WSC SF March 20, 2000

AGILE goalkeeper Nore Gabbidon was Rovers' shining star in Monday night's narrow defeat at Aggborough.

In Gabbidon and stubborn skipper Mark Bowater, the Greens arguably had the best two players on the park and they were unlucky not to secure a replay.

A turgid first half, with Harriers in control but rarely looking deadly, burst into life two minutes before the break when Gabbidon made a terrific save to keep out Phil King's curling free kick.

After the break, he was at it again with first class stops from Mike Marsh and Andrew Brownrigg.

But the pressure finally told on 61 minutes when King blasted home Scott Stamps's cross at the near post.

Rovers refused to let the Nationwide Conference leaders help themselves to a hatful of goals and created two excellent chances in quick succession.

Andy Biddle's well-struck 40 yarder was turned over by the back pedalling Stuart Brock and the Harriers 'keeper was also equal to Bowater's close range header.

It's easy for cynics to dismiss this county cup tie as a mere training run for Harriers, but that gives no credit to Steve Daley's men at all, and believe me, they deserve oodles of it for this display.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Townsend, Ulfig, Ashley (sub Brown 45), Bowater, Jinks, Davies, Benbow (sub Colwell 65), Sutton, Daley, Biddle (sub Humphreys 90).

Attendance: 878. Rovers man of the match: Nore Gabbidon.