Tuesday, February 3, 2004

BROMSGROVE Rovers were beaten 1-0 at Gloucester City last night as the two sides finally managed to complete 90 minutes.

The teams have been dogged by bad luck in their attempts to play a fixture this season. Both Dr Martens Western matches have been called off, firstly at Rovers to floodlight failure in October, and then last month when the original game at Gloucester fell foul of a waterlogged pitch.

But despite steady rain throughout last night's encounter, the pitch held up remarkably well and the ball was moved around comfortably.

Rovers, although playing a 4-5-1 formation with Paul Szewczyk the lone striker, enjoyed more of the attacking play and first half possession.

They were troubled on 13 minutes when Keith Knight's cross caught Paul Wyatt struggling to get back into his goal, but the ball dropped onto the crossbar. Rovers' best effort came eight minutes later when Mark Benbow's shot was deflected onto a post.

The Tigers had a bit more bite in the second half and took the lead three minutes in. Dave Benton was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area when tackling Tom Webb and the referee pointed to the spot. Andy Hoskins sent Wyatt the wrong way.

Webb was later sent off for the hosts following a lunge at Benbow and Steve Pope had a header tipped away by the goalkeeper as Rovers, who host Mangotsfield this Saturday, pushed forward in the final minutes in search of an equaliser.

ROVERS

Wyatt 6, Frost 6, Hillman 6, Pope 6, Benton 6, Beckett 6, Jackson 5, Benbow 6, SZEWCZYK 6*, Hughes 6, Banner 6. Subs not used: Dawson, Gandy, Tomkins, Sutton, Atkinson.

George Rooney has added Worcester City defender Troy Douglin to his squad but looks set to lose Nuneaton striker Derek Sinclair to Gresley.

Rovers travel to Sutton Coldfield in the Worcestershire Senior Cup next Tuesday, meaning the return match with Gloucester has been moved to Tuesday, March 16.

Rovers now travel to Ilkeston Town on Tuesday, March 9.