Saturday, September 13, 2003

CAPTAIN Steve Pope rammed home a dramatic injury time penalty to send Bromsgrove Rovers into the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.

Pope stepped up in time added on after Mark Benbow's weaving run was cut short by Mark Beddows and referee G Stretton from Kettering had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Early on, Marcus Jackson caused all sorts of problems in the Studley ranks. First he forced a block from former Liverpool defender David Burrows and then ran the length of the pitch before having a shot blocked by Ian Mitchell.

Peter Sutton was clean through with only the goalkeeper to beat on 26 minutes but fired wide.

Grant Beckett also had a free-kick well saved by Danny Lewis minutes later and the home stopper bravely dived at the feet of Beckett to thwart another effort.

Rovers should have led two minutes before the break. Danny Scheppel broke down the left, cut the ball inside to Sutton, but his pass was wasted by Benbow firing over from a good position.

Beddows tested Paul Wyatt with a rasping shot from the edge of the box ten minutes after the re-start as Studley came out figthing.

The hosts had a penalty appeal waved away by Stretton on 73 minutes when Seretse Cannonier was left in a heap in the area by Steve Frost and Wyatt.

Sutton rolled a shot past the post from an acute angle from Kevin Banner's through ball as Rovers started to force the pace.

Lewis pulled off two fine saves late on, foiling Banner's long range effort and denying Atkinson with his feet.

Studley almost snatched victory with three minutes left when Andrew Johnson beat Frost and crossed for Beddows, but his shot was blocked by a last ditch Pope tackle.

The drama unfolded as the game entered time added on. Benbow carved his way into the box and went down under Beddows' challenge.

Up stepped Pope to drill the penalty home and seal the win for his side.

ROVERS

Wyatt 6, Frost 6, Hillman 7, POPE 8*, Benton 7, Beckett 6, Jackson 6, Scheppel 6, Sutton ( sub Atkinson 80 mins) 6, Benbow 6, Banner 6. Subs not used: Dawson , Hill , Henry, Gandy.

Att - 387.

Match from STEVE RIDDICK at the Beehive.