Stalemate as Godmanchester Rovers hot-shots draw a rare blank

Free-scoring Godmanchester Rovers drawing a blank is the equivalent of a coupon-buster on the local football scene.

But that’s exactly what happened as Matt Clements’ men failed to score for just the second time in 13 competitive matches this season when held to a goalless Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division draw by Saffron Walden last Saturday.

Ben Yeomans did find the net with a second-half header at the David Wilson Homes Ground only to see his celebrations cut short and the effort disallowed as a Rovers bombardment ended in frustration.

Clements said: “The creativity and the performance were there and we had close to 30 efforts on goal, but it was one of those days where it just didn’t happen for us.

“It is always a little bit disappointing not to win a game after being so dominant, but there were also plenty of positives to take from the way we played.

“Saffron Walden deserve some credit as well for sticking to their task and showing they are a better team than their league position might suggest.”

The match was delayed for around 10 minutes after a nasty clash of heads left two Saffron Walden players nursing bad cuts early in the second half.

Matt Snelling and James Solkhon both had to be taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment, but their team-mates battled on without them to share the spoils.

Rovers don’t have to wait long to get back into the goalscoring groove as they entertain Mildenhall at Bearscroft Lane tonight ahead of a trip to Hadleigh this Saturday.

Clements said: “Mildenhall are a good outfit and will give us a proper test which is just what we want.

“But if we can perform to the same level as we did against Saffron Walden, I believe we will win the game.

“Seven points is the aim for the week and after only picking up one last Saturday, it means we need to get victories tonight and at Hadleigh.”