By Connor Ryan
Rovers blitzed their way into the league cup final as they put 7 well worked goals past Glasgow Blacks.
A hat trick from Hugh Stuart, and goals from Dean Neilson, Callum Wilson, Declan Monie, and Kyle Hutcheson were more than enough to set up a position in the final to play Cumbernauld Colts.
It would be Glasgow Blacks who would start the game better as they seen their first big chance fall in the 3rd minute with some neat build up play leading to a shot in the box going just over the bar.
Another chance would fall to Glasgow Blacks 10 minutes later as the post was struck after a good ball into the Rovers box.
Rovers first big chance would come in the 26th minute with captain Anton Dunlop making a good run into the box and sending a low shot towards goal which struck the outside of the post and went out.
The Glasgow Blacks keeper would then produce two great saves in the last 15 minutes of the first half to prevent Rovers taking the lead as the pressure being applied was starting to give Rovers the edge in this game.
Rovers would take their deserved lead just before the half time whistle as Craig Taylor found Dean Neilson in the box who was left with a tap in to give Rovers a 1-0 lead going into the break.
The first substitution for Rovers would come in the 53rd minute as Callum Wilson was brought on to replace Chris Silvestro as they looked to change up their attacking options.
Callum would almost make an instant impact as a Glasgow Blacks defender smashed the ball off his own bar which led the ball to fall to Callum but sadly, he couldn’t convert the rebound.
A second substitution for Rovers would take place with 20 minutes left to play as man of the match for today Hugh Stuart was brought on to replace Kai Chambers.
There would be 2 goals in quick succession for Rovers just after this substitution with Callum Wilson grabbing Rovers second with a good strike from the edge of the D while Hugh Stuart would make an instant impact after coming off the bench to put Rovers 3 up.
Glasgow Blacks would get a goal back straight from kick off as a shot from distance deflected off Kyle Burns and over Cian Knotts in goal.
With 15 minutes to play, Rovers would get their fourth goal of the game as Declan Monie managed to bundle the ball over the line which put the game out of sight.
A double substitution would occur for Rovers with 10 minutes left to play with Jack Johnstone and Dylan Steele replacing Craig Taylor and Declan Monie.
Hugh Stuart would get his second of the game in the 83rd minute with a simple tap in following Dean Neilson’s brilliant pressing in the final third allowed him to set up Hugh.
Kyle Hutcheson would then get in on the goalscoring spree just 4 minutes later as he poked the ball home from a couple of yards out to get Rovers sixth of the afternoon.
Rovers would get their seventh and final goal of the game with Hugh Stuart completing his hat trick as he managed to steal the ball off a defender in the Glasgow Blacks box and smash the ball past the helpless keeper to complete the scoring in the last minute of the game.
Rovers will now be full of confidence going into the final of the league cup on the 8thof May, however they must first finish the last of their league games before then as they aim to end the season with a strong finish in the league along with some silverware to go with it.
