Raging Fever 4 Bristol Rovers Fans 5

Raging Fever almost broke their losing sequence in an entertaining game at Horspath Road, but not quite. Playing some smashing football, Fever took an early lead when debutant Gary Neville (no, not that one) headed a deep cross back across goal, and was on target when the ball broke to him during the ensuing scramble. The lead was not held for long, however, as some sloppy defending too far up the pitch allowed Rovers to break in numbers and eventually equalise through a tap in, following a shot that Gary Butler will be disappointed not to have held.

The Yellows continued to dominate, and went ahead again through an own goal following an excellent corner by Domi Crowder, but again they took their foot off the Gas and found themselves on level terms shortly afterwards. RF were undaunted by this, however, and again edged ahead with their best goal of the game. A lovely exchange of passes set Neville free down the left, and his pinpoint cross was perfectly met by the onrushing Crowder, who made no mistake from close range. Rovers rallied yet again, however, and were back on level terms with a well-executed lob over Butler, who then kept the scores level with a suberb save, clawing the ball from the top corner when it looked to have beaten him.

If Oxford felt hard done by at the break, they can have had no complaints as the Bristol boys out-competed them during the opening stages of the second half, and scored two more goals to lead 5-3. At this point it looked as though Fever were preparing for their now customary capitulation, but to their credit they rallied again, and clawed a goal back as Crowder scored his second following another goal-mouth scramble. The visitors held firm, however, condemning Fever to their fourth successive defeat. With games coming thick and fast in the next few weeks, they must hope to stop the rot very soon

RF squad: Gary Butler, Martin Brodetsky, Pat Wehmeier, Paul Soper, Andy Hill, Gez Foster, Nicky Pear, Domi Crowder, Gary Neville, Paul Lucas, John Matthews, Steve Sharpe.

Goals: Gary Neville, Own Goal, Domi Crowder (2)