IAN ATKINS'S will be looking to build on this week's success when they tackle his last former club, Oxford United, at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow. This is the first of three key games for Coca Cola League Two points before they embark on their bid to reach the LDV Vans Trophy final - and the prospect of an exciting day out at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Rovers will be looking for a double, having downed Oxford 2-0 in October, and hugely buoyed by eliminating Leyton Orient 2-1 at Brisbane Road in Tuesday to set up a two-leg south final against Southend United, with the home tie on February 15 and the return on March 8.
Rovers are within touching distance of the play-offs despite a string of draws so it is vital that they now start collecting maximum points and trust that others around and above will fail to do so. Chairman Geoff Dunford speaks for all fans when he says he hopes the cup win will be the catalyst that could make the rest of the season an exciting one.
Rovers again did it the hard way, going behind just before the break, for their first concession in four LDV Vans Trophy ties. Then early after the restart Craig Disley delivered what he has threatened to do so often recently with a forward run and chip of the 'keeper. But it was left to fans' favourite Lewis Haldane to be a sub hero with a stoppage time drive.
Atkins has made no secret that he relishes this competition as one where success is attainable. It also offers the prospect of vital extra cash. The area final should see a near-or-better capacity crowd, the national final against Oldham or Wrexham a mini-bonanza.
That all came on the heels of Saturday's 1-1 draw with neighbours Cheltenham Town at the Memorial Stadium in a game Rovers had enough chances to win in the second half. Former Rovers boss John Ward was accorded a warm reception and when on-loan Bristol City striker Steve Gillespie fired his side ahead courtesy of a deflection off Christian Edwards seven minutes from the break he was jumping for joy.
But a bizarre mix-up between defenders and ex-Rovers goalie Shane Higgs allowed Lee Thorpe, with still plenty to do, to grab an equaliser in first half stoppage time. Grant McCann was sent off after a toucline dust-up involving Stuart Campbell with a quarter of an hour to go but Town held on for a point.
Assistant boss Kevan Broadhurst, deputising for an unwell Atkins, summed it up, insisted: "We will win more than we lose before the end of the season and we're all still quietly confident in ourselves we can achieve something this year and when it happens people had better watch out."
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