CHANCES of Rovers reaching the play-offs are receding by the match -- and, if they fail to collect maximum points from their next two games, they can probably forget all about them.

Tomorrow's opponents at the Memorial Stadium are Boston United, who have more realistic ambitions. They are three points off seventh spot against Rovers' seven, though it is their fine home record which has put them so high. The Pilgrims do not travel well, with three wins out of 16. The sides drew 2-2 in October.

Then on Tuesday comes a trip to relegation-threatened Kidderminster Harriers, beaten both in the league and LDV Vans Trophy at the Memorial Stadium. But they invariably give Rovers a hard game at Aggborough.

As for the LDV, Rovers have it all to do at Southend on March 8 after going down 2-1 - only their second home reverse of the season - in the southern area final first leg on Tuesday. Priority number one was a clean sheet which went out of the window after eight minutes. Rovers clawed back but then conceded again to leave United with what could prove a significant result if the aggregate scores are still level after extra time.

Manager Ian Atkins opted for an unusual 4-5-1 formation but then abandoned it 18 minutes after Rovers had fallen behind to a Lawrie Dudfield near-post header. Almost immediately Rovers won a penalty when Craig Disley was tripped but Junior Agogo smashed his shot against the bar. Richard Walker levelled 10 minutes into the second half with a fine header from a Ryan Williams corner but Mark Gower's swerving strike from 25 yards was worthy of winning any game on 67 minutes and

Southend, with former Rovers players Adam Barrett and Che Wilson in their back four, fully deserved it.

Atkins defended his initial tactics and applauded his side badly hit by illness and injuries but said once again conceding possession had twice again resulted in punishment. And there was plenty of football to come in the tie, he insisted.

Saturday's derby at top-of-the-table Yeovil saw Rovers concede four there for the second season running, with striker Phil Jevons claiming a hat-trick. Yet for 25 minutes it was the away side calling the shots, Disley scoring with a 20-yarder after 17 minutes.

Jevon levelled nine minutes later with a blistering drive and converted a penalty six minutes later after Christian Edwards had handled while on the ground. His third was a brave far post header on 63 minutes and Bartosz Tarachulski had a less difficult task with another header soon afterwards.

Rovers put in a strong finish, with Walker reducing the deficit. Indeed Hunt, Agogo twice and Lewis Haldane had chances to pinch a point but failed to take them in front of 1,500 travelling fans who helped Yeovil to their biggest gate of 9,153 since their arrival in the league.