Bromsgrove Rovers 2 Bracknell 1

By Peter McKinney

ROVERS kept the pressure on the teams above and maintained their promotion push by seeing off cynical ten man Bracknell on Saturday.

Goals for Steve Frost and Kevin Banner put Rovers 2-0 up, before striker Gavin Smith ensured a nervy end with a goal in the final five minutes.

However, while Bromsgrove produced some slick football Bracknell seemed more concerned with kicking lumps out of the home side.

Referee Mr Ramsay lost control of a bad tempered game from the start and it descended into a farce.

Bracknell had key midfielder Danny Oliphant sent off for two yellow cards, while substitute Matt Lowe was slapped with a direct red card while warming up.

The biggest crowd of the season, bolstered by Finstall First School's 100 strong junior contingent, came down to watch the game.

Manager Jimmy Mullen put new signings Richard Burgess and Matthew Johnson on the bench.

Smith set the tone in the first minute when he scythed down Steve Frost near the half way line from behind.

From Kevin Banner's free-kick Paul Szewczyk headed straight at goalkeeper Andrew Poyser.

Ross Collins clashed with Smith after the striker head butted him in the tenth minute.

Szewczyk should have done better in the 17th minute when he knocked the ball past Poyser, but shot wide from an acute angle.

Striker Leon Mitchell had a strong call for a penalty ignored after Micheal Cook draped all over him in the box.

Rovers were lucky to be on level terms when Ben Edwards missed the best chance of the half in the 24th minute.

Frost missed Oliphant's raking through ball and the lingering Edwards' shot crept past the left post.

Three minutes later Collins shot over from Banner's corner, before Gandy acted alertly to get to the ball before Smith.

Frost lifted the gloom at the Victoria Ground in the 45th minute.

Riad Erraji found the defender free on the right and Bracknell's defence parted invitingly as he dribbled into the box, before powering a low shot under Poyser.

Szewczyk was wrestled to the ground by defender by Stuart Hammonds at the start of the second half in what seemed an obivous foul, but Ramsay waved play on.

The referee could not ignore Oliphant's clumsy tackle on Mark Benbow in the 54th minute and yellow carded the midfielder.

Banner's low free-kick from the right was missed by everyone and it bounced off the post to double Rovers' advantage.

Goalkeeper Ian Gandy, in for the not fully fit Lowe, then made a smart save against James Williams.

The match descended into a brawl after Oliphant got midfielder Riad Erraji in a headlock.

Mr Ramsay had no choice to send off the Oliphant and then booked the Rovers' midfielder to incense the crowd.

Substitute Johnson almost scored on his debut when his 78th minute long range shot thudded off the bar.

Complacent Rovers' lead was sliced in two after Gandy parried Edwards' shot and Smith stole into score a header minutes later.

Rovers breathed a sigh of relief when James Palmer shot over from a good position in the 85th minute.

The game exploded into a brawl again after Szewczyk and Damian Smith clashed.

Rovers tried in vain to run the clock down and Lowe was sent off in the match's most bizzare moment.

Szewczyk was fouled while holding the ball up in the left corner flag. However, Rovers' substitute 'keeper was incensed after whenMr Ramsay allowed the Bracknell wall to advance less then ten yards.

Despite late pressure by Bracknell Rovers held onto win, with home fans booing the dejected opposition off the pitch.

ROVERS: Gandy 7, Frost 7, Ulfig, 7, Hillman 6, Collins 7, Erraji 7 (Johnson), Daniels 6 (Francis), Benbow 6, Szewczyk 7, Mitchell 6, Banner 6.

Attendance 451