Rovers take the points in 10-goal thriller at Yaxley

With a howling wind blowing end to end, the coin toss proved crucial as Rovers captain Victor Osobu called correctly and opted to play with the wind first half.

Rovers took an eighth-minute lead when striker Goldy Capela capitalised on a slack piece of Yaxley defending before Nathan Tshikuna’s shot was well blocked by keeper Aaron Butcher.

Rovers keeper Niall Cooper kept out a goal-bound Dan Cotton shot before Frazer Garner shot wildly over.

Tshikuna then worked himself some space on the edge of the Yaxley area before firing a thunderbolt home to double the Rovers lead on 17 minutes.

Midfielder Dean Dummett and Osobu had efforts at goal as Cooper kept the Yaxley scoresheet blank.

With 29 minutes gone Dummett found space in the inside right channel before firing Rovers 3-0 up.

Charlie Smith and Dummett again had scoring opportunities but failed to convert before Capela shot wide with just the keeper to beat.

When Dummett had his heels clipped on 42 minutes, the referee decided to award a penalty kick which Tshikuna blasted home.

The expected second half Yaxley onslaught failed to materialise.

Rovers saw efforts from Capela and Connor Furlong go close before Capela had another effort smothered on the line by Butcher.

In the 67th minute Yaxley opened their account when Rovers old boy Dan Jarvis thumped one home.

Capela restored the four-goal lead on 78 minutes.

A frantic last 12 minutes saw Rovers’ Lewis Thomas clear off the line, but Yaxley netted a penalty through Bennett and a second goal for Jarvis.

Man of the match Charlie Smith fired home a free-kick on 90 minutes only to see Yaxley substitute Scott Waumsley register in added time.

Rovers: Cooper, Jibodu (Palmer 87), Ward, Smith, Thomas, Phelan, Osobu, Dummett, Capela (Williams 85), Tshikuna (Carey-Morrell 76), Furlong.