Saturday, February 8, 2003

FOUR cautions, two sent off and a fracas in the tunnel afterwards.

If Bromsgrove Rovers and Merthyr Tydfil didn't get on before last Saturday's encounter, they certainly don't now.

Of course, the scoreline didn't help matters from a Rovers perspective but they will quickly want to erase this dismal day in rainy South Wales.

Despite 1,105 turning out on a dull, rainy day, Gary Hackett and Jon Ford's side just didn't perform as we know they can do.

In fairness, Merthyr are the best team Rovers have faced this season. More worryingly perhaps, Rovers have dropped six points to them and have failed to beat any team in the Dr Martens Western top four.

But the damage was done in the first 21 minutes.

The Martyrs took the lead 11 minutes in when Justin Pritchard flicked a header over Matt Lowe six yards out from Paul Keddle's cross.

Rovers, who created precious little, fell further behind ten minutes later. Chris Bale was allowed to break through the Rovers defence and his pass fed Danny Carter inside the penalty area and he forced his way through to slot the ball under Lowe.

Bookings followed for Steve Frost and Darren Bullock while Pritchard, Cortez Belle and Bale all saw efforts go close for Merthyr.

At times Rovers looked liked a team that hadn't seen each other before. But that was not too far from the truth as, at one stage, four of the team (Ross Collins, Marvin Blake, Darren Bullock and Steve Lutz) were playing as a unit for the first time. Unfortunately, at times it showed. Rovers failed to register a single shot of note on target for 90 minutes.

For all their running and effort up front, Paul Danks and Richard Burgess were out-muscled and Burgess was eventually replaced by Blake in an effort to impose a presence in attack.

Ironically, given the result, the visitors were strong in defence. Lowe was called into making two second half saves, tipping two shots from Bale round the post, once after Steve Pope had miskicked in front of goal.

Rovers' one player on display with any creative passing, Darren Bullock, earlier booked for backchatting the referee, was substituted towards the end, primarily, one suspects, as a safety measure.

Collins showed occasional touches of flair but Banner, usually such a livewire, was marked out of existence down the left and so often the ball was hoofed into the air.

Rovers' day was summed up 13 minutes from time. Morgan Brookes, never before sent off in his career, clashed with Paul Keddle during an off-the-ball incident and both were dismissed by referee Simon Knapp.

An ugly incident in the tunnel afterwards, which saw chairman Tom Herbert jump over a wall to intervene, marred an already tarnished match.

Something tells me we haven't heard the last of this one.

ROVERS

Lowe 7, Cartwright 6, Banner 6, Brookes 6, Bullock (sub Beckett 73 mins) 7, Pope 7, Collins 6, Lutz (sub Southwick 77 mins) 6, Burgess (sub Blake 45 mins 6) 6, DANKS 8*, Frost 6. Subs not used: Benbow, Thomas.

Attendance - 1,105.