Tompkins first half brace helps Dunbar Saturday AA3B’s see off struggling UNSW 3 – 2

An 89th minute UNSW goal set up a nervy finish but in truth the score line flattered the University side who will feel they need to improve in order to feature in the post-season finals.

Tompkins first was a well-placed free kick which he earned for himself on the edge of the area, in what one spectator described as ‘a horrendous dive’.

The 25th minute opener was welcomed by Manager Gaz who had been vocal about the scrappy start, although with shirt off and sunglasses out he seemed equally upset that he wasn’t poolside at Ivy.

It was one way traffic for the next 20, the terrorising T’s Timmons and Tompkins finding plenty of joy down the flanks.

Chris Hitchcock rolled his defender on a break and smashed the ball in to the underside of the bar with his non-preferred left-foot from distance. ‘That was Matt Le Tissier-esque’ tweeted one Saints fan.

UNSW were wobbling when the second came, neat passing and an unmarked Tomkins smashed home from 6 yards punctuating the Rovers best period.

It looked like a carve-up and co-captain Craig Trotter’s visiting family were seen heading for the exit. In a frantic attempt to keep it competitive he played a 40-yard lobbed back-pass to the faultless Chris Bellgard in goal, who could only head the ball to an approaching UNSW player before roundhouse kicking him in the jaw.

A penalty was awarded and duly dispatched – the teams went in at 2-1, UNSW very lucky to be in the game.

The second half saw more Rovers dominance, Trotter made amends for his earlier gift, capping off another dominant performance with a volley from broken play inside the box.

Your writer put his pen and pad down to come on for a cameo, and was also denied by the x-bar from distance.

Despite the score line the Rovers should take great confidence in their defensive performance across the park. Particularly Nidge, Presto and Dan Hitch – who were outstanding on the day.

It proved to be an important win as results from around the grounds showed mixed form from the leagues front runners. In post-match WhatsApp chat Gaz stressed the Rovers S3B’s have a real chance to stamp their claim to the title in upcoming fixtures.