DMW November 6, 1999

GREG Parkes may look more like a prop forward than a centre forward, but he proved an invaluable weapon in revitalised Rov-ers' armoury.

The midweek signing from Bridgnorth Town refused to be intimidated by snide remarks from the home crowd and frequent shoves in the back. He got knocked down, but he got up again... and again.

Parkes' gutsy display, capped by the occasional inspired pass, put a smile on Greens boss Steve Daley's face. The desperate appeal for more commitment and character had, for once, been successful and maximum points were a just reward.

Following the Hinckley debacle, Daley made sweeping changes with Nore Gabbidon replacing Derek Dudley in goal and strikers Richard Ball and Richard Congrave left out in favour of Parkes and Mark Benbow.

An improved display was an absolute must, but few spectators at Common Road on Saturday expected the Greens to hit the front with just 40 seconds gone. Tom Davies' through ball was gratefully received by Benbow, who fired into home goalkeeper Darrell Houghton's top left hand corner for his second goal of the season.

Ryan Daley's injury led to an early introduction for Paul Moore, who has returned to the Victoria Ground from Stourbridge, and he quickly made an impression. Benbow's persistence around the goal-line set up the nippy winger, who blazed over.

Managed by former Rovers manager Phil Mullen, Evesham offered little to threaten the visitors' lofty back line with centre halves Mark Bowater and Alex Winstone happy to simply head back a succession of high balls.

The second half saw Daley's men take control -- and the Robins go backwards. The gamble of a triple substitution failed to pay off and Gabbidon had little to do.

His opposite number, Houghton, was rather more troubled. A flowing move down the left involving Benbow and Moore allowed an unmarked Parkes to try his luck with a fierce shot that was palmed over the bar.

Evesham's best chance came on 89 minutes with an Andy Smith effort calmly headed off the line by a perfectly placed Russell Dodd with Gabbidon beaten.

While their hosts cursed their luck, the Greens broke through Hunter. His unselfish pass to Moore was met by a low drive that Houghton turned onto his near post, but Hunter raced in to blast the ball into an empty net from ten yards.

Rovers: Gabbidon, Dodd, Ulfig, Davies, Bowater, Winstone, Bytheway, Benbow (sub Hunter 69), Parkes (sub Bannister 89), Daley (sub Moore 19), Cooper.

Attendance: 227. Rovers MoM: Mark Bowater.