ROVERS' Reserves picked up their second victory of this pre-season with an entertaining 3-2 win over Kendal Town at the Lakeland Radio Station.
Played in a continuous downpour with added thunder and lightning for effect both sides put in a hard working display despite the conditions.
Fresh from defeating Vauxhall Motors 3-0 on Saturday Rovers started brightly and grabbed two goals in the space of two minutes.
On 15 a Michael Potts corner was swung in from the left and young defender Matthew Pearson was on hand to force the ball home.
Two minutes later and the lead was doubled when a left wing cross from Zac Aley was mis-timed by Rodrigo Branco, but Nick Blackman was on hand to fire past the Kendal 'keeper.
Tom Newton in the Kendal goal was having a busy time, saving well from a fierce shot by Josh Morris, denying Branco after his shot and turn, then another drive from Morris was well held despite the ball deflecting.
But his best save of the first half came on 42 minutes when Gavin Gunning left his central defensive position to charge forward and unleash a fizzing effort that Newton tipped brilliantly onto the crossbar and over.
The one way traffic continued after the break when Branco was denied at the near post, but that third deserved goal came on 55 when after a clever header back from Morris, Blackman was on hand to score from close range for his second of the match.
The impressive Alex Marrow, who covered every blade of grass, was then inches away from adding a fourth, but his 30-yard drive slammed against the post with the 'keeper rooted to the spot.
The home side were given some cheer in the latter stages. A very generous penalty decision went against Khizanishvili despite the Georgian clearly getting his boot to the ball as he raced back with an attacker. Frank Fielding got a hand to Keiran Walmsley's penalty kick but he couldn't stop it going over the line.
But if Khizanishvili was unlucky with the penalty decision then Kendal's second goal on the night was even more unfortunate for the Rovers defender
A Kendal attacker found space on the left side of the area, and he teed up Dave Foster to shoot, the ball hit the far post and rebounded against the hapless Khizanishvili and into the back of the net before he had time to react.
As the Cumbrian skies cleared, the final whistle blew on an entertaining encounter.
ROVERS (3-5-2): Fielding; (sub Kean 74 mins), Pearson, Khizanishvili, Gunning (sub A. O'Connor 46 mins); Ramm (sub Maclaren 46 mins (sub Flynn 85 mins)), Potts (sub Vastić 78 mins), Marrow, Morris, Aley; Blackman, Branco (sub Hitchcock 67 mins).
Subs not used: C. O'Connor.
Attendance: 337
