SAM Bowen had the perfect opportunity to get the Bromsgrove Rovers crowd off his back.

Presented with a penalty after substitute Peter Sutton was pulled down, Bowen, heckled at times during Monday's clash, was faced with beating emergency goalkeeper Quentin Townsend from 12 yards.

Townsend replaced Paul Maynard at half time after the Redditch stopper was caught in the mouth by Bowen's boot.

And the centre back was given all the time in the world to dive to his right and save the spot kick.

That was George Rooney's side's solitary shot on target.

They didn't really come close, and although stung into action by Bowen's miss, never threatened Townsend's goal again.

Redditch, with a confidence born from 12 goals in three games and with former Rover Richard Burgess in their team, scored the only goal on 14 minutes.

Home goalkeeper Paul Wyatt sliced a clearance that put his defence under pressure. The ensuing confusion eventually allowed Reds captain Mark Taylor, later injured, to put over a good cross from the left for Richard Leadbeater to head home.

Things got worse for Rovers on 37 minutes when on-loan striker Mark Jones aggravated a knee injury and had to be replaced by Sutton.

Then the curse of the Redditch goalkeeper struck. While chasing a forward ball, a ball he was second favourite to reach, Bowen appeared to follow through on Maynard, who needed five minutes of treatment on a mouth wound before the break.

Maynard was taken to hospital, but with no replacement on the bench, centre back Townsend had to deputise. Townsend also replaced Richard Antiss last Saturday when the Reds number one broke his cheek bone.

Redditch had a second half effort ruled offside before Townsend, who confidently punched clear a number of corners, saved Bowen's penalty.

Despite some wayward kicking, Wyatt demonstrated why Rooney rates him so highly by pulling off two quality saves from James Quiggin late on.

With six minutes left Steve Pope was lucky to escape red. Incensed by substitute Naveed Arshad's challenge, Pope pushed him in the face, prompting theatrics by the Redditch man. Referee Sarginson chose to show Pope yellow.

ROVERS

Wyatt 7, Frost 6, Hillman 6, POPE 7*, Hill 6, Benbow 6, Jackson 7, Scheppel 6, Bowen (sub Atkinson 69 mins) 5, Jones (sub Sutton 37 mins) 5, Banner 6. Subs not used: Gandy, Tompkins, Ruck.

Att - 805.