ABBEY HABIT!

It was just the sort of workout manager Ray Harford wanted - a fast, open game against Third Division Cambridge United with Rovers dominating possession and eventually turning it into that precious commodity...goals.

Harford, in fact, had more than one reason to feel heartily satisfied by a good night's work.

For there were signs from his squad of genuine flair and creativity, not only from new boy George Donis, but also from midfield where Lars Bohinen and Tim Sherwood ruled the roost, albeit against a side well down the League ladder.

And Kevin Gallacher finally put them on the goals trail with a first strike which could have opened the floodgates and was just reward for his all-action contribution.

The manager also likes to see players scoring from midfield and that's what he got with both Bohinen and Sherwood on target.

That is certainly one way in which the post-Shearer deficit can be made up.

I agree with Harford's verdict that Rovers did, in fact, play better in the first half, yet the goals all came after the break in a one-sided affair. So, really, there was cause for all-round satisfaction.

Cambridge boss Tommy Taylor has a peculiar practice of naming two sides before these pre-season friendly games - one to play the first half, the other the second period! The fact was that Cambridge weren't as good as Saturday's opponents Colchester and Rovers, with one game under their belt, along with a couple more days training together, were much more fluent and cohesive than they had been at Layer Road. That's only natural and, once the first goal went in, the result was a foregone conclusion.

Harford was certainly pleased by the evening's events, as he said afterwards: "I thought it was a very professional performance and the lads didn't try to take the Micky out of the other side.

"They didn't show them any disrespect - they just played the game simply and did very well.

"I thought the first half was probably better than the second, but once the goals start to go in it changes everyone's thinking.

"You start to feel you are playing well and then you try to embroider it a little bit.

"But, overall, we got what we were looking for, a good performance and a very professional one." While he was happy with them all, there's a twinkle in Harford's eye when he talks about Greek flyer Donis - and he really can shift - who looks capable of proving a terrific asset once he settles into his role.

Whether it's by orders or instinct, he tends at the moment to be dragged inside a little too often.

But, when he takes on opponents, there's a buzz of anticipation and it was Donis who created the opening goal.

It was also encouraging to see Bohinen back in full flow. After his long absence towards the end of last season, the Norwegian ace looks to have returned with a real appetite and he does give the team an extra dimension.

But we are, of course, still in pre-season and this was only another step in the build-up.

I dare say that a trip to the Abbey for a third round FA Cup encounter in mid-winter might just be a different proposition.

Cambridge had one outstanding opportunity to put a little pressure on Rovers midway through the first half when Billy Beall made a complete hash of a glorious chance at the near post.

But Shay Given didn't really have to make a serious save all night, as Rovers were in control for 90 per cent of the game.

They should really have been ahead by the interval.

With midfield in command and Donis and Stuart Ripley - on the left for Jason Wilcox - flying down the flanks, Cambridge had their work cut out but stuck manfully to the task.

Chances were made and spurned, there was the odd scare from Cambridge, but Rovers generally looked comfortable at the back.

It didn't take long after the break for the goals to flow against the "new" Cambridge team.

In the 48th minute, Donis, with little space available, jockeyed past his marker on the right and crossed low - with the aid of a slight deflection - for Gallacher to turn home the first.

It was an object lesson in finishing at the near post for Beall.

Then Gallacher turned provider with a cross from the right finished off by the incoming Sherwood, right footed and high into the net.

Ten minutes from time, Bohinen went on one of those delightful gliding runs forward, spotted the best option and took it, driving the ball low past the keeper from the edge of the penalty area.

It was the right result and good progress on the road to Saturday week when it really matters.

Let's hope Rovers can keep the Abbey habit going.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.