Thursday, December 26, 2002

BROMSGROVE Rovers were in a very festive mood against Rugby United, looking as if they had overdone the turkey on Christmas Day, turning in another lack-lustre performance at the Victoria ground on Boxing Day.

Rugby dominated the majority of the game winning everything in midfield, and it wasn't any surprise that they took the lead in the 41st minute.

Frazer MacHugh lost the ball in midfield with Dave Pearson picking up the loose ball and running forward as the Rovers defenders backed off.

Given the time and space to shoot his low shot had the pace to beat Matt Lowe down at his left-hand post.

In first-half injury time, Rovers equalised.

Paul Danks chased a long ball, which was going wide. He back-heeled the ball into James Dyson's path and he crashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

The second half was much the same story with Rugby dominating the game again but they fell behind in the 56th minute.

Kevin Banner was upended in the penalty area by Adam Hart and Dyson dispatched the resulting penalty for his and Rovers' second of the game.

Rugby equalised on 78 minutes. Substitute Robbie Beard scored direct from a hotly disputed free kick, floating the ball over the wall and nestling it into the bottom corner of the net.

The winning goal came against the run of play.

Dyson pumped a free kick high into the Rugby area. Goalkeeper Dean Thomas punched clear under pressure from Rovers forward.

The ball fell to Kevin Banner on the edge of the area and he rifled in a volley into the top corner of the net in the 90th minute, stealing three points for Rovers to extend their lead at the top of the table.

ROVERS

Lowe, Benbow, Banner, Clifton, McHugh, Pope, Dyson, Cartwright, Burgess, Danks, Frost.

Substitutes: Palmer, Read, Lloyd, Beckett, Brooks.

Att - 605.

Match report by STEVE RIDDICK.