Walnuts Roll Reds
Kempston Rovers produced a solid display to put mid-table Uxbridge to the sword at Hillgrounds to remain within touching distance of the play-offs.
The game began on a very even keel, with both sides feeling each other out. It took until the quarter hour for Uxbridge to create the first clear cut chance. A corner wasn’t cleared properly and the ball was turned goalwards, only to be deflected wide by one of their own men. Ben Shepherd and Josh Crawley had chances not find the target, before Crawley was put through on goal, only to be denied by a last ditch tackle. Jake Newman hit the side netting and you began to feel it was when and not if for Rovers. Kempston should’ve had a penalty with ten minutes left of the first period. Prince Mbengui clearly putting two hands to the ball in the area to block a cross. The referee gave a corner, from which Alex Stoyles headed just wide. The deadlock was broken moments later, as Luke Heneghan lofted a ball through to Crawley who rounded the keeper and finished high into the net from a tight angle. Late in the half Ben Shepherd was cautioned for needlessly kicking the ball away. Nathan Tshikuna had the last chance of the half but couldn’t keep it down.
Uxbridge started the slightly brighter of the sides in the second half, Kearney shooting over when clean through. The forward appeared to rush the effort, had he composed himself, he could have troubled Martin Conway. Abdellah then shot straight at Conway for the visitors. Rovers rode the storm and doubled the lead just before the hour mark. Nathan Tshikuna taking advantage of a poor clearance to put the ball across goal for Jake Newman to tap home his twenty second goal of the season. on sixty seven minutes, Rovers took advantage of another poor clearance from goalkeeper McCarthy, playing the ball into the path of Crawley, who ran on and slipped it beyond the desperate keeper for three nil. Newman saw a shot blocked before Rovers added a fourth goal. McCarthy kicked the ball into the back of his own man, the ball fell to Luke Heneghan, who shaped himself beautifully to volley the ball back into the unguarded net with McCarthy stranded. Uxbridge captain Warner headed home a stoppage corner to give his side some consolation but the damage was done and the game long since over as a contest, it was only Uxbridge’s second effort on target.
The win lifts Rovers to ninth, in hot pursuit of the play-off places ahead of Tuesday night’s game with high-flying Cambridge City. this is the re-arranged date for the fixture after the original fixture was postponed on New Years Day.
Assist
Luke Heneghan
Assist
Nathan Tshikuna
Assist
Nathan Tshikuna
Star Player
Seb SimpsonKey moments
Videos and photos
Highlights
As it happened
- Kempston Rovers
- Uxbridge
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Josh Crawley Goal 36:00'
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Luke Heneghan Assist 36:00'
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Ben Shepherd Yellow Card 39:00'
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Jake Newman Goal 59:00'
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Nathan Tshikuna Assist 59:00'
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Ben Shepherd Sub Off 65:00'
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Ieuan Riley Sub On 65:00'
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Nathan Tshikuna Assist 67:00'
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Josh Crawley Goal 67:00'
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Luke Maguire Sub Off 70:00'
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Prince Mbengui Sub Off 70:00'
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Jamie Burgess Sub On 70:00'
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Yahya El-Khabouch Sub On 70:00'
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Robbie Goodman Sub On 72:00'
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Jamaine Ivy Sub On 72:00'
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Josh Crawley Sub Off 72:00'
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Alex Stoyles Sub Off 72:00'
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Jordan Lee Yellow Card 79:00'
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Luke Heneghan Goal 87:00'
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Kevin Warner Goal 90:00 +1:00'
Team selection
- Kempston Rovers
- Uxbridge
League round up
Other East results
Comments
Standings
| # | Team | Pl | Pts |
| 1. | Beaconsfield Town | 42 | 92 |
| 2. | AFC Rushden & Diamonds | 42 | 91 |
| 3. | Hayes & Yeading United | 42 | 83 |
| 4. | Hartley Wintney | 42 | 82 |
| 5. | AFC Dunstable | 42 | 79 |
| 6. | Cambridge City | 42 | 77 |
| 7. | Kempston Rovers | 42 | 73 |
Team sponsors
Affiliations
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Club sponsors
