ROVERS suffered their first defeat of the season going down 3-1 at home to Northampton Sileby Rangers. The thorn in the side of the Hall Road team was Lewis Haycock who scored a hat-trick for the visitors. Chris Brown netted his first goal for Eynesbury.

ROVERS suffered their first defeat of the season going down 3-1 at home to Northampton Sileby Rangers.

The thorn in the side of the Hall Road team was Lewis Haycock who scored a hat-trick for the visitors. Chris Brown netted his first goal for Eynesbury.

There was also a poor end to the game for Rovers as they finished the match with 10 men - Brett Bellamy sent off in the 87th minute after receiving a second yellow.

Manager Al Lenihan was disappointed by the game: "The result was one thing but to be reduced to 10 men when a point was still up for grabs is not acceptable."

Sileby took a very early lead - Haycock was on the score sheet inside 35 seconds as he cut in from the left wing and cracked a low shot past Dave Beeny.

Rovers responded well and created chance after chance but could not find the net. Ashley Favell and Jon Harrison both shot straight at the goalkeeper whilst Jamie Graham blasted the ball over the bar from close range.

Tim Clack and Nicky Ling were both off target with their efforts for Sileby as the game swung from end to end. Graham shot narrowly wide for Eynesbury but in the 29th minute Haycock's header managed to creep over the line as Dave Beeny struggled to control the ball.

Rovers almost equalised when Mark Randell's cross was diverted towards goal by Graham, but Ian Giles reacted quickly to clear the ball off the line.

After the break Eynesbury created numerous chances but managed to either slot them wide, or present the visiting 'keeper with an easy save. Graham came close with a dipping drive which narrowly cleared the bar whilst a long range Bellamy shot was held by Niall Cooper.

The breakthrough came in the 75th minute as Ian Fovargue played the ball to his right for Brown to fire it into the top right hand corner for a long overdue goal.

Unfortunately Eynesbury could not fashion an equaliser and after Bellamy's dismissal Haycock claimed his hat-trick in an 89th minute, adding another header.

nRovers travel to AFC Kempston on Saturday 3.00pm kick off.