Saturday, December 27, 2003

BROMSGROVE Rovers slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season in front of a record gate as local rivals Redditch United comprehensively beat them 4-0 at the Valley.

A huge 1,386 crowd, the best in the Dr Martens Western Division this season, saw the league leaders outclass Rovers last Saturday.

And Rovers, who last conceded four in a game last January, were lucky not to leak more.

Substitutes Jimmy Quiggin and former Green Richard Burgess both missed guilt-edge chances late on to add to Quiggan's earlier strike, two from Matty Hall and a goal from Scott Voice.

The turning point came three minutes into the second half when, with the visitors trailing 1-0 but enjoying a rare good spell, captain Steve Pope headed straight at goalkeeper Richard Anstiss with the goal at his mercy. It was easily Rovers' best chance of the match and one they sorely rued.

The game was fiercely competitive early on with crunching tackles in midfield although goal scoring opportunities were few and far between.

Redditch took a deserved lead after 35 minutes when Voice beat Ian Gandy with a left foot drive in the penalty area. Two minutes later Grant Beckett cleared Richard Softly's goalbound effort off the line.

Paul Szewczyk and Mark Atkinson combined to waste a good chance for Rovers before the break when they got in each others' way on the edge of the area.

Rovers were the better side for the first 20 minutes of the second half but once Pope had let Redditch off the hook by failing to equalise with a header, the hosts took control.

They made three substitutions in 12 minutes and reaped the rewards with three more goals.

Hall made it 2-0 on 71 minutes, turning in a left wing cross, and dragged a shot wide five minutes later. Quiggan got the third on 77 minutes and missed another golden opportunity moments later.

Hall saved the best for last. His second and Redditch's fourth came three minutes from time when the visitors' defence fell apart around him, allowing him a free run to eventually fire past Gandy.

Burgess should have made it five in the final seconds but he blazed over.

ROVERS

Gandy 6, Frost 6, Hillman 7, POPE 7*, Benton 6, Beckett 7, Jackson 6, Benbow 5, Szewczyk 6, Banner 6, Atkinson 5. Subs not used: Allen, Hughes, Swan, Sutton, Nelson.

Att - 1,386.