Wednesday, October 30, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers' FA Cup adventure came to an end with a 2-1 final qualifying round replay defeat at Whitby Town.

George Rooney's side, the last Dr Martens Western team left in the competition at the start of play, let a single goal lead slip in north Yorkshire and with it a first round proper meeting at Hartlepool United.

Captain Steve Pope put Rovers ahead before two Whitby strikes either side of half time sealed victory.

Rovers were also left wondering what might have been when Dave Benton had an effort ruled out late on for an infringement on the goalkeeper by a colleague.

But boss Rooney had no complaints about that or the result.

"It was a foul on the goalkeeper. We have no complaints really. I think they shaded it, they were the better side over the two games," he said.

"We have scored three excellent goals in the two games and conceded three unbelievably sloppy goals."

Rovers' night did not begin well as Peter Sutton went over on his ankle after just seven minutes and was replaced by Paul Szewczyk.

Three minutes later the visitors took the lead. Mark Benbow swung over an inviting free-kick from the left and Pope glanced a good header past Adam Clementson.

Whitby's Gary Browne though was causing problems for Rovers with his pace. On four first half occasions the nippy front man, on loan from York City, fired shots at Paul Wyatt's goal, three going close.

The hosts grew stronger as the half went on and it was no surprise when they equalised. Anthony Omerod put over a corner and Brian Linighan struck the ball through a crowd of players. His shot was judged to have crossed the line despite Dyson's efforts to keep it out.

Paul Campbell and Anthony Omerod both squandered early second half chances for the hosts.

But Whitby's decisive second came after 71 minutes. A through ball to Omerod allowed the former Middlesbrough man to get behind the defence and beat Wyatt from 12 yards.

On 82 minutes, Szewczyk headed just over and had a header cleared off the line two minutes later.

Benton later took advantage of a dropped catch by stopper Clementson, who earlier also dropped a Steve Hillman cross, to put the ball in the net, but the whistle had already gone for a foul on the goalkeeper.

Benton was also booked in injury time as Whitby wound down the clock.

ROVERS

Wyatt 6, Frost 7, Hillman 7, POPE 8*, Benton 7, Dyson 7, Jackson 7, Scheppel (sub Tomkins 76 mins) 7, Sutton (sub Szewczyk 7 mins 7) 6, Benbow 7, Atkinson (sub Dawson 76 mins) 6. Subs not used: Hill, Gandy.

Att - 784.