Saturday, February 22, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers returned to winning ways and secured an important victory with three second half goals against Taunton Town at the Victoria Ground last Saturday.

The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges, but never tested Matt Lowe in the Bromsgrove goal.

With James Dyson back in a green and white shirt, it took time for the new-look midfield to settle and the first real chance of the game came in the 12th minute.

Marvin Blake slid the ball to Richard Burgess but the Bromsgrove forward's low shot went just wide of Neil Montandon's left hand post.

Taunton responded with a run and shot from Pete Sheppard but Steve Frost blocked the goal bound effort.

Chances were at a premium in a keenly contested first period, Burgess clearing the crossbar on 25 minutes with only Montandon to beat, and Sheppard shooting wide on 40 minutes the only chances of note.

Injuries to the complete Bromsgrove midfield meant three substitutions in a ten-minute period either side of half time, but the home team took lead within a minute of the start of the second half.

Grant Beckett's last action before being substituted was to cross from the left for Burgess. His shot was saved by Montandon, but the ball fell to the feet of Blake who made no mistake from ten yards and scored the first goal for Bromsgrove in 391 minutes of football.

Bromsgrove dominated the next 20 minutes of play with Mark Benbow, Kevin Banner, Frost and Burgess all going close before they extended their lead on 63 minutes.

Grantley Dicks conceded a free-kick on the left wing. Banner's cross was met by Mark Clifton at the near post and he headed the ball past a static Montandon.

Rovers completed the scoring eight minutes from time when Blake created an opportunity for Frost to scream a 25-yard shot into the top corner.

ROVERS

Lowe 7, Benbow 6, Banner 7, Clifton 7, Beckett 7 (sub Ford 50 mins 6), Pope 6, Dyson 6 (sub Lutz 46 mins 7), Collins 6 (sub Cartwright 41 mins 7), Burgess 6, Blake 7, FROST 8* Subs not used: Danks, Hateley.

Attendance - 537.

Match report by CHRIS FOX.