Rovers form is cause for concern

Waterloo Rovers boss Dave Proctor says the table doesn’t lie and his side deserves to be at the wrong end of the Spar Mid Wales Division One.

His injury-ravaged side has endured a frustrating start to the new campaign, only showing glimpses of pushing on from the success of winning the Central Wales Cup last season.

And it doesn’t get any easier with the Welshpool-based side facing reigning champions Penparcau at home tomorrow (Saturday) with a number of key players still on the sidelines.

“It has been very, very frustrating,” said Proctor. “There’s been a combination of players missing and poor performances and we deserve to be at the bottom at the moment. We have a lot of young players at the club and it is a big step up to the Spar League. We have gone backwards a bit, but what better game to put it right than against the league champions on Saturday?”

Proctor has delved into the transfer market this week, placing seven days notice on Technogroup Welshpool’s Matt Knight who is a former Rovers player. He is also tracking a number of other players.

Tomorrow will mark Rovers’ first home game for a month and Proctor hopes that home comforts will spark a return to form and a charge up the table.

“It is a cause for concern but we have to move forward and it will be nice to have a home game for a change!” he said.

The league’s big clash will see second placed Berriew host Llansantffraid Village with leaders Llanrhaeadr, whose manager Mario Iaquinta was named the manager-of-the-month, looking to remain unbeaten at home to Presteigne. Dyffryn Banw go to Builth Wells looking to kick-start their frustrating season.

The area’s only remaining representative in the Welsh Cup, Guilsfield, travel to Caernarfon as strong favourites to advance to round three.

Mike Barton’s side slumped to their first league defeat of the season to Flint last week and he expects an improvement.

“We were poor at times,” he said. “It was one of the most disappointing defensive performances for a long time so I might look at one or two changes this week. Both Llion Davies and Callum Bromley missed out last week so they will be pushing to start.”

Technogroup Welshpool travel to Rhydymwyn with some good news. Goalkeeper Dave Jones (pictured) has been named the Huws Gray Alliance player-of-the-month and will be looking to keep the league newcomers at bay this weekend.

In the Spar Division Two, Montgomery Town will hope to break their worst losing streak (only two games!) for three years when they go to Rhosgoch while Llanfyllin Town make the long trek to Aberaeron and Llanfair United host Talgarth Town. Meifod will look to get themselves off the bottom when they entertain Tregaron Turfs.

 

Caernarfon Town v Guilsfield.

Rhydymwyn v Technogroup Welshpool.

Builth Wells v Dyffryn Banw; Llanrhaeadr v Presigne; Waterloo Rovers v Penparcau.

Aberaeron v Llanfyllin Town; Llanfair United v Talgarth Town; Meifod v Tregaron Turfs; Rhosgoch Rangers v Montgomery Town.

Angel Welshpool v Elephant Wanderers; Churchstoke Reserves v Elephant Llanidloes; Red Lion Caersws v Forden United.