Recap

After previously meeting twice in the 3rd division during the 2018/19 season with one win for each team Rovers were keen to show their opponents that they also now belong in Championship 1.

Defender Freddy Monthy came in for Jean-Michel Vidot who was fit enough only to make the bench with the rest of the team unchanged from the 7-0 win versus Glacis last week.

Rovers started nervously but grew into the game as Anse Royale played their usual brand of direct football.

In the 15 minute a clever ball sent an Anse Royale attacker clear into the Rovers penalty area and his low shot deflected wrong-footing goalkeeper Celestine but coming back off the post.

Soon after some a sharp counterattack and some quick one-twos saw Randolph Lablache breaking down the right wing and sending an inch perfect cross into the path of the onrushing Chang-Time. But his first-time shot flew over the bar from only a few metres out with the goalkeeper already beaten.

There was an early substitution in the 30th minute when Lucas Panayi, who returned to the bench after suffering an injury in match day 1, replaced the struggling Dugasse.

Panayi’s introduction meant a reshuffle of personnel with him falling into central midfield and De Ketelaere going out to full-back.

Rovers managed to get more control of the match but could not create too many clear chances before the half time whistle.

The second half started with Rovers looking the more likely to open the scoring. The pressure soon paid off when in the 49th minute Randolph Lablache dribbled into the penalty area and saw his cross stopped by a defender’s hand. The referee immediately pointing to the spot.

Lablache stepped up to take the resulting penalty but saw it crash off the post with the ‘keeper rooted to his spot.

In the 51st minute forward Jean-Michel Vidot was brought on to replace Valdemar DeSouza with coach Herbots looking to bolster his attacking threat.

Not many clear cut chances came from either side with Anse Royale mostly trying to catch Rovers out with quick counter attacks.

Joshua Clarisse and Jim Loizeau replaced Chang-Time and Trevor Vidot in the 76th and 84th minutes with Rovers looking for the winner.

It wasn’t to be when in the 94th minute an Anse Royale cross struck the arm of Kevin Joubert and the referee again pointing to the spot without hesitation.

The resulting penalty was cooly dispatched with Anse Royale taking the 1-0 lead at the death of the match.

With barely seconds left of stoppage time Rovers won a corner and in an attempt to salvage a point sent everyone bar the ‘keeper into the opposition area. The corner kick was cleared to an Anse Royale attacker who had a free run at the Rovers goal but was intentionally fouled by Valdo Azemia who was shown a straight red card.

And with this action the referee signalled the end of the match.

Talking after the match, coach Steve Herbots said: “We were unlucky. They had a few chances and we expected that. As a promoted team, we need a good goalkeeper and Celestine was really good for us but we had also more than enough chances to go ahead in the second half.

“On one hand, I’m really proud of the team. We are playing really good and we have to find the space for us to make confidence and belief in doing better. If we continue to play like this – and better – we will have a chance in every game. Today just seemed not our day. We miss a penalty, we miss some open chances, we made some personal mistakes, our level was not at standard. But to lose the game in the last seconds of the game is very hard.”

On Anse Royale’s penalty: “If it’s for us, I ask for a penalty, but Kevin Joubert was unlucky. The new rules – no problem. But I have a problem with some of the fouls before.”

Rovers return to the pitch on the 5th of January when they will face Lions LMS FC.