By Connor Ryan
Rovers kicked off pre season with a win against Cumbernauld Colts in the NL Cup at Broadwood this afternoon with Joe Bevan and Michael Paton getting on the scoresheet.
New signings Ross Connelly and Niyah Joseph made their debuts while a number of trialists also got a run out for Sandy Clark’s side.
Both teams would have a shaky start to the game as they attempted to settle into the match and get used to new teammates.
The first chances of the game would come to Colts around the 15th minute as a low strike whisked just by the post as well as the Colts attack picking up on a slack Rovers pass to get in on goal, but Ross Connelly was brave enough to collect the resulting through ball.
With their early dominance beginning to show, Colts took the lead in the 23rd minute following a mix up in the box following a corner, with the ball being smashed into the top corner giving Connelly no chance.
Following the goal, Rovers would begin to get into the game a bit more with a dangerous strike from a trialist almost spilling out of the Colts keepers hands but his blushes were spared by catching the ball before it crossed the line.
The Colts keeper would be forced into another good save on the verge of half time as a long distanced strike was tipped just over the bar.
Rovers would look comfortable at the start of the second half, and would get their reward just ten minutes in as a brilliant pass in behind would find Joe Bevan who looped the ball over the Colts keeper to give Rovers an equaliser.
A second goal would follow soon after for Rovers as Michael Paton would get on the scoresheet with a brilliant touch on the edge of the box that allowed him to send a half volley into the bottom right hand corner, giving Rovers a 2-1 lead.
Cumbernauld Colts would have a few corners that threatened the Rovers defence throughout the latter stages of the match while Rovers would look good on the break as the Colts defence was occasionally threatened.
Plenty of changes would be made throughout the match as plenty of trialists and first team names off the bench got the chance to impress.
The match would end in a 2-1 victory for Rovers who now go into the final of the NL Cup tomorrow at 4pm where they will face rivals Airdrieonians who managed to see off Motherwell 4-0 in todays other semi-final.
