KEMPSTON ROVERS 4, PETERSFIELD TOWN 0 (Evo-Stik Southern League Div I Central)

IN-FORM Kempston Rovers completed a routine win over Petersfield and the basement side would have taken heavier punishment but for a bravura display by stand-in keeper Matt Collins.

The Rams are without a manager following John Robson’s dramatic half-time exit and with the regular goalkeepers unavailable, assistant manager Collins donned the jersey and distinguished himself with a series of excellent saves.

After several near misses, Kempston took the lead on 22 minutes. Ben Shepherd drove into the box and pulled the ball back for Ashley Fuller to tap in for his 12th goal of the season.

Petersfield, thanks to some spirited defence and Collins’ heroics, held Kempston to that one-goal lead at half-time and even had a chance to equalise when winger Max Smith tried to chip Carl Knox, only to lift the ball into the keeper’s grateful hands.

Five minutes into the second half, Kempston doubled their lead. Jake Newman rounded three defenders and squared the ball for Sam Johnson to drive low and hard past Collins.

And it was 3-0 on the hour-mark as Johnson gratefully netted his second of the game.

Jake Newman hit the post and was then foiled by Collins in a one-on-one, while Matt Andrews was denied by the crossbar at the other end as Petersfield went close to pulling one back.

Kempston missed several other chances before a corner was headed home by Grant Fryer for Rovers’ fourth.

Collins’ impressive goalkeeping limited the damage for the Rams, earning him an ovation in the bar afterwards as he became the first away player to receive Kempston’s man-of-the-match award this season.

Petersfield are home to Aylesbury this Saturday. On Tuesday, they host Moneyfields in the delayed Portsmouth Senior Cup semi-final.

Petersfield: Collins, Awford, Tucker, Green, Wycherley, Woodford, M Smith, Cripps, Connor, Enzam (Larbi), Andrews (Chunga).