Saturday, July 20, 2002

THERE are six divisions between Bromsgrove Rovers and West Bromwich Albion, and we should not forget that.

Their pre-season friendly meeting at the Victoria Ground last Saturday - in front of a 2,158 - crowd was more about personal pride and bolstering the bank balance than the result.

It was a chance for Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's men to rub shoulders with the Premiership new boys and the 6-1 scoreline really doesn't matter.

As it was, Albion were worthy of their comfortable victory, highlighted by a Scott Dobie hat-trick and two goals from Jason Roberts.

But credit where credit's due, Gary Megson showed respect for Rovers by sending a strong team, including players who will start against Manchester United in their top flight opener.

Rovers began well and contained Albion in the first 20 minutes with Les Palmer trying his luck on two occasions. But once the visitors had settled it was not long before the floodgates opened and the visitors struck three times in five minutes.

Dobie headed home a Matt Turner cross on 19 minutes and netted a carbon copy three minutes later. And Rovers had hardly regrouped when Lloyd Dyer played a delightful ball through for Roberts who hit a shot past Matt Lowe on 24 minutes.

Albion looked as though they were going to run up a cricket score but Rovers held on for eight more minutes before a Dobie cross squirmed under Lowe for Roberts to tap home the fourth.

The fifth arrived two minutes before the break when Roberts showed his class with an exquisite dance around the Rovers rearguard as well as Lowe to provide Turner with an easy finish.

Rovers made six substitutions within the first 15 minutes of the second half and the fresh legs helped break down Albion attacks.

Although, things got worrying for the visitors on the hour mark when Phil Gilchrist, mainstay of the Baggies defence last season, went over on his ankle and was carried off.

Albion were a bit more cautious from then on in but take nothing away from Rovers, who dug in and forged a goal of their own on 69 minutes.

Summer signing Ashley Reed showed dogged determination to muscle former Manchester United defender Ronnie Wallwork off the ball to put in a cross for Richard Burgess to head home.

Dobie completed his hat-trick ten minutes from time after chasing down a through ball to score past Rovers' substitute goalkeeper Steve Thomas.

Thomas showed his potential two minutes later by saving well from a Roberts diving header.

Rovers: Lowe (sub Thomas 77 mins), Lloyd (sub Porter 61 mins), Banner, Pope, Ford (sub Frost 55 mins), Brighton, Crisp (sub Dyson 55 mins), Taylor (sub Clifton 55 mins), Palmer (sub Reed 61 mins), Danks (sub Burgess 61 mins), Beckett.

WBA: Hoult (sub Murphy 69 mins), Balis, Dyer, Wallwork, Butler, Gilchrist (sub Tomika 61 mins), Chambers, McInnes, Turner, Dobie, Roberts.