Village side Wakering have good reason to be ending the year 2000 in contented frame of mind.
Last may, at the end of their First term as a Ryman League club, they confirmed promotion from the Third Division and, as the year 2001 beckons, they show every indication of establishing themselves as a force to reckon with in Division Two.
A goalless draw in bitterly cold conditions at Essex rivals Wivenhoe yesterday (Tuesday) sees them standing sixth in the League table.
They have played more games than most of their rivals and, although going up again might not be a viable proposition this time round, they can surely dream of reaching the higher echelons of the First Division in the not too distant future.
Adam French came close to giving Rovers first bite of the cherry after 17 minutes when he forced a good save from home goalkeeper John Cardy.
Wivenhoe retaliated by twice forcing Tony Hendriksen, in the visiting goal, to good saves - the second from well-established home danger man John Hazell - but Rovers had a let-off after 37 minutes when a defensive mix-up let in Paul Abrehart for an effort which hit an upright.
Just before the break, Ollie Evans shot just wide from Darren Twidell's left-wing cross and, seven minutes after the resumption, that man French was again agonisingly close from a long-range free-kick that went inches wide with Cardy beaten.
The Wivenhoe pitch had not been played on since November 11 due to the wet weather and good football became impossible as the game wore on and the playing surface cut up badly.
Even so, either side could have won in the closing stages. First Wivenhoe though Hazell produced another fine save from Hendriksen six minutes from time and, on the 90 minute mark, Wakering substitute Liam Bright broke clear but shot hurriedly and allowed keeper Cardy to save when he probably had time to round the custodian and put the ball into an empty net.
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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