 34th minute lead and Steve Ulfig made sure with a second five minutes from time. Both goalkeepers, Nore Gabbidon and Malvern's Adam Moss, were kept busy in an open game with chances at both ends.