Saturday, December 13, 2003

TWO second half goals gave Bromsgrove Rovers a 2-1 victory in a heated encounter at Taunton Town.

Steve Pope and Steve Frost both found the target with headed efforts within 15 minutes of each other to hand George Rooney's side the points last Saturday.

But the match was marred just before half time when James Dyson was carried off with a broken leg after coming off the worse in a crunching 50-50 tackle, one of a few hard challenges in the game.

Rovers were comfortably the better side, especially in the second half, but fell behind against the run of play on 16 minutes. The defence failed to clear the ball, allowing Gary Fisher to find Tom Kelly who put the ball in from close range.

The visitors, who forced a series of first half corners, had several good opportunities to draw level. First Frost had his header cleared off the line, but the best chance saw Marcus Jackson inexplicably blaze the ball over from 12 yards when clean through.

Dyson then suffered his injury and was replaced by the hard-working Grant Beckett.

Rovers took total control of the second half and went close several times before deservedly equalising on 63 minutes. Mark Benbow swung over a free-kick from the edge of the area and Pope arrived to head home.

The visitors continued to threaten and their second followed on 78 minutes when Frost headed in off the bar from Kevin Banner's corner.

Taunton provided little in terms of second half attacks save for Michael Booth's fruitless free header nine minutes from time.

ROVERS

Wyatt 6, FROST 8*, Hillman 8, Pope 7, Mahon 7, Dyson (sub Beckett 44 mins 7) 7, Jackson 8, Benbow 6, Szewczyk 7, Banner 7, Atkinson 6. Subs not used: Allen, Benton, Swan, Tomkins.

Att - 314.