A FRESH-FACED Rovers team showed no fear as they travelled to Northamptonshire to open their UCL Division One campaign with a win.

UCL Division One

Rushden & Higham Utd 0-1 Eynesbury Rovers

A FRESH-FACED Rovers team showed no fear as they travelled to Northamptonshire to open their UCL Division One campaign with a win.

Matt Plumb was forced to field a youthful side, but his charges brought home the points thanks to Shane Fox’s goal and a mature team performance.

Teenage duo Nick Henebery, on loan from St Neots Town, and Harvie Millier were handed a start along with debutant Carl Mackney in the Rovers goal, and three teenage substitutes were included on the bench.

Plumb said: “I was very impressed with the whole team and the lads did very well on their debuts.

“We will need to work hard to be in the mix at the end of the season but with nine senior players waiting to get in the side, competition should sharpen everyone up.”

Rovers were out of the traps quickly with Ben Cole shooting just wide early on.

The visitors took the lead on 23 minutes when Ross West fed Jeremy McMurrough, and his low cross was met by Fox who netted at the second attempt.

Just before the break the home side saw their best attempt roll just wide with Mackney beaten, but Rovers went even closer by hitting the post through McMurrough.

Mackney had to stop smartly in the second half after a Rushden striker went close from a free kick. In the final 10 minutes Rovers could have tied the points up as Ashley Boness forced a save and Fox smashed a stoppage-time effort off the crossbar.